Department of Defense Autism Research Program Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19)

The FY19 Defense Appropriation provides $7.5 million (M) to the Department of Defense Autism Research Program (ARP) to provide support for research of exceptional scientific merit and innovation with high impact that focuses on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). As directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency J9, Research and Development Directorate, manages the Defense Health Program Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation appropriation. The managing agent for the anticipated Program Announcements/Funding Opportunities is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC).

FY19 ARP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website.

https://cdmrp.army.mil/funding/arp

Clinical Trial Award – Preapplication due May 1, 2019

• Investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent), or
• Early-Career Investigator Partnering PI Option: Investigators at or above the level of Associate Professor (or equivalent) may collaborate on a single application with a young investigator (at the level of postdoctoral fellow up to early-career independent faculty) that meets the following criteria at the application submission deadline date:
• Must be in a current postdoctoral training position or have completed postdoctoral training by the application deadline
• Is no more than 7 years from the receipt of a terminal degree
• Has the freedom to commit at least 50% time to the project
• Supports research with the potential to have a major impact on the treatment and/or management of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Applications in the following areas are strongly encouraged:
• Behavioral, cognitive, and other non-pharmacological therapies for ASD core symptoms or to alleviate co-occurring conditions.
• Pharmacological, genetic, and other biological treatments for ASD core symptoms or to alleviate co-occurring conditions.
• Dissemination/Implementation of clinically validated interventions.
• Improve diagnosis and access to services across the life span.
• Interventions promoting success in key transitions to adulthood for individuals living with ASD.
• Healthcare provider-focused training or tools to improve healthcare delivery for individuals with ASD across the lifespan and the continuum of care (i.e., primary care, urgent/emergent care, and disaster relief).
• Cultural, socioeconomic, and gender factors in diagnosis, treatment efficacy, delivery, and access to services.
• Preliminary data relevant to the proposed clinical trial are required.
• Pre-application is required; application submission is by invitation only.
  • Early-Career Investigator Partnering PI Option supports the development of young investigators .pursuing or wishing to pursue a career in ASD clinical trial research.
• The maximum funding for the entire period of performance is $1,000,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• The maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Early-Career Investigator Partnering PI Option:

• The maximum period of performance is 4 years.
• The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is f $1,155,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).

Clinical Translational Research Award – Preapplication due May 1, 2019

• Investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent)
• Supports early-phase, proof-of-principle translational studies with the potential to have a major impact on the treatment and/or management of ASD.
• Applications in the following areas are strongly encouraged:
• Behavioral, cognitive, and other non-pharmacological therapies for ASD core symptoms or to alleviate co-occurring conditions.
• Pharmacological, genetic, and other biological treatments for ASD core symptoms or to alleviate co-occurring conditions.
• Dissemination/implementation of clinically validated interventions.
• Improve diagnosis and access to services across the life span.
• Interventions promoting success in key transitions to adulthood for individuals living with ASD.
• Healthcare provider-focused training or tools to improve healthcare delivery for individuals with ASD across the life span and the continuum of care (i.e., primary care, urgent/emergent care, and disaster relief).
• Cultural, socioeconomic, and gender factors in diagnosis, treatment efficacy, delivery, and access to services.
• Preliminary data relevant to the proposed project are required.
  • Pre-application is required; application submission is by invitation only.
• The maximum allowable funding for the entire period of performance is $500,000 in direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 3 years

Idea Development Award – Preapplication due May1, 2019

• Investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent), or
• Multiple PI Option:
  Up to two investigators may collaborate on a single application, each of whom will be recognized as a Principal Investigator (PI) and receive a separate award.