Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 27 006
The Novel Experiential Technologies Assisting Individual Learning (NExT AI) Hubs (P20 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA HD 27 006) is an NIH grant program designed to jump-start exploratory, high-impact research on how artificial intelligence technologies affect developmental outcomes for children who have, or are at risk for developing, specific learning disabilities (SLDs) in reading, writing, and mathematics. The focus is not simply on whether AI tools can raise test scores, but on building a clearer scientific understanding of how AI-enabled experiences may support, improve, or in some cases constrain childrens learning trajectories, cognitive development, and socio-emotional functioning. The program is positioned as an early-stage catalyst, meaning it is meant to help investigators develop promising ideas, generate foundational evidence, and establish the intellectual and collaborative infrastructure needed to pursue larger-scale NIH research mechanisms later.
Each funded Hub is structured around two required components: a single Research Project and a Leadership Core. The Research Project is where the main scientific work happens, centered on novel or emerging questions about AI technologies and children with or at risk for SLDs. The Leadership Core is intended to provide the organizing backbone for the Hub, supporting coordination, strategic direction, and the professional development environment that the NOFO emphasizes. Together, these pieces are meant to function like a small, focused center: not a large multi-project program yet, but something more substantial than a typical single-investigator award because it intentionally builds a team, shared direction, and a training-and-mentoring ecosystem.
The NOFO lays out three major goals. First, it aims to accelerate the development of nascent and potentially high-risk, high-reward research that can clarify AIs role in learning for this population, including benefits, limitations, and unintended effects. Second, it seeks to build an evidence base that the broader SLD community can use to inform real-world policy and practice, which signals that the program is interested in research that can ultimately guide educators, clinicians, families, and decision-makers facing rapid adoption of AI tools in schools and learning environments. Third, it prioritizes developing the next generation of transdisciplinary SLD scientists by embedding career-enhancing research experiences and professional development directly into Hub activities, with particular attention to nurturing early career investigators who can operate across disciplinary boundaries (for example, integrating learning science, developmental psychology, special education, data science, AI/ML, ethics, and clinical or school-based research methods).
The initiative is administered by the National Institutes of Health and is aligned with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Developments (NICHD) broader strategic priorities. A key theme is cross-programmatic and cross-cutting science, meaning the program expects applicants to bring together expertise that typically sits in different silos and to develop research approaches that speak to multiple stakeholder needs. The clinical trial designation is "optional," which generally means the mechanism allows clinical trials when appropriate but does not require them; projects can range from foundational and translational work through to intervention-oriented studies depending on what is scientifically justified.
In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations, including various levels of government entities, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), tribal governments and tribal organizations, and certain housing authorities. At the same time, the NOFO is explicit that foreign organizations cannot apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components are not allowed under NIH policy for this opportunity, effectively keeping the funded work fully domestic in terms of institutional and project components.
Operationally, the opportunity is competitive and limited in scale, with an expected three awards. The original application due date listed is October 2, 2026, and the program is categorized under NIH discretionary grant funding in the health domain (CFDA 93.865). Overall, the NExT AI Hubs program is best understood as a targeted incubator for rigorous, forward-looking research on AI in learning for children with SLD vulnerabilities, with equal emphasis on building credible evidence for the field and building the people and collaborations that will carry the science into larger future efforts.Apply for RFA HD 27 006
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Novel Experiential Technologies Assisting Individual Learning (NExT AI) Hubs (P20 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NExT AI Hubs (P20 Clinical Trial Optional) - RFA HD 27-006
1) What is the NExT AI Hubs funding opportunity?
The Novel Experiential Technologies Assisting Individual Learning (NExT AI) Hubs (P20 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity (RFA HD 27-006) is an NIH grant program intended to jump-start exploratory, high-impact research on how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies influence developmental outcomes for children who have, or are at risk for developing, specific learning disabilities (SLDs) in reading, writing, and mathematics.
2) What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is designed as an early-stage catalyst. Its purpose is to help investigators develop promising ideas, generate foundational evidence, and build the intellectual and collaborative infrastructure needed to pursue larger-scale NIH funding mechanisms later.
3) What types of learning challenges does this opportunity focus on?
This opportunity focuses on children with, or at risk for, specific learning disabilities (SLDs) in reading, writing, and mathematics.
4) Is the goal simply to test whether AI tools improve test scores?
No. The focus is not limited to whether AI raises test scores. The emphasis is on building scientific understanding of how AI-enabled experiences may support, improve, or in some cases constrain children’s learning trajectories, cognitive development, and socio-emotional functioning.
5) What does "Hub" mean in this program?
A funded Hub is intended to operate like a small, focused center. It is more substantial than a typical single-investigator award because it intentionally builds a team, a shared direction, and a training-and-mentoring ecosystem, but it is not yet a large multi-project center program.
6) What are the required components of a Hub application?
Each Hub must include two required components: (1) a single Research Project and (2) a Leadership Core.
7) What is the Research Project component?
The Research Project is where the main scientific work happens. It should address novel or emerging questions about AI technologies and children with or at risk for SLDs.
8) What is the Leadership Core component?
The Leadership Core provides the organizing backbone for the Hub. It supports coordination, strategic direction, and the professional development environment emphasized in the funding opportunity.
9) What are the major goals of the NExT AI Hubs program?
The program highlights three major goals:
- Accelerate nascent and potentially high-risk, high-reward research clarifying AI’s role in learning for children with or at risk for SLDs, including benefits, limitations, and unintended effects.
- Build an evidence base that can inform real-world policy and practice for educators, clinicians, families, and decision-makers navigating rapid adoption of AI tools.
- Develop the next generation of transdisciplinary SLD scientists by embedding career-enhancing research experiences and professional development into Hub activities, with particular attention to early career investigators.
10) Who is the sponsoring agency for this opportunity?
The initiative is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and aligned with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) strategic priorities.
11) What does "transdisciplinary" mean in the context of this NOFO?
The opportunity emphasizes cross-programmatic and cross-cutting science. Applicants are expected to bring together expertise that often sits in different silos, potentially integrating fields such as learning science, developmental psychology, special education, data science, AI/ML, ethics, and clinical or school-based research methods.
12) Are clinical trials required?
No. The clinical trial designation is "optional," meaning clinical trials are allowed when appropriate but are not required. Projects may range from foundational and translational work to intervention-oriented studies, depending on what is scientifically justified.
13) How many awards does NIH expect to make?
The opportunity is competitive and limited in scale, with an expected three awards.
14) What is the application due date listed for this opportunity?
The original application due date listed is October 2, 2026.
15) What is the funding mechanism type referenced in the opportunity title?
The mechanism is described as P20 (Clinical Trial Optional), which is positioned here as an early-stage, incubator-style structure for building foundational evidence and a collaborative environment.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. The opportunity lists eligible applicants such as:
- Various levels of government entities
- Independent school districts
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- Tribal governments and tribal organizations
- Certain housing authorities
17) Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. The funding opportunity explicitly states that foreign organizations cannot apply.
18) Can a U.S. organization include a foreign component or non-U.S. component in its project?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components are not allowed under NIH policy for this opportunity.
19) Does the opportunity emphasize real-world relevance beyond research publications?
Yes. One stated aim is to build an evidence base that the broader SLD community can use to inform real-world policy and practice, reflecting the need for research that can ultimately guide stakeholders as AI tools rapidly enter schools and learning environments.
20) What kinds of impacts or outcomes does the program care about?
The program explicitly highlights children’s learning trajectories, cognitive development, and socio-emotional functioning, including potential benefits, limitations, and unintended effects of AI-enabled experiences.
21) What is the CFDA number and general domain for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under NIH discretionary grant funding in the health domain and lists CFDA 93.865.
22) How should applicants think about the overall role of this program in a research portfolio?
The NExT AI Hubs program is positioned as a targeted incubator. It is intended to support rigorous, forward-looking research and also help build the people and collaborations that can carry the science into larger future NIH efforts.
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