NIJ FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development: Social Development Sub-study (ABCD-SD) | O NIJ 2026 172757

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NIJ FY 2026 Invited to Apply - Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development: Social Development Sub-study (ABCD-SD) opportunity?

This is a continuation funding opportunity from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to keep an existing NIJ-supported sub-study operating within the larger Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, which is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The ABCD-SD effort focuses on integrating and maintaining measures related to delinquency and victimization across five ABCD data-collection sites so researchers can examine social development and justice-related experiences alongside adolescent substance use patterns and brain development over time.

Is this grant intended to start a new project?

No. The award is structured to preserve and extend an ongoing research infrastructure rather than launch a new project. It emphasizes maintaining consistent, longitudinal data collection and keeping the sub-study operational as part of the broader ABCD framework.

What is the main purpose of the ABCD-SD Sub-study?

The sub-study is designed to support research at the intersection of public health, developmental neuroscience, and juvenile justice. It aims to better understand relationships and potential feedback loops among substance use, brain and cognitive development, delinquent behavior, juvenile justice system contact, and victimization by tracking these domains repeatedly over time.

What kinds of research questions is the sub-study designed to address?

Based on the provided description, the sub-study is positioned to examine timing and trajectories, such as when certain risks emerge, how they co-occur, and whether experiences like juvenile justice system involvement or victimization predict later outcomes in behavior, substance use, or neurodevelopmental markers.

Why is longitudinal data collection emphasized in this opportunity?

The continuation award supports following participants over time with repeated assessments across five participating sites. This repeated, longitudinal approach is essential for capturing developmental change and trajectories rather than relying on one-time snapshots.

What are the two core components funded by this continuation award?

Funding under this continuation award supports: (1) a coordinating center function and (2) ongoing longitudinal data collection at the five participating sites.

What does the coordinating center function include?

The coordinating center role typically includes harmonizing protocols across the five sites, managing data workflows and quality assurance, coordinating training and oversight, and ensuring that measures related to delinquency, victimization, and justice involvement are collected consistently and integrated into the broader ABCD framework.

How many sites are involved in the ABCD-SD longitudinal data collection supported by this award?

The opportunity describes ongoing longitudinal data collection at five participating ABCD data-collection sites.

What funding mechanism is used for this award?

This award is offered as a cooperative agreement. In general, that means NIJ expects to have substantial involvement in the project’s implementation, coordination, and oversight compared to a standard grant.

What does NIJ’s “substantial involvement” imply for this project?

As described, the cooperative agreement structure indicates NIJ anticipates an active role in implementation, coordination, and oversight. The opportunity is framed around maintaining a multi-site, harmonized infrastructure, which aligns with an approach involving close federal involvement.

What is the program area or focus listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to a research and development focus listed under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA 16.560.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is O NIJ 2026 172757.

What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The original closing date stated is September 18, 2026.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The stated award ceiling is $1,900,000.

How many awards does NIJ expect to make under this solicitation?

NIJ expects to make a single award (Expected Awards: 1). This reflects that the solicitation is a narrowly targeted continuation mechanism rather than an open call for multiple new applicants.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted. Only the University of Pittsburgh applicant that received an official NIJ invitation letter is eligible to apply, and the specific eligibility requirements are contained in that invitation letter.

Can organizations other than the invited University of Pittsburgh applicant apply?

No. The opportunity is described as “invited to apply,” and eligibility is limited to the University of Pittsburgh applicant that received the official NIJ invitation letter.

Where are the detailed eligibility requirements described?

The specific eligibility requirements are contained in the official NIJ invitation letter referenced in the opportunity description.

Why is the solicitation “invited to apply” instead of open competition?

The description explains that this structure is typical for certain continuation or supplemental funding actions where NIJ supports an existing project team and established study infrastructure rather than selecting among multiple competing proposals.

How does this sub-study relate to the larger ABCD Study?

The ABCD-SD Sub-study operates within the broader ABCD Study (funded by NIDA). Its role is to integrate and maintain delinquency and victimization measures across five ABCD sites so these justice-related and social development measures can be examined alongside substance use patterns and brain development over time.

What types of measures are being integrated and maintained through this award?

The opportunity specifically emphasizes measures related to delinquency, victimization, and justice involvement, collected consistently across five sites and integrated into the broader ABCD framework.

Does NIJ anticipate future funding beyond this continuation award?

Yes. NIJ signals that it anticipates supporting additional waves of follow-up through future supplements to this award, reflecting a longer-range plan to track social development from adolescence into young adulthood.

What role does this continuation award play in the longer-term research plan?

As described, the continuation award functions as the operational backbone to keep the sub-study running now, while creating a platform for subsequent follow-on data collection as the cohort ages.