Limited Competition for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development -Extended (ABCD-E) Study-Research Project Sites (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Selected research sites will continue longitudinal follow-up of approximately 12,000 participants from ages 19-20 into emerging adulthood over a five-year project period.
Applicants must be eligible NIH grant recipients (typically 501c3 nonprofits, universities, government entities, and other research institutions). This is a limited competition with invitations issued to specific eligible organizations.
The study uses neuroimaging, wearable sensors, and behavioral assessments to examine brain development and health outcomes. Research activities include participant follow-up, data collection, biospecimen management, and collaboration with the coordinating center.
Clinical trials are not allowed under this funding mechanism.
Key dates
- May 28, 2025 Applications open
- Jun 10, 2026 Application deadline in 9 days
- Apr 1, 2027 Award announced
- Apr 1, 2027 Project start
This grant is for research institutions participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Selected research sites will continue longitudinal follow-up of approximately 12,000 participants from ages 19-20 into emerging adulthood over a five-year project period.
Applicants must be eligible NIH grant recipients (typically 501c3 nonprofits, universities, government entities, and other research institutions). This is a limited competition with invitations issued to specific eligible organizations.
The study uses neuroimaging, wearable sensors, and behavioral assessments to examine brain development and health outcomes. Research activities include participant follow-up, data collection, biospecimen management, and collaboration with the coordinating center.
Clinical trials are not allowed under this funding mechanism.
Program description
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), with other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs), intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for the research sites for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The ABCD study is the largest long-term study of brain development and child and adolescent health in the United States. This renewal will continue to follow the ABCD cohort into adulthood, when many of the outcomes of interest (e.g., substance use disorders, mental health disorders, chronic diseases, and other health conditions) will manifest. The ABCD Study has been highly successful in recruiting a cohort of almost 12,000 participants beginning at ages 9-10 and assessing them to ages 19-20. This proposed renewal would follow these children for five years through their emerging adulthood. By using cutting-edge technology such as brain scans and wearable sensors, scientists have an unprecedented opportunity to determine how young adult experiences (such as physical activity, healthy lifestyles, new technological habits like videogames or social media, and other Making America Health Again priority areas) interact with each other and with a young adult’s changing biology to affect brain development and social, behavioral, academic, health, and other outcomes. Applications are not being solicited at this time. This is a Forecast for a Limited Competition that will invite application(s) from eligible organization(s) to apply. Please see Eligibility Section for additional information. In accordance with NIH standard peer-review processes, the application(s) will be peer-reviewed, and only meritorious application(s) will be considered for funding.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for research institutions participating in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. Selected research sites will continue longitudinal follow-up of approximately 12,000 participants from ages 19-20 into emerging adulthood over a five-year project period.
Applicants must be eligible NIH grant recipients (typically 501c3 nonprofits, universities, government entities, and other research institutions). This is a limited competition with invitations issued to specific eligible organizations.
The study uses neuroimaging, wearable sensors, and behavioral assessments to examine brain development and health outcomes. Research activities include participant follow-up, data collection, biospecimen management, and collaboration with the coordinating center.
Clinical trials are not allowed under this funding mechanism.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&D) or SF-424 (A/B)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches
- Current and Pending Support
- Consortium/Contractual Arrangements
- Letters of Commitment (from partnering institutions)
- Data Management Plan
- Human Subjects Protection documentation (IRB approval or exemption)
Program contact
- 👤 ABCD Program Staff
- 📧 NIDA-27-002@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.279 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$128,078,833
-
$126,585,435
-
$79,333,238
-
$78,351,755
-
$74,806,844
-
$71,588,047
-
$61,578,651
-
$50,344,757
-
$41,820,011
-
$39,479,041
Top States by Funding
- NY 4 awards $260.8M
- CT 2 awards $155.8M
- CA 3 awards $90.2M
- KY 1 awards $79.3M
- MA 1 awards $78.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.279). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,245,503,136 | |
| 2025 | $1,343,517,098 | |
| 2026 est. | $20,194,375 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
This is a limited competition. Only eligible research organizations invited by NIH may apply. Institutions must have capacity to serve as ABCD research sites.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is June 10, 2026. This is a fixed deadline for this limited competition.
What research activities are supported?
Funding supports longitudinal follow-up of ABCD cohort participants, neuroimaging, wearable sensor data collection, and assessment of brain development and health outcomes in emerging adulthood.
What is the funding amount?
The award range is not specified in the announcement. Contact the program officer for details on expected funding levels.
Can this grant be renewed?
The current notice is for a five-year renewal period. Renewal eligibility depends on performance and future NIH priorities.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Contact the NIDA program officer early to clarify whether your institution is eligible for invitation to this limited competition.
- Review the NIH cooperative agreement requirements carefully. These differ from standard research grants in terms of oversight and communication expectations.
- Demonstrate your institution's capacity to manage a large cohort study with complex data collection protocols and multi-site coordination.
- Budget carefully for neuroimaging, biospecimen handling, wearable device management, and participant retention strategies over five years.
- Show strong experience with longitudinal cohort studies and existing relationships with the ABCD coordinating center.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without explicit invitation. This is a limited competition, not an open opportunity. Underestimating complexity of managing longitudinal data collection and retention strategies. Failing to address experience with neuroimaging protocols and regulatory oversight for brain imaging in adolescents and young adults.
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