National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA)

 
 
Scientific Mission
 
The National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA) consortium, which started in 2012, is a nation-wide effort to determine the effects of alcohol exposure on the developmental trajectory of the human adolescent brain, and to identify neurobehavioral vulnerabilities that may place an adolescent at risk for the subsequent development of alcohol use disorders. 
 
 
About NCANDA
 
The NCANDA consortium is composed of an Administrative component at the University of California San Diego, a Data Analysis and Informatics component at SRI International, and five research sites (University of California San Diego, SRI International, Duke University, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Oregon Health & Science University).  A sample of 831 individuals (ages 12-21) were recruited for the study across the five research sites.  The enrolled participants are followed in an accelerated longitudinal design that involves structural and functional imaging of the brain along with extensive neuropsychological and clinical assessments.
 
The NIAAA distributes NCANDA data to qualified investigators to promote open and public sharing of data and to accelerate the process of discovery.  See Access to NCANDA Data to learn more about procedures for accessing data from the NCANDA Repository.
 
 
Database Contents
 
The database contains data collected by the five research sites for the standardized Consortium-wide protocol that were sent to the central Data Analysis and Informatics component of the NCANDA consortium at SRI International in Menlo Park, CA.  This component is responsible for quality control, analysis, and sharing of the consortium data.  The data include structural magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state and task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging, as well as data from the neuropsychological assessment battery and clinical and demographic information for the study participants.
     
 
 
Access to NCANDA Data
 
Researchers may gain access to research and clinical data from the NCANDA consortium subject to approval by NIAAA, by completing an application consisting of the following documents:
  • A cover letter containing the name, mailing address, email address, fax number, and telephone number of the principal investigator.  The letter should be on the letterhead of the sponsoring institution at which the research study will be conducted.
  • Curriculum vitae of the principal investigator and all co-investigators.
  •  A 1-2 page description of the proposed research study.
  • A completed Data Distribution Agreement, including specification of the research study to be conducted, and signatures of the principal investigator and an authorized representative of the sponsoring institution. 

Download a PDF version of the Data Distribution Agreement (PDF 561 KB).

 
The above material should be sent to:
 
Antonio Noronha, Ph.D.
Director, Division of Neuroscience & Behavior
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
6700B Rockledge Drive, Room 1238
Bethesda, MD 20892-6902 (for USPS mail)
(Bethesda, Maryland 20817-6902 for courier/overnight mail service)
Telephone: 301-443-7722
Fax: 301-443-1650
 
 
After certification, the principal investigator will receive information about how to access electronic data files and other documentation from the NCANDA Repository at Synapse.

Visit the web site for NCANDA for more information.

Updated July 2018