The U.S. Food and Drug Administration launched the Neuroscience Advancement and Innovation Nexus on October 22, 2026, to support development of medical products for conditions affecting the brain and nervous system.
The program, known as NAIN, will coordinate scientific and regulatory expertise across FDA centers responsible for drugs, biologics and medical devices. Its work will include neurologic and psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders and pain.
Alzheimer’s Prevention Accelerator
NAIN’s first initiative is the Alzheimer’s Prevention Accelerator, which will focus on products intended to delay or prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The accelerator will examine clinical-trial design and early-intervention drug development.
Its work will address appropriate trial populations, endpoints matched to disease stages and evidentiary approaches for showing that a product can prevent or delay cognitive decline. Participants will include patients and caregivers, researchers, industry representatives, public-private partnerships and other government agencies.
NAIN and the accelerator support the National Alzheimer’s Project Act. The broader program will engage patients, industry, academia and other stakeholders.
FDA Coordination
FDA centers contributing expertise include the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research and the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said the initiative will bring together regulatory science and cross-center collaboration as neuroscience advances. “Through NAIN and the Alzheimer’s Prevention Accelerator, we are bringing the full breadth of FDA’s expertise to bear,” Diamantas said.
The FDA operates within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agency listed 202-690-6343 for media inquiries and 888-INFO-FDA for consumers.