diff --git a/core/nwb.file.yaml b/core/nwb.file.yaml
index a751315d..7e2ef056 100644
--- a/core/nwb.file.yaml
+++ b/core/nwb.file.yaml
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ groups:
   attributes:
   - name: nwb_version
     dtype: text
-    value: "2.9.0"
+    value: "2.10.0-alpha"
     doc: File version string. Use semantic versioning, e.g. 1.2.1. This will be the
       name of the format with trailing major, minor and patch numbers.
   datasets:
@@ -449,6 +449,13 @@ groups:
     dtype: text
     doc: Strain of subject.
     quantity: '?'
+    attributes:
+      - name: rrid
+        doc: "Research Resource Identifier (RRID) of the strain, 
+          e.g., 'RRID:IMSR_JAX:000664'. This allows for standardized 
+          identification and referencing of the strain."
+        dtype: text
+        required: false
   - name: subject_id
     dtype: text
     doc: ID of animal/person used/participating in experiment (lab convention).
diff --git a/core/nwb.namespace.yaml b/core/nwb.namespace.yaml
index 784ed44a..1c02691e 100644
--- a/core/nwb.namespace.yaml
+++ b/core/nwb.namespace.yaml
@@ -57,4 +57,4 @@ namespaces:
   - doc: This source module contains neurodata_type for retinotopy data.
     source: nwb.retinotopy.yaml
     title: Retinotopy
-  version: "2.9.0"
+  version: "2.10.0-alpha"
diff --git a/docs/format/source/conf.py b/docs/format/source/conf.py
index 1675b0c9..f5196e95 100644
--- a/docs/format/source/conf.py
+++ b/docs/format/source/conf.py
@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@ def setup(app):
 # built documents.
 #
 # The short X.Y version.
-version = '2.9.0'
+version = '2.10.0'
 # The full version, including alpha/beta/rc tags.
-release = '2.9.0'
+release = '2.10.0-alpha'
 
 # The language for content autogenerated by Sphinx. Refer to documentation
 # for a list of supported languages.
diff --git a/docs/format/source/format_release_notes.rst b/docs/format/source/format_release_notes.rst
index 237afe2c..32eaa6fa 100644
--- a/docs/format/source/format_release_notes.rst
+++ b/docs/format/source/format_release_notes.rst
@@ -1,7 +1,17 @@
+
 .. _nwb-schema-release-notes:
 
 Release Notes
-=============
+
+2.10.0 (Upcoming)
+-----------------
+
+Minor changes
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+- Added optional ``rrid`` attribute to ``Subject.strain`` to store Research Resource Identifiers (RRIDs) 
+  for animal strains (e.g., 'RRID:IMSR_JAX:000664'). This enables standardized identification and 
+  referencing of strains, facilitating integration with DANDI metadata and allowing queries by strain. (#652)
+
 
 2.9.0 (June 26, 2025)
 ---------------------