Initiative: Limited Competition for the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study – Research Project Sites (Collaborative U01- Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for research organizations conducting longitudinal studies of child health and neurodevelopment. Eligible applicants typically include universities, medical centers, and research institutions with capacity for participant recruitment, clinical assessments, biospecimen collection, and neuroimaging. This is a limited competition notice—only specific invited organizations may apply. The study involves pregnant women and children exposed prenatally to opioids, marijuana, stimulants, alcohol, or nicotine, following them from pregnancy through childhood.
Key dates
- Jun 10, 2026 Applications open
- Jul 10, 2026 Application deadline in 27 days
- Sep 1, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), with other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) , and including the NIH HEAL Initiative, intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for research projects that will be responsible for participant recruitment and retention, behavioral assessments, biospecimen collection, and neuroimaging for the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study. 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.
HBCD is a large cohort of pregnant women and their children (~N = 7,200 dyads) beginning in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy and followed longitudinally through childhood. This is a renewal that will continue the funding for the second 5-year period. The cohort includes babies exposed pre- or perinatally to prescription and illicit opioids, marijuana, stimulants, alcohol and/or nicotine, and will provide a deep, nuanced understanding of the short-term and long-term factors that affect a child’s health, brain, and behavioral development, which is an essential first step toward designing interventions that promote well-being and resiliency in children. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This limited competition NOFO will utilize the U01 activity code.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Private University
- Public University
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative
- Detailed Budget and Budget Justification
- Biosketch for Key Personnel
- Institutional Signing Official sign-off
Program contact
- 👤 Janani Prabhakar, PhD
- 📧 janani.prabhakar@nih.gov
- 📞 301-827-4729
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.286 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$137,304,316
-
$92,619,798
-
$52,089,479
-
$49,303,120
-
$30,836,373
-
$21,139,516
-
$20,828,185
-
$19,152,466
-
$18,841,297
-
$18,715,734
Top States by Funding
- MA 18 awards $296.9M
- CA 16 awards $150.0M
- GA 2 awards $102.0M
- MD 7 awards $77.2M
- NY 5 awards $54.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.286). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $372,638,570 | |
| 2025 | $375,813,652 | |
| 2026 est. | $14,223,045 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
This is a limited competition. Only organizations specifically invited by NIH can apply. Check the NOFO when it publishes for eligibility confirmation.
What is the deadline?
The deadline is February 17, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
What kind of research does this fund?
This funds participant recruitment, clinical assessments, biospecimen collection, and neuroimaging for the HEALthy Brain and Child Development longitudinal study.
Is this a new grant or renewal?
This is a renewal funding the second 5-year period of an existing cohort study of ~7,200 pregnant women and children.
What award amounts are typical?
Award amounts are not publicly specified. Contact NIH or your program officer for estimated funding ranges for this limited competition.
💡 Tips for applicants
- This is a limited competition notice only. Wait for the formal NOFO before preparing a full application.
- Start building collaborations now if your organization might be invited to participate.
- Ensure your institution has IRB and regulatory capacity for longitudinal maternal-child studies.
- Demonstrate prior experience with participant recruitment and retention in sensitive populations.
- Plan detailed protocols for biospecimen management and neuroimaging standardization across sites.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting an application before the formal NOFO is released and your organization is invited. Underestimating the operational complexity of recruiting and retaining pregnant women and children over time. Failing to demonstrate experience with opioid-exposed populations and trauma-informed care practices.
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