Image source: ASF banner from RFA
Objectives/funding priorities: To fund clinical research focused on participants with “profound” autism.
Types of grants funded: pilot studies, clinical research proposals (encouraged but not required)
Eligibility:
- Applicants must have an M.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., or Sc.D., plus a faculty or postdoctoral position at a university or institution or an organization with 501c3 status.
- U.S. citizens or non-U.S. citizens can apply as long as they hold a position at a university
Level of funding provided: $35,000 for one year of research
Key issues: Autism Science Foundation created the RFA to increase knowledge of profound autism. The Lancet Commission on the Future of Care and Clinical Research reported concerns that researchers neglect to include participants with profound autism, leading to societal misunderstanding regarding the nature of autism. The report defines profound autism as children (over the age of 8) and adults who (a) require constant care, (b) exhibit intellectual disability (i.e., <50 IQ), and (c) are minimally verbal.
The foundation held a Q&A session to discuss the RFA and stated that they recommend applicants submit proposals for clinical research (e.g., intervention study) instead of basic research (e.g., analyzing genomes).
Applicants should work with Patient Advocacy Groups (PAGs). The funding agency does not require applicants to collaborate with PAGs, but they state that applicants who include a letter of support from a PAG are given “preference” during the application process.
Links
- Application/guide: https://autismsciencefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Profound-Autism-RFA_final-1.pdf
- Website: https://autismsciencefoundation.org/
- Examples of funded grants: This year marks the first year of the RFA, so there are no examples of previously funded research.
Here is an article discussing the launch of this new grant:
Autism Science Foundation launches first-of-its-kind ‘profound autism’ funding mechanism
Application due date: September 22, 2022