{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,30]],"date-time":"2026-06-30T17:47:20Z","timestamp":1782841640939,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"JMIR Publications Inc.","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JMIR Form Res"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>The digital mental health (DMH) industry has grown drastically over the last decade; yet, many DMH products have failed to demonstrate meaningful clinical outcomes, in large part due to lack of scientific evidence. This viewpoint paper highlights an example of how early-stage DMH companies can prioritize science as a strategic advantage. We discuss Moment for Parents, an artificial intelligence\u2013driven maternal mental health app built entirely with support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. We illustrate the advantages and challenges of building a science-backed product with federal funding. Benefits include credible evidence generation, independence in product development, and enhanced market differentiation. We also discuss the challenges of navigating the SBIR ecosystem, including grant writing and administrative demands, and aligning business objectives with federal research priorities. By showcasing both the promise and complexity of SBIR funding, this viewpoint paper offers actionable insights for founders and chief executive officers who aim to prioritize science in the DMH space.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.2196\/85642","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,23]],"date-time":"2026-04-23T20:51:12Z","timestamp":1776977472000},"page":"e85642-e85642","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Building a Science-Driven Business: How National Institutes of Health Funding Enabled an Evidence-Based Approach to Maternal Mental Health Innovation"],"prefix":"10.2196","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0276-4640","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jennifer","family":"Huberty","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3342-2325","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lara","family":"Baez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1548-4936","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kelsey","family":"McAlister","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-5564-3225","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marianna","family":"Kerppola","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1010","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,23]]},"reference":[{"issue":"4","key":"R1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"621","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbi.2011.02.011","article-title":"Steps towards a digital health ecosystem","volume":"44","author":"Serbanati","journal-title":"J Biomed Inform"},{"issue":"3","key":"R2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"263","DOI":"10.1037\/prj0000285","article-title":"The digital mental health revolution: Opportunities and risks","volume":"40","author":"Tal","journal-title":"Psychiatr Rehabil J"},{"key":"R3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41746-019-0093-1","article-title":"Using science to sell apps: Evaluation of mental health app store quality claims","volume":"2","author":"Larsen","journal-title":"NPJ Digit Med"},{"key":"R4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fdgth.2022.1003181","article-title":"Systematic assessment of the quality and integrity of popular mental health smartphone apps using the American Psychiatric Association\u2019s app evaluation model","volume":"4","author":"Rickard","journal-title":"Front Digit Health"},{"issue":"7","key":"R5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"630","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2022.0423","article-title":"Effect of offering care management or online dialectical behavior therapy skills training vs usual care on self-harm among adult outpatients with suicidal ideation: A randomized clinical trial","volume":"327","author":"Simon","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"issue":"2","key":"R6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"277","DOI":"10.1111\/papt.12222","article-title":"The digital revolution and its impact on mental health care","volume":"92","author":"Bucci","journal-title":"Psychol Psychother"},{"issue":"10","key":"R7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2196\/27507","article-title":"Building the digital mental health ecosystem: Opportunities and challenges for mobile health innovators","volume":"23","author":"Spadaro","journal-title":"J Med Internet Res"},{"key":"R8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jad.2021.09.106","article-title":"Evaluating the effectiveness and quality of mobile applications for perinatal depression and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"296","author":"Tsai","journal-title":"J Affect Disord"},{"issue":"6","key":"R9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"539","DOI":"10.1001\/jamapsychiatry.2024.0532","article-title":"Digital mental health\u2019s unstable dichotomy-wellness and health","volume":"81","author":"Torous","journal-title":"JAMA Psychiatry"},{"issue":"1","key":"R10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12916-025-03944-z","article-title":"Smartphone screen time reduction improves mental health: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"23","author":"Pieh","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"issue":"1","key":"R11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e89","DOI":"10.1016\/S2589-7500(24)00215-2","article-title":"Building robust, proportionate, and timely approaches to regulation and evaluation of digital mental health technologies","volume":"7","author":"Hopkin","journal-title":"Lancet Digit Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"R12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjment-2023-300670","article-title":"Digital mental health: challenges and next steps","volume":"26","author":"Smith","journal-title":"BMJ Ment Health"},{"key":"R13","unstructured":"Catherman B . 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