NIH Brain Development Cohorts (NBDC) Biospecimen Access (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The NIH Brain Development Cohorts (NBDC) Biospecimen Access (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a resource access opportunity for researchers to obtain biospecimens from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The ABCD Study is the largest longitudinal study of brain development and child health in the United States, following over 11,000 children from ages 9-10 into young adulthood. This initiative, managed by NIH's NBDC Biorepository, provides access to biological samples such as oral fluid, whole blood, serum, deciduous teeth, and DNA to study topics related to adolescent brain development, health, and behavior, expanding on the scope of the ABCD’s open science model. This program supports a broad range of research objectives related to adolescent health, particularly concerning physical and mental health, substance use, and neurocognitive functions, to foster innovative research that can inform public health policies.

To apply, researchers must submit a Letter of Intent, called a Biospecimen Availability Inquiry, at least four weeks before the application due date, through the NBDC portal. This inquiry should outline the biospecimens needed, study time points, and demographic considerations, and will result in a Resource Availability and Impact Report, which applicants must include in their final submission. Applicants are encouraged to apply early and to carefully assess the sample availability to ensure adequate resources are available without compromising the integrity of the biorepository.

This X01 access award does not include direct funding. Applicants are expected to secure funding from other sources, such as relevant NIH programs like R01 or R21 grants, to cover the research and sample processing costs. Funding sources and relevant documentation, such as a Notice of Award, must be submitted along with the application. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate secured funds, assay capabilities, and compliance with ABCD’s informed consent terms. Access to the biospecimens will be granted based on the research's scientific significance, the availability of resources, and the potential impact of the research on the biorepository's inventory.

Eligible organizations include U.S. and non-U.S. academic institutions, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and governmental entities. All applicants must have completed required registrations through SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. In preparing the application, researchers must highlight their familiarity with the ABCD study protocols and provide a detailed study design, justification for specimen use, laboratory assay methods, statistical analysis plans, and discussions on the potential risks and benefits of the research, particularly if race- or ethnicity-related constructs are involved. The application must also include documentation to support assay validity, quality control measures, and power calculations to justify sample sizes.

Applications will be reviewed by a federal panel convened by the NIH, focusing on the scientific merit, the adequacy of the requested biospecimens, and the potential impact on the repository. A strong proposal will illustrate how the requested biospecimens will support significant advances in adolescent health knowledge and adhere to ABCD’s study framework, including data sharing, informed consent compliance, and specimen management.

Once selected, successful applicants will receive access to the NBDC resources rather than a Notice of Award. They must comply with ABCD’s Data Use Certification and the NBDC Specimen and Data Use Agreement, including regular performance reviews. While no funds are awarded directly, researchers may pursue additional NIH parent announcements and other related funding sources to support this work.