Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 27 003
Apply for RFA DA 27 003
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development -Extended (ABCD-E) Study Renewal - Data Analysis, Informatics and Resource Center, and Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273, 93.279, 93.399, 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH is offering a limited-competition cooperative agreement opportunity (U24; clinical trial not allowed) to renew and extend two core infrastructure awards for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development - Extended (ABCD-E) study. The purpose of this renewal is to keep following the existing ABCD cohort beyond adolescence and into young adulthood, a developmental window when many key outcomes the study tracks are more likely to emerge or become diagnosable, including substance use disorders, a range of mental health disorders, and longer-term risks related to chronic disease and other health conditions. The ABCD-E extension is positioned as essential for preserving the value of the original investment in the cohort by capturing the transition period where early exposures, environments, and neurodevelopmental patterns may translate into measurable adult functioning and health.
This NOFO (RFA-DA-27-003) is specifically seeking two separate applications, both using the U24 cooperative agreement mechanism. One award would support the Research Coordinating Center (CC), and the other would support the Data Analysis, Informatics and Resource Center (DAIRC). These two centers are intended to function as the central backbone of the broader ABCD-E consortium, which is described as having three tightly integrated parts: multiple linked research project sites (funded through a companion solicitation), a single DAIRC, and a single overall Coordinating Center. The structure signals that NIH expects a highly coordinated, standardized, and centralized approach to managing study operations, data flow, analytics, and resource sharing across sites, rather than a loose federation of independent projects.
Because this is a cooperative agreement, the NIH is not just providing funds and stepping back. The announcement makes it clear that, if funded, investigators will work jointly with NIH scientific staff, who may assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities. In practical terms, that typically means the Coordinating Center and DAIRC will be expected to operate in close partnership with NIH program leadership on major decisions affecting study governance, harmonization, timelines, data releases, analytic priorities, and cross-site consistency. This is also why the NOFO is paired with a companion NOFO for the research project sites (RFA-DA-27-002): the centers funded here are meant to serve and integrate the work of those sites so the full ABCD-E enterprise runs as a single coordinated national study.
Eligibility is intentionally narrow. Even though the general eligible applicant types listed span many kinds of U.S.-based organizations (including governments, universities, nonprofits, and for-profits), this particular opportunity is a limited competition where only current award recipients can apply. Specifically, eligibility is limited to existing awardees under prior ABCD funding opportunities RFA-DA-20-004 and RFA-DA-20-003, as detailed in the NOFOs Section III. This restriction reflects NIHs intent to maintain continuity in leadership and infrastructure for a large, complex longitudinal study where institutional knowledge, established pipelines, and existing coordination systems are central to success.
The NOFO also draws clear boundaries around foreign participation. Non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as part of the application. At the same time, foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning certain kinds of foreign collaborations or elements can be included when justified and compliant, but the applicant organization and its primary components must remain domestic.
Administratively, the opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health as a discretionary funding opportunity using the cooperative agreement instrument, with activity in the health domain and CFDA/assistance listings that include 93.273, 93.279, 93.399, and 93.865. Applications will go through standard NIH peer review, and only those judged meritorious will be considered for funding, reinforcing that even within a limited pool of eligible current awardees, renewal is not automatic. The original closing date listed is 2026-07-09, and the notice was created on 2026-06-08. While an award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided excerpt, the narrative makes clear NIH intends to make two awards total under this NOFO: one for the Coordinating Center and one for the DAIRC.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a continuation and expansion of the ABCD national infrastructure rather than a call for new independent research studies. Its core goal is to preserve and enhance the studys ability to generate high-quality, harmonized longitudinal data and to support coordinated operations and analytics as participants age into emerging adulthood, when the long-term public health and developmental outcomes of greatest interest are most likely to become evident.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this NIH funding opportunity?
This opportunity is a limited-competition NIH Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for cooperative agreements using the U24 mechanism (clinical trial not allowed). It is focused on renewing and extending core infrastructure awards for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development - Extended (ABCD-E) study under NOFO RFA-DA-27-003.
What is the main purpose of the ABCD-E renewal?
The purpose is to continue following the existing ABCD cohort beyond adolescence into young adulthood. This period is emphasized as a key developmental window when outcomes tracked by the study are more likely to emerge or become diagnosable, including substance use disorders, a range of mental health disorders, and longer-term risks related to chronic disease and other health conditions.
Why is extending ABCD into young adulthood described as important?
The extension is positioned as essential for preserving the value of the original investment in the cohort. It aims to capture the transition period where earlier exposures, environments, and neurodevelopmental patterns may translate into measurable adult functioning and health outcomes.
Is this a call for new independent research studies?
No. Based on the description provided, this opportunity is best understood as continuation and expansion of national study infrastructure rather than a solicitation for new independent research projects. The emphasis is on coordinated operations, harmonized longitudinal data, analytics, and resource support for the broader ABCD-E enterprise.
How many awards does NIH intend to make under this NOFO?
The narrative indicates NIH intends to make two awards total under this NOFO: one award for a single Research Coordinating Center (CC) and one award for a single Data Analysis, Informatics and Resource Center (DAIRC).
What types of applications is NIH seeking?
NIH is specifically seeking two separate U24 cooperative agreement applications: one application to support the Coordinating Center (CC) and a separate application to support the Data Analysis, Informatics and Resource Center (DAIRC).
What does the Coordinating Center (CC) do in this structure?
The Coordinating Center is described as one of the two central backbone components for ABCD-E. While the excerpt does not list detailed tasks, it indicates the CC is intended to support centralized study operations and coordination across multiple linked research project sites in a tightly integrated, standardized consortium model.
What does the DAIRC do in this structure?
The DAIRC (Data Analysis, Informatics and Resource Center) is the second backbone component and is framed as the central hub for data analysis, informatics, and resource support across the ABCD-E consortium. The excerpt emphasizes centralized data flow, analytics, and resource sharing rather than site-by-site independent approaches.
How is the broader ABCD-E consortium organized?
The consortium is described as having three tightly integrated parts: (1) multiple linked research project sites funded through a companion solicitation, (2) a single DAIRC, and (3) a single overall Coordinating Center. This structure signals NIH expects a highly coordinated, standardized, and centralized national study.
Is there a companion funding opportunity for research project sites?
Yes. The NOFO is paired with a companion NOFO for the research project sites (RFA-DA-27-002). The centers funded under RFA-DA-27-003 are intended to serve and integrate the work of those sites so ABCD-E operates as one coordinated enterprise.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (U24)?
Because this is a cooperative agreement, NIH scientific staff are expected to have substantial involvement. The description states that investigators will work jointly with NIH staff, who may assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities. Practically, this implies close partnership with NIH program leadership on major decisions related to governance, harmonization, timelines, data releases, analytic priorities, and cross-site consistency.
Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?
No. The opportunity is specified as U24 with "clinical trial not allowed."
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited by design. Although NIH often lists broad categories of potentially eligible U.S.-based organizations, this NOFO is a limited competition where only current award recipients can apply. Specifically, eligibility is limited to existing awardees under prior ABCD funding opportunities RFA-DA-20-004 and RFA-DA-20-003, as referenced in the NOFO Section III.
Is this renewal funding automatic for current awardees?
No. Applications will go through standard NIH peer review, and only those judged meritorious will be considered for funding. The limited competition restricts who may apply, but it does not guarantee an award.
Can non-U.S. organizations apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component as part of its application?
No. The excerpt states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as part of the application.
Are any foreign collaborations allowed at all?
Yes, in a limited way. Foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. This indicates certain foreign collaborations or elements may be included when justified and compliant, but the applicant organization and its primary components must remain domestic.
Which agency is issuing this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a discretionary funding opportunity in the health domain.
What is the NOFO number provided for this opportunity?
The NOFO is identified as RFA-DA-27-003.
What are the assistance listing (CFDA) numbers associated with this opportunity?
The excerpt lists the following assistance listings: 93.273, 93.279, 93.399, and 93.865.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date listed in the excerpt is 2026-07-09.
When was this notice created?
The notice was created on 2026-06-08.
Does the excerpt specify an award ceiling or budget limit?
No. The provided excerpt states that an award ceiling is not specified.
Does the excerpt specify the expected number of awards?
While the excerpt notes that an expected number of awards is not specified in the provided portion, it also makes clear NIH intends to make two awards total under this NOFO (one CC and one DAIRC).
What is NIH trying to ensure through this centralized CC and DAIRC structure?
The described structure indicates NIH expects a highly coordinated, standardized approach across all research project sites, with centralized management of study operations, data flow, analytics, and resource sharing. It is explicitly framed as a tightly integrated consortium rather than a loose federation of independent projects.
What kinds of outcomes are highlighted as especially relevant during the ABCD-E extension period?
The excerpt highlights outcomes that are more likely to emerge or become diagnosable in young adulthood, including substance use disorders, a range of mental health disorders, and longer-term risks related to chronic disease and other health conditions.
How does NIH describe the value of continuing to follow the existing cohort?
NIH describes the extension as a way to preserve and enhance the value of the original cohort investment by observing how early exposures, environments, and neurodevelopmental patterns may translate into adult functioning and health during the transition into emerging adulthood.
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