ABCD child and teen brain development at MUSC
13/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT MUSC
Following a large group of kids who started at age 9–10 to learn how their brains, health, and behavior change through adolescence.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302693 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
ABCD follows thousands of children over many years at multiple U.S. sites, including MUSC, to track brain and health development from late childhood into young adulthood. Participants completed a detailed baseline visit with MRI brain scans, cognitive testing, biological samples, and questionnaires about mood, substance use, and their environment, with similar in-depth visits every two years. The study also uses yearly in-person interviews and brief phone or app check-ins between visits to capture faster changes with less burden. Families participate by attending periodic visits, providing samples, and answering questions so researchers can connect brain changes to behavior and life experiences.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are children around 9–10 years old and their parents who can commit to periodic in-person visits and brief phone or app check-ins over several years.
Not a fit: People who were not enrolled as children, those unable to travel to the MUSC site for visits, or those who cannot tolerate MRI scans may not benefit from joining this site.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help identify early patterns of healthy or risky brain development to guide prevention and better supports for children and teens.
How similar studies have performed: Other long-term brain imaging and cohort studies have produced important insights, and ABCD expands this work on a much larger, nationally diverse scale.
Where this research is happening
Charleston, United States
- Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Squeglia, Lindsay — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Squeglia, Lindsay
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.