DoW Autism Career Development Award
Supports early-career or transitioning investigators to conduct innovative autism research or early-phase proof-of-principle clinical trials with community collaboration.
⚑ Career Development Award for early-career independent investigators and/or investigators transitioning from other fields · Pilot clinical trial applications must include community collaborations and at least one community partner for advice/consultation · Strongly encouraged to address FY26 ARP Areas of Interest or justify relevance to a critical autism problem/need
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 58 good | peripheral portfolio topic: public_health; signature methods: community engaged; social/behavioral work is substantial; funds applied research; biomedical core — IPPRA health lane is communication/crisis/policy (capped); clinical-trial/biomedical core — IPPRA angle is policy/community (capped) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 55 good | technical depth: minor; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 30 weak | funds applied research; deep-tech content |
Description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Autism Research Program (ARP) Career Development Award supports early-career, independent investigators and/or the transition of established investigators from other research fields to conduct innovative, high-impact ideas or early-phase, proof-of-principle clinical trials with the potential to have a major impact on autism.
Distinctive Features:
Applications are strongly encouraged to address one of the FY26 ARP Career Development Award Areas of Interest or provide justification that the proposed research addresses a critical problem, question, or need in autism.
FY26 Career Development Award submissions with a pilot clinical trial component are required to include community collaborations to optimize research impact. Applications are expected to name at least one community partner (e.g., an Autistic individual or caregiver, representatives of community-based organizations) who will provide advice and consultation throughout the planning and implementation of the research project.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: JoAnn Martin Grantor <help@eBRAP.org>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Department of Defense (BAA-style) conventions SEE A DOD EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Department of Defense (BAA-style)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.