The Limited Competition for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development - Extended (ABCD-E) Study Renewal, under the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) RFA-DA-27-003, is a federal grant forecasted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This initiative seeks to continue and expand upon the efforts of the ABCD Study, which has established itself as the largest long-term study of brain development and health in children and adolescents across the United States. This extended phase aims to follow participants as they transition into adulthood, a critical period when key health outcomes such as substance use disorders and mental health challenges commonly begin to emerge.
The ABCD Study began with a cohort of nearly 12,000 children, recruited at ages 9–10, and has tracked their development into their late teens (ages 19–20). The proposed renewal will extend this research for an additional five years to capture data during early adulthood. The study integrates advanced technologies, including neuroimaging and wearable sensors, to examine how social, behavioral, technological, and lifestyle factors—ranging from video game usage and social media habits to physical activity and sleep—interact with biological changes during this pivotal life stage. This provides an unparalleled opportunity to understand how these dynamics influence academic, behavioral, and health-related outcomes.
The NOFO will solicit applications for two critical components of the ABCD Study infrastructure: the Data Analysis, Informatics and Resource Center (DAIRC), and the Coordinating Center. These entities will be responsible for data management, analysis, informatics support, study coordination, and resource distribution. Their work will ensure data integrity, harmonization across study sites, and accessibility for broader research use. The NOFO specifies that this is a limited competition, meaning only current awardees from the predecessor RFAs—RFA-DA-20-004 and RFA-DA-20-003—are eligible to apply.
As this opportunity is currently in a forecasted state, applications are not yet being accepted. However, the estimated timeline includes a post date of April 17, 2026, with an application due date of June 10, 2026. Award notifications are expected by April 1, 2027, which is also the proposed start date for the new project period. The fiscal year of the anticipated award is FY 2027.
There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement indicated for this opportunity. While specific budget amounts, award ceilings, and award floors are not yet specified in the forecast, the assistance listing (CFDA) number 93.279 confirms the program's categorization under Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs. The opportunity does not allow clinical trials and will be awarded as a cooperative agreement (U24 mechanism), reflecting a high level of federal involvement in the execution of the funded projects.
All applicant eligibility is strictly limited to organizations currently funded under RFA-DA-20-004 and RFA-DA-20-003. These include a wide range of organizational types such as state and local governments, tribal entities, institutions of higher education (both public and private), nonprofits, and small businesses. Contact for inquiries is directed to the ABCD Program Staff via the provided email address: [email protected]. This renewal marks a critical step in advancing the longitudinal understanding of adolescent brain development into adulthood and generating data that will inform public health strategies for years to come.
