PAR-23-229
NIH Brain Development Cohorts (NBDC) Biospecimen Access (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Summary
NIH Brain Development Cohorts (NBDC) Biospecimen Access (PAR-23-229)
Research Focus
This Resource Access Award provides investigators access to biospecimens from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest longitudinal cohort of U.S. brain development, enrolling nearly 12,000 children ages 9–10 at 21 sites (2016–2018) with 10 years of follow-up data. The ABCD Study collects multimodal neuroimaging, behavioral assessments, and diverse biospecimens—including oral fluids (hormone analysis), blood (genetics, metabolic and hematologic assays), urine and hair (substance use and environmental exposures), and deciduous teeth (environmental toxins)—to examine how childhood experiences (sports, social media, sleep patterns, substance use) interact with biology to shape brain development and health outcomes through adolescence into adulthood. Researchers may access these specimens to conduct meritorious studies aligned with ABCD objectives or that expand knowledge of adolescent health broadly, including investigations of neurocognitive function, physical and mental health, substance use, and environmental exposures.
At a Glance
- Who can apply: Investigators from any institution proposing non-clinical-trial research consistent with ABCD Study objectives or adolescent health broadly; no clinical trials allowed.
- Funding & project length: No funds provided through this mechanism; applicants must secure separate NIH funding (e.g., R01/R21 ABCD or drug abuse research programs) and cover sample distribution costs.
- Award / mechanism: X01 Resource Access Award—access to biospecimens only, not a grant.
- Key dates: Letter of Intent due 30 days before application deadline; rolling submission cycles (next: February 6, 2025 application due, May 2025 earliest start); expires May 6, 2026.
- Best fit for: Developmental neuroscience, adolescent psychiatry, substance abuse, environmental health, and pediatric epidemiology researchers studying brain development, behavioral health, and biomarkers in a large, diverse U.S. cohort.
Key Facts
Deadline
Tue, May 5, 2026
Posted
Fri, August 11, 2023
Keywords
Research Areas
Gotchas (6)
Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed for this X01 mechanism. The title and award information both state 'Clinical Trial Not Allowed', which is a hard eligibility constraint that could disqualify
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“Clinical Trial? Not Allowed: Only accepting applications that do not propose clinical trials.”
This is a resource access award (X01) that provides NO FUNDING. Applicants must secure separate funding through other NIH mechanisms (R01, R21, HHEAR, or parent announcements) and submit proof of suff
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“No funds will be provided through this opportunity. Applicants will be responsible for costs associated with conducting the research and sample distribution. Several NIH funding opportunities may be of interest... Applicants will need to submit proof of sufficient funding at the time of application.”
Mandatory pre-application step: Biospecimen Availability Inquiry must be submitted via NBDC portal at least 4 weeks before deadline; Resource Availability and Impact Report must be included in applica
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“Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to explore available biospecimens and complete a Letter of Intent in the form of a Biospecimen Availability Inquiry via the NBDC portal at least 4 weeks prior to the submission deadline... Applicants must include the Resource Availability and Impact Report as a PDF file labeled Resource Availability and Impact Report in Other Attachments.”
Recipients must adhere to separate award conditions including signing the NBDC Specimen and Data Use Agreement and ABCD Study data archives' Data Use Certification, and must reference the Research Res
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“Recipients who are granted access to the ABCD biospecimens will be required to adhere to the separate award conditions noted in the ABCD data use agreement, including signing the NBDC Specimen and Data Use Agreement and ABCD Study data archives' Data Use Certification, and referencing the Research Resource ID associated with the ABCD study.”
Applicants proposing longitudinal designs using samples from multiple time-points must demonstrate adequate storage capabilities. This is an unusual requirement that could affect feasibility assessmen
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“Applicants may apply for access to samples from multiple time-points if they are proposing a feasible longitudinal design and can demonstrate adequate storage capabilities.”
The NOFO was updated on March 31, 2025 to align with agency priorities, with an explicit instruction to 'carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your applicati
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“This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities. Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission.”