Key Dates: Letters of Intent Due: April 12, 2009
Applications Due: May 12, 2009; 5 p.m. (applicants local time)
Peer Review: July 2009
Anticipated Start Date: September 30, 2009

Program Information:  The Recovery Act's National Institutes of Health (NIH) strategic autism research grants will support autism research. The NIH Request for Applications is the largest funding opportunity for research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to date and, combined with other Recovery Act initiatives, represents a surge in NIH's commitment to finding the causes and treatments for autism over the next two years . While few trials can be completed in two years, Recovery Act funds will be important for jumpstarting projects and building the infrastructure or foundation for longer-term autism research efforts.

Grant Information:  NIH will administer four specific Recovery Act-funded grants sharing a single title, "Research to Address the Heterogeneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders."  Each grant will use different funding mechanisms to support a range of research topics. Examples of research topics include developing and testing diagnostic screening tools for different populations; assessing risk from prenatal or early life exposures; initiating clinical trials to test early interventions; or adapting existing, effective pediatric treatments for older children, teens, and adults with ASD.

For More Information:  View the  NIH Guide  for a full listing of possible study topics and grant announcements.