Novel Experiential Technologies Assisting Individual Learning (NExT AI) Hubs (P20 Clinical Trial Optional)
NIH will fund exploratory hub grants with a research project and leadership core to study how AI technologies affect learning, cognitive, and socio-emotional outcomes in children with or at risk for specific learning disabilities.
⚑ P20 hub mechanism with a required Research Project and Leadership Core · Clinical Trial Optional · Foreign organizations, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations, and foreign components are not allowed
This is an NIH child-development/learning-disabilities AI hub focused on SLDs, cognition, and socio-emotional outcomes in children—well outside IPPRA’s core lines in public opinion, risk communication, weather/emergency response, energy, and education policy evaluation. The only loose overlap is that Deven Carlson works in education policy, but this is clinical/developmental learning research rather than the team’s program.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-07-07
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds basic research |
| IPPRA | 65 good | outside portfolio topics; signature methods: community engaged, policy analysis; social/behavioral work is central; funds basic research; capped at 65 (limited social-science role) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 15 none | deep-tech content; no commercialization signal |
Description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) invites exploratory grant applications, hereafter referred to as the Novel Experiential Technologies Assisting Individual learning Hubs or NExT AI Hubs (formerly Learning Disabilities Innovation Hubs), to address the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies on developmental outcomes in children diagnosed with or at risk for developing a specific learning disability (SLD) impacting reading, writing, and mathematics. NExT AI Hubs include a single Research Project and a Leadership Core that support the goals and aims of the Hub. This NOFO seeks to serve as a catalyst to 1) speed the maturation of nascent/novel, high-impact, high-risk research that advances understanding of the role AI technology plays in supporting, improving, or limiting the learning, cognitive, and socio-emotional needs of children at risk for or diagnosed with SLDs, 2) build an evidence base for the SLD community to inform policy or practice, and 3) provide project-embedded, career-enhancing research and professional development opportunities to support the next generation of transdisciplinary SLD scientists. This initiative provides opportunities to support planning and building a body of research and corresponding intellectual infrastructure to enable NExT AI investigators to compete for large research and program project opportunities in the future.This NOFO aims to integrate research topics that are of relevance to various research programs at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and align with the NICHD Strategic Plan. The NOFO intends to build cross-programmatic, transdisciplinary and cross-cutting scientific research, and critically nurture the development of early career investigators capable of conducting this research.
Eligibility
Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organization) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: National Institutes of Health <nichdgrantsmanagement@mail.nih.gov>
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