The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) is dedicated to advancing the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). To achieve this mission, SFARI is pleased to announce the Pilot Awards 2024, designed to support groundbreaking and impactful research in the field. We invite applications from researchers driven by bold, imaginative, rigorous, and relevant scientific inquiry.
Objective of the 2024 Pilot Award
The primary goal of the 2024 Pilot Award is to provide crucial early-stage funding for exploratory and high-impact research ideas, particularly those built upon novel hypotheses. Projects suitable for this funding mechanism are characterized by their higher-risk nature but possess the potential to yield transformative breakthroughs in autism research. This includes studies involving human subjects, allowing for direct investigation of ASD in individuals. It’s important to note that projects that are continuations or extensions of existing research initiatives, whether funded by SFARI or other organizations, are not the focus of this award.
This 2024 Pilot Award is especially beneficial for investigators who are new to the autism research landscape. For those entering the field, SFARI strongly recommends consulting with established autism research experts to ensure that proposed projects are directly relevant to the human condition and the complexities of ASD.
We particularly encourage applications that aim to bridge the gap between identified genetic or other ASD risk factors and the underlying molecular, cellular, circuit, or behavioral mechanisms. Such research is vital for paving the way for the development of innovative interventions and therapies. Applicants are urged to explore SFARI’s scientific perspectives for a deeper understanding of our research priorities. Furthermore, we highly recommend reviewing SFARI’s currently funded projects and resources to identify potential synergies and avoid duplication of effort.
For projects involving human subjects, the 2024 Pilot Award maintains its focus on supporting relevant, novel, exploratory, high-risk research with transformative potential. These projects might explore new biological mechanisms, implement cutting-edge technologies or analytical approaches, or develop innovative methods for phenotyping or stratification of ASD. Given the heterogeneous nature and multifactorial origins of ASD, SFARI emphasizes the importance of utilizing well-characterized and adequately powered cohorts in human studies. To facilitate this, SFARI has established the Research Match program, which assists researchers in recruiting participants from Simons collections, including SPARK and Simons Searchlight. While not mandatory, applicants for the 2024 Pilot Award are strongly encouraged to consider incorporating Research Match into their participant recruitment strategies. Recognizing the potentially higher costs associated with well-powered human subject research, the 2024 Pilot Award offers a separate, higher budget track for such projects, as detailed below.
Funding Level and Project Duration
The 2024 Pilot Award provides a total budget of up to $300,000, encompassing 20 percent indirect costs, for a project period of up to two (2) years. For projects that include research involving human subjects, a higher budget of up to $500,000 over 2 years may be requested. However, requests for the higher budget must include a robust justification, particularly detailing the necessary level of effort from all key personnel involved. It is important to note that allowable indirect costs to the primary institution for subcontracts are not included within the total budget threshold. SFARI encourages investigators to strategically utilize the flexibility in budget and project duration to tailor the award scope to their specific research aims. Proposed budgets will be carefully evaluated for their appropriateness to the scope of work and the overall merit of the proposed commitment. Larger budget requests will undergo more rigorous scrutiny. Investigators considering budgets exceeding the standard guidelines are strongly advised to consult with SFARI prior to submission.
Funds awarded through the 2024 Pilot Award are expected to be expended as outlined in the approved budget during each annual budget period.
Applicants should be aware that the Simons Foundation reserves the right, in the event of budgetary or other considerations, to refer applications to the Simons Foundation International, Ltd. (SFI) for potential consideration and funding. In such cases, SFI’s grant policies would apply.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the 2024 Pilot Award, all applicants and key collaborators must hold a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent doctoral degree and possess a faculty position or equivalent at an accredited college, university, medical school, or other research institution.
Applications are welcomed from both domestic and international nonprofit organizations, encompassing public and private institutions such as universities, hospitals, laboratories, and government agencies. There are no restrictions based on citizenship or country of origin for applicants.
Application Policies: Resubmissions and Multiple Applications
SFARI welcomes resubmissions of unsuccessful applications from previous SFARI RFAs for the 2024 Pilot Award, provided they remain relevant to the award’s objectives. For all resubmitted applications, principal investigators (PIs) are required to include a statement of changes that clearly outlines the substantive revisions made since the previous submission. If the prior application underwent external review, this statement should include detailed, point-by-point responses to the reviewers’ critiques. It is important to understand that applications without significant revisions are unlikely to yield a different outcome. This is particularly true for applications that were not externally reviewed, as initial decisions are often based on the project’s alignment with SFARI’s core mission. SFARI will not consider applications that have been reviewed three or more times previously, regardless of the specific RFA they were submitted to.
Investigators are permitted to submit multiple applications addressing different research topics under the 2024 Pilot Award RFA. However, it is highly improbable that more than one award will be granted to the same PI within a single RFA cycle.
Given the 2024 Pilot Award’s emphasis on novel and imaginative research ideas, project renewal applications for currently funded projects (from SFARI or other sources) are generally not appropriate for this mechanism. Investigators seeking continued funding for existing projects are encouraged to explore alternative funding opportunities. Eligible researchers may also consider applying to the Pilot Progression RFA, which is anticipated to open for applications in April 2024. Decisions regarding new proposals from current SFARI Investigators will take into account the progress and outcomes of their existing SFARI grants.
Submission Guidelines
Applications for the 2024 Pilot Award must be submitted electronically through the Simons Award Manager (SAM) system. To begin the application process, please navigate to the Funding Opportunities icon within SAM and select the “Autism Research – Pilot Award – 2024” call. Click the “Create Application” button to initiate your submission. Applications should be initiated and submitted using the applicant’s personal SAM account.
Application templates will be accessible within SAM starting April 11, 2024. Required application materials include a Specific Aims page and a 3-page Proposal Narrative. Applicants may also include up to 10 figures as separate uploads, which will not be counted towards the page limit for the proposal narrative.
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
The Simons Foundation recognizes that a diverse and inclusive scientific community is essential for fostering innovation and accelerating discovery. We believe that the most impactful ideas and breakthroughs emerge from a multitude of perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. As part of our core mission to advance basic science and mathematics for the benefit of humankind, we are committed to supporting partners, programs, and initiatives that actively broaden participation in the scientific community and create accessible pathways to careers in science and mathematics.
The Simons Foundation is an equal opportunity funding organization and provides funding opportunities to all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, and local laws.
