Open Grants & How to Apply

Grants Programs

Autism Speaks supports global biomedical research into the diagnosis, causes, prevention, and treatment of autism or its disabling symptoms. Our mission is to improve the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. In support of that mission we provide funding along the entire research continuum - from discovery to development to dissemination - for innovative projects that hold considerable promise for significantly improving the lives of those affected by autism.

Autism Speaks holds a variety of investigator-initiated grant calls. We are pleased to be able to support many different types of projects, each critical for advancing all phases of autism research, from basic to clinical to treatment. These grants are crucial for allowing investigators to gain enough data to be able to attract even larger, multi-year commitments from the NIH and other traditional medical research funding organizations.

Fellowships provide the necessary resources to support and encourage the development of young scientists who benefit from the mentorship of prominent researchers. We believe the investment in autism research training will grow exponentially as many of our fellows later assume teaching roles and join departments around the country and the world, many of which currently have no representation in autism research.

Autism Speaks research funding will be restricted to projects that address one of the following priorities:

• Identify risk factors for ASD that can lead to prevention and improved diagnosis and treatment
• Reduce age of detection and improve access to early intervention for children with ASD
• Enhance quality of, and access to, medical care for individuals with ASD
• Promote the development of safe, effective interventions and medicines to reduce core and associated symptoms of ASD throughout the lifespan
• Improve the health and outcomes of adults with ASD from a lifetime perspective 

Examples of types of projects that would be relevant include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Biomarkers, genetics, genomics and their clinical utility
• Environmental risk factors and gene-environment interactions
• Preclinical research aimed at understanding pathophysiology, target identification and validation, including immune mechanisms in autism
• Clinical characterization, stratification of clinical samples using gene-phenotype algorithms
• Novel Treatments
• Effectiveness studies and dissemination science
• Biorepositories and bioinformatic support, and other resources to accelerate research

For all applications, the relevance of the proposed research to Autism Speaks targeted research priorities (outlined above and in the RFA) must be explicit. Please refer to the specific Request for Applications (RFA) for the details of eligibility, the application, process, and access to the  Autism Speaks grant system.

Requests for Applications (RFAs)

Suzanne and Bob Wright Trailblazer Award [updated 4/2/2013] - No deadline; Letters of Intent accepted anytime.

12 month awards for highly novel "out of the box" transformative projects. 

Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network - Closed as of April 18, 2013. Application deadline (by invitation only): June 20, 2013, 8:00 pm US Eastern Time.

FULL APPLICATION RFA HERE

This collaborative network consists of hospitals and academic medical centers with experience in providing outstanding care to children with ASD.  This new RFA aims to broaden the spread of the comprehensive clinical care model that the AS-ATN has developed over the past few years through active inclusion of primary care provider networks in the local communities. Applications are encouraged from institutions that have an established autism clinical program that provides on-going, comprehensive, multidisciplinary medical care for children and adolescents with ASD. More AS-ATN information HERE and AS-ATN Q&A Webinar slides HERE. 

Early Access to Care - Closed as of May 14, 2013. Now in Review. #

Research studies aimed at reducing the age of autism diagnosis and improving access to early intervention. Proposed projects should take place within the United States. 

Treatment Research for 2013 # - Closed as of May 8, 2013. Now in Review #

Full- and Pilot-Level Treatment research grant applications to conduct innovative clinical studies of novel interventions for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) throughout the lifespan.

Postdoctoral Fellowships in Translational Research for 2013 - Closed as of January 30, 2013. Now in Review.

Two-year fellowships designed to support promising, well-qualified postdoctoral scientists pursuing training in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) translational research. 

Dennis Weatherstone Predoctoral Fellowships for 2013 - Closed as of November 14, 2012. Awards announced. #

Two-year fellowships for predoctoral students interested in pursuing careers in autism research. More information about the recently awarded Weatherstone fellowships can be found here.  

Basic and Clinical Research (Full & Pilot Levels) - Will not be offered in 2013. [2012 RFA for reference]

Other Application/Grant Information

Announcements of new RFAs will appear on this page and in the e-Speaks newsletter. Researchers can sign up to receive email notification of new RFAs by clicking here: http://events.autismspeaks.org/openRFAs

Autism Speaks Review Process

Autism Speaks' Science Program Policies

Apply Online:

All proposals must be submitted online via the Autism Speaks Science Grants System. Through its various user-friendly features, applicants and corresponding host institutions can monitor the status of their applications and interact with the Autism Speaks grant administration staff. System access instructions can be found in the RFAs.

Electronic submissions are mandatory. No paper or e-mailed applications will be accepted. For inquiries, please contact:

Joan L. New, Grants Manager (for Scientific Research Grants)
Autism Speaks
1060 State Road, 2nd Floor
Princeton, NJ 08540

Phone: (609) 228-7313 | Fax: (609) 430-9163 | jnew@autismspeaks.org

For information on Family Services Community Grants, click HERE.

Funding Timetable: