Novel Experiential Technologies Assisting Individual Learning (NExT AI) Hubs

The Novel Experiential Technologies Assisting Individual Learning (NExT AI) Hubs grant program is a forecasted funding initiative led by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), which is a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NICHD's core mission is to support research on topics related to child health and development. This opportunity aligns with that mission by seeking to understand the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on child development, specifically targeting populations at risk for or diagnosed with specific learning disabilities (SLD) that affect literacy and numeracy skills. The NExT AI Hubs initiative will fund the establishment of research centers through a Centers grant program format. These centers will focus on exploring highly innovative, novel, and high-risk ideas that are currently underrepresented in research literature. Specifically, grantees are expected to conduct investigations on how AI tools and technologies affect developmental outcomes in children with learning disabilities. These disabilities may influence reading, writing, and mathematical skill acquisition. The purpose is to generate insights that could shape future educational, clinical, or technological interventions for these children. NICHD emphasizes that these grants are expected to fund cutting-edge work, possibly with high uncertainty, to stimulate progress in an emergent area. Spending will be directed toward eligible research activities consistent with the NICHD's mandate and federal research funding regulations. The grant program is discretionary in nature and will be governed under the authority of the Public Health Service Act and related amendments. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants, which lowers the barrier to entry for interested research entities. Eligible applicants span a wide range of institutional types, including state and county governments, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, federally and non-federally recognized Native American tribal organizations and governments, small businesses, other for-profit organizations, public housing authorities, and qualifying nonprofit entities with 501(c)(3) status. This wide eligibility is designed to foster diverse institutional participation and collaborative research. The forecasted grant timeline indicates an estimated post date of March 6, 2026, with applications due by June 4, 2026. Awards are expected to be issued by December 1, 2026, which is also the anticipated start date for funded projects. The initiative will align with the 2027 fiscal year. There are no additional internal pre-deadline milestones such as Letters of Intent mentioned, and the opportunity is not listed as rolling. It is unclear if this is a recurring grant, so that status will require verification once additional guidance is published. Interested applicants are encouraged to direct technical and programmatic inquiries to Dr. Virginia Salo at NICHD. She may be contacted via email at virginia.salo@nih.gov or by phone at 301-402-3682. Further updates will likely be available through Grants.gov as the opportunity approaches its post date.