Grants
The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) is a research campaign to improve the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders by funding, catalyzing and driving innovative research of the greatest quality and relevance. Although SFARI's priority is to benefit individuals challenged by autism spectrum disorders, its efforts are certain to yield insights into the neural mechanisms of fundamental human capabilities, thereby promoting the broader mission of the Simons Foundation to advance the frontiers of research in the basic sciences and mathematics.
We solicit applications for SFARI Awards from individuals who will conduct bold, imaginative, rigorous and relevant research in three main research areas: cognition and behavior, gene discovery and molecular mechanisms.
The Simons Foundation does not give grants to individuals, except through their institutions.
Mouse phenotyping RFA
The RFA submission deadline has passed and applications are no longer being accepted.
SFARI is pleased to announce a Request for Applications to perform systematic, rigorous and scalable behavioral phenotyping of several mouse models of high interest to the foundation. The results of this project should maximize the ability to make direct comparisons in order to identify commonalities and differences among models, and thus facilitate the development of biomedical interventions for autism spectrum disorders.
The investigative team should include members with strong expertise in mouse behavior, be able to demonstrate access to appropriate infrastructure and resources, and have a track record of success with sizable collaborative efforts. In addition, proposals should include plans with substantial levels of automation for data collection, standardized methods for data analyses, and timely dissemination of data within one year of starting data collection.
SFARI will work in partnership with the awarded investigative team(s) on key aspects of the project. The deadline for proposal submission is 5 March, 2012, 5 p.m. EST; notification of award is expected in June 2012, with funding expected to begin July 2012.
To view a full description of this Request for Applications, click here.
SFARI award types
SFARI Explorer Award
Application type for proposals requesting support of exploratory experiments that will strengthen hypotheses and lead to the formulation of competitive applications for subsequent larger-scale funding by SFARI or other organizations. Innovative, high-risk/high-impact proposals are encouraged. We especially encourage applications from investigators who are new to the field of autism, but who have expertise that could be brought to bear on this complex disorder. The maximum budget is $60,000, including indirect costs, for one (1) year, non-renewable. Applications are accepted year-round and decisions about funding are made within about a month by SFARI science staff.
To view the RFA for this award type click here.
SFARI Pilot Award
Application type for innovative, high-impact proposals requesting support for small-scale projects, or for early-stage experiments that will build on preliminary data or prior track record, and lead to competitive applications for funding by SFARI or other organizations. Investigators new to the field of autism are encouraged to apply for Pilot Awards. The maximum budget is $125,000, including indirect costs, per year for up to two (2) years.
To view the RFA for this award type click here.
SFARI Research Award
Application type for investigators with demonstrated expertise for proposals requesting support for compelling, high-impact research on an experimental hypothesis for which, in most cases, preliminary data have already been gathered. The foundation will also consider projects focusing on a central hypothesis where success depends on close collaboration between two or more labs. We expect to fund proposals for a maximum of $250,000, including indirect costs, per year for up to three (3) years, but under exceptional circumstances will consider proposals at higher levels. All budgets over $250,000 per year require pre-approval by SFARI science staff (sciencerfa@simonsfoundation.org).
To view the RFA for this award type click here.
SFARI SSC Award
Application type to support studies that build on the phenotyping and genotyping of the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC), or associated biospecimens. We will consider applications that may involve analyses of the existing data and biospecimens and/or recontacting SSC families for follow-up studies, including, but not limited to, studies focused on molecular mechanisms, circuits, anatomy, cognition, subgroup comparisons, behavior, biomarkers and candidate therapies. We are specifically interested in helping to launch longitudinal studies that examine the developmental trajectories of children in the SSC as they progress into adolescence, but in most cases support beyond an initial launch period will need to come in substantial part from other sources. We will accept collaborative grants involving multiple investigators and encourage studies that use data from multiple sites. We expect to fund proposals for a maximum of $250,000, including indirect costs, per year for up to two (2) years, but under exceptional circumstances will consider proposals at higher levels. Smaller-scale pilot proposals (maximum budget $125,000) are also welcome. All budgets over $250,000 per year require pre-approval by SFARI science staff (sciencerfa@simonsfoundation.org).
Indirect costs on all SFARI grant types are limited to 20 percent of the modified total direct costs.
To view the RFA for this award type click here.
