Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development program at University of Florida
18/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Following children who were 9–10 years old to learn how their brains, mental health, and behaviors change through adolescence and into early adulthood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302645 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child joins, they would get a detailed baseline visit with brain scans, thinking and behavior tests, and health and environment questionnaires. The team collects biological samples and information about substance use, mood, physical health, and family and school life. Participants come back for more detailed visits every two years, with shorter yearly interviews and phone or app check-ins in between. The goal is long-term tracking so researchers can see how experiences shape brain and mental-health development over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are children who enrolled at about 9–10 years old and their families, now followed through adolescence and into early adulthood.
Not a fit: People who were not part of the original cohort or adults seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to gain direct personal benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help doctors and schools recognize typical and atypical development earlier, guiding prevention and better-targeted supports for young people.
How similar studies have performed: Previous smaller longitudinal brain-imaging studies have advanced understanding of development, and ABCD is a much larger, more comprehensive effort building on that work.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nixon, Sara Jo — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Nixon, Sara Jo
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.