Tracking teen brain development and substance use at VCU
20/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT VCU
Following children who were 9–10 at the start with brain scans, interviews, and app check-ins to watch brain development, substance use, and mental health through the teen years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11304582 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You or your child would get regular brain MRI scans, memory and thinking tests, and short interviews about health, mood, and substance use. The VCU site enrolled 554 children as part of a nationwide group of about 11,878 participants and follows them with yearly in-person visits plus twice-yearly phone or app check-ins. Researchers also collect bio-samples and use mobile monitoring to track behavior and environment over time. The focus is on how early experiences, substance use, and social factors relate to brain development and mental health as kids become teenagers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children who were about 9–10 years old at enrollment (and their families) who can attend VCU for MRI and follow-up visits are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Adults outside the childhood/adolescent age range or people who cannot undergo MRI or commit to long-term follow-up are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help spot early signs of risk and guide better prevention and support for teens' mental and brain health.
How similar studies have performed: Long-term neuroimaging and developmental cohorts have produced important findings, but the ABCD consortium's large, multi-site design and repeated measures are relatively unique.
Where this research is happening
Richmond, United States
- Virginia Commonwealth University — Richmond, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bjork, James M — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Bjork, James M
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.