Deadline: 14 September 2023
The Simons Foundation is seeking applications for Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) Pilot Awards from individuals who will conduct bold, imaginative, rigorous and relevant research.
The goal of the Pilot Award is to provide early support for exploratory ideas, particularly those with novel hypotheses. Appropriate projects for this mechanism include those considered higher risk but with the potential for transformative results. Projects that represent continuations of ongoing work (whether funded by SFARI or other funders) are not appropriate for this mechanism.
This funding mechanism is particularly suitable for investigators who are new to the autism field, though they encourage those new to the field to consult with experts in autism research to ensure their projects are relevant to the human condition.
In particular, they encourage applications that propose research to link genetic or other ASD risk factors to molecular, cellular, circuit or behavioral mechanisms and set the stage for development of novel interventions. Projects proposing work solely in human subjects are out of scope for the Pilot RFA. These projects are considered in the Human Cognitive and Behavioral Science RFA.
Funding Information
- The total budget of a Pilot Award is $300,000 or less, including 20 percent indirect costs, over a period of up to two (2) years. Allowable Indirect costs to the primary institution for subcontracts are not included in the $300,000 total budget threshold.
Eligibility Criteria
- All applicants and key collaborators must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree and have a faculty position or the equivalent at a college, university, medical school or other research facility.
- Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign nonprofit organizations; public and private institutions, such as colleges, universities, hospitals, laboratories, and units of state and local government; and eligible agencies of the federal government. There are no citizenship or country requirements.
- The Foundation will not accept applications that have previously been considered three or more times (regardless of which RFA they were previously submitted to).
For more information, visit Simons Foundation.
