ABCD brain and child development at Florida International University
4/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT FIU
Following a large group of children from late childhood into young adulthood to see how their brains, health, and behavior change over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida International University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Miami, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302649 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child joins at the FIU site, they'll get a thorough baseline visit with brain scans, thinking and behavior tests, and biological samples like blood or saliva. The team checks in every year by phone or app and does a detailed in-person visit with imaging and tests about every two years as kids grow up. The ABCD consortium enrolled nearly 12,000 children around age 9–10 and follows them across adolescence to learn how things like school, sports, substance use, and home life affect development. Being part of this study means helping researchers build a big resource that could guide future ways to support kids' mental and physical health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Best for children who were around 9–10 years old at initial enrollment and their families, especially those living near the FIU/Miami area who can attend in-person visits.
Not a fit: Children seeking immediate clinical treatment or those with urgent medical needs are unlikely to receive direct therapeutic benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help researchers spot early signs and patterns that lead to better prevention, support, and treatments for kids as they grow.
How similar studies have performed: Large brain imaging and long-term cohort studies have produced many useful findings about development, making this approach well-established for learning how childhood experiences shape health.
Where this research is happening
Miami, United States
- Florida International University — Miami, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gonzalez, Raul — Florida International University
- Study coordinator: Gonzalez, Raul
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.