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247 Portable e-Technology Diet and Physical Activity Tools for Consumers

Number of anticipated awards: 3
(Fast-Track proposals will not be accepted.)
Budget (total costs): Phase I: $150,000;
Phase II: $1,000,000
Project duration: Phase I: 9 months;
Phase II: 2.5 years

The deadline for receipt of all contract proposals submitted in response to this solicitation is: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Monday, November 5, 2007

The short-term goal of this project is to develop a prototype of an innovative portable assessment and intervention tool for energy balance (integrative diet and physical activity), and a website prototype for monitoring the work accomplished with this tool. The portable e-technology tool envisioned will incorporate both self-report and 'objective' [e.g., motion detection, tracking vital signs, analysis of physiology, GPS, digital camera, etc.] indicators. The portable e-technology tool needs to be marketable to individuals (i.e., consumers) interested in physical activity, diet, and/or weight loss behavior change, as well as, to health researchers. The long-term goals are to 1) develop and evaluate the portable e-technology tool and an interactive network platform that integrates the tool and 2) develop a tracking component for the network.

Rates of obesity in the United States have dramatically increased over the past 20 years to reach epidemic levels. Obesity, the result of energy imbalance (i.e., energy intake/energy expenditure), has been linked to several types of cancer (IARC, 2002). Physical inactivity and unhealthy diets, key contributors to obesity, have been designated as key areas of interest at NCI (e.g., 2008 Bypass Budget), NIH (e.g., trans-NIH obesity task force), and DHHS (Health People 2010). During an NCI-sponsored working group meeting, entitled 'Capturing Physical Activity and Diet in Real Time', the need for innovative tools to assess and modify obesity related health behaviors was highlighted by the expert panel.

Currently, research on interactive and/or simultaneous effects of energy intake and expenditure is sparse (IARC, 2002). Instead, research has focused on physical activity, diet, and weight separately in relation to cancer (as well as other health outcomes). As a result, the development of portable e-technology tools that adequately capture real-time energy balance in an integrated and verifiable manner has lagged.

To better understand the influence of energy balance on cancer and cancer prevention, the development of portable e-technology tools to precisely measure and modify energy balance-related health behaviors (i.e., diet, physical activity) is critical. Current tools (e.g., surveys, handheld computers, cell phones, accelerometers, etc.) have not been developed with the dynamic (i.e., real time) and integrative nature of energy balance in mind. Furthermore, there has been limited integration of the self-report and 'objective' methodologies to understand and modify energy balance. There also exists a need to assess and modify diet and physical activity among groups at high risk of obesity and cancer, namely ethnic minorities, socio-economically disadvantaged groups, and low literate populations. Interdisciplinary collaborations (e.g., behavioral researchers, computer scientists, nutrition specialists, exercise physiologists, health disparities scientists, etc.) are required to move the field forward in an integrative manner.

In addition to the need to develop portable e-technology tools that integrates different aspects of energy balance, there is also a need to consolidate the information obtained from these portable e-technology tools into an interactive database that can be monitored and tracked over time. To date, consumers and researchers have typically used basic portable tools for particular behaviors (e.g., diet) in isolation of a centralized database, which limits the potential dissemination and interdisciplinary use of the information. An interactive database can provide a centralized channel for individuals to easily self-monitor multiple health behaviors, for information to be analyzed and potentially send in appropriate form back to the individual, and for researchers to engage in creative interdisciplinary collaborations with multi-levels of longitudinal data collected in real-time.

NOTE: The National Cancer Institute (NCI) promotes the use of state-of-the-art media technology to develop tools, interventions, programs and systems that 1) are needed by professionals or the public to reduce cancer risk or improve the quality of life of cancer survivors; 2) help fill gaps in research; 3) resolve barriers to use so that products can be used effectively in medical and community settings; and 4) improve communication behaviors between primary care professionals and patients/care-givers in cancer-related matters.

Phase I Activities and expected deliverables:

  • Develop a prototype of a portable e-technology tool that can assess diet and physical activity using both self-report and 'objective' methods.
  • Convene focus groups or conduct interviews with potential end-users of the system to determine if the system contents, format, etc. are appropriate for ease of use.
  • Develop real-time or just-in-time information feedback options to the consumer in all developed portable e-technology tools.
  • Provide outlines for an operation manual and primer for both consumer and researcher tools.
  • Develop software designs and specifications, where applicable.
  • Develop a working prototype of an interactive web-based platform for consumers and researchers.
  • Include in the proposals, letters of agreement from organizations participating in Phase I feasibility testing and evaluation.
  • Obtain letters from interested participants for Phase II testing and evaluation.
  • Present Phase I findings and demonstrate the final prototype to an NCI Evaluation Panel.

The integrative, portable, e-technology tool could enhance existing technology (e.g., handheld computers, cell phones, text message devices, accelerometers, electronic pedometer, heart rate monitors, GPS, interactive voice recognition, bar scanning, etc.), merge existing technology, or develop a new platform. The portable tool needs to be user-friendly to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds (e.g., ethnic minorities, low SES groups, and individuals with low literacy). Consultation with leading behavioral researchers with expertise in diet, physical activity, and weight is required in the development of the tool. Usability testing with consumers and researchers is required during the Phase I.

NOTE: Offerors are required to fully develop their individual product in Phase II to meet the goals of this SBIR contract topic. Where feasible and appropriate, Phase II contractors may be required to collaborate, coordinate, or communicate with other NCI funded contractors or programs. Offerors are also required to develop a dissemination package that enhances marketability.

Phase II Activities and expected deliverables:

  • Develop and beta-test an integrative, portable, e-technology tool(s) and web site(s) with individuals from different population groups, and with researchers.
  • Evaluate and refine the program based on user feedback.
  • Developed software to run the tool(s) and track outcomes.
  • Develop the final portable tool(s), website(s), and related software package(s) where applicable.
  • Develop related operations manuals and primers, addressing both technical implementation and social/cultural change management.
  • In the first year of the contract, provide the program and contract officers with a letter of commercial interest.
  • In the second year of the contract, provide the program and contract officers with a letter of commercial commitment.
  • Include $24,000 in the budget for evaluation of the product at NCI's Evaluation Lab.
  • Present final research findings and demonstrate the final product at an NCI/DCCPS sponsored Product Showcase.
  • Develop at least one article describing the development and evaluation of the portable e-technology tool and web site that is suitable for publication in scientific venues.
  • Submit final report in the template provided by the NCI program officer.

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