Adult-Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (A-ABCD) Study Renewal-Research Project Sites (U01)

The Adult-Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (A-ABCD) Study Renewal—Research Project Sites (U01) is a forthcoming funding opportunity from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This renewal initiative is a continuation of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which is recognized as the most extensive long-term investigation of brain development and adolescent health in the United States. First launched under RFA-DA-20-002, the ABCD Study recruited nearly 12,000 participants at ages 9–10 and has been following them into late adolescence. The renewal aims to extend this longitudinal study through the participants’ early adulthood, up to ages 26–27, to capture the manifestation of critical health outcomes such as substance use disorders, mental health conditions, and chronic diseases. This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement using the U01 activity code, emphasizing collaborative research with significant scientific and programmatic involvement by NIH staff. The primary objective of this renewal is to leverage state-of-the-art technologies—including neuroimaging and wearable devices—to understand how behavioral, environmental, and biological factors interact during the pivotal developmental phase of emerging adulthood. The study aligns with national public health priorities and seeks to provide insights that can shape interventions and policies affecting young adults’ health, cognitive development, academic performance, and social behaviors. Applications are not being accepted at this time, as this is a forecasted opportunity. However, the notice has been released to allow potential applicants sufficient time to form collaborations and prepare for the future release of the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Only organizations previously funded under RFA-DA-20-002 will be eligible to apply for this continuation funding. This exclusivity aims to ensure continuity in data quality, methodological consistency, and longitudinal validity, as these prior awardees are already integrated into the ABCD research infrastructure. Key dates include an estimated post date of February 6, 2026, with applications anticipated to be due by May 25, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced by April 1, 2027, with a project start date also set for April 1, 2027. As the opportunity is not yet open, no pre-application steps such as letters of intent or concept papers have been announced. Furthermore, no application materials or submission procedures have been provided at this stage beyond the general forecasting notice. Contact for this opportunity is Bethany Deeds, PhD, at NIDA, reachable via phone at 301-402-1935 or email at [email protected]. While the forecast does not specify application components or evaluation criteria, it is likely that these will align with prior ABCD funding rounds, focusing on research rigor, scientific collaboration, and alignment with the longitudinal goals of the ABCD study. This initiative is part of a recurring funding cycle, with past solicitations indicating an ongoing commitment to maintaining and expanding the longitudinal dataset. Interested and eligible applicants should monitor grants.gov and NIH channels closely for the official release and prepare collaborative proposals that are responsive to the renewal’s objectives.