Awarded from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's health games research program, the grants are aimed at strengthening the evidence base that supports the use of gaming as a means of improving players' health behaviors and outcomes.

The studies will explore topics such as how motion-based gaming can hasten the progress of recovering stroke patients, as well as how substance abuse patients can practice skills and behaviors in virtual worlds to prevent real-world relapses.

The foundation intends to announce the recipients of the grants at a press conference this coming Thursday.