Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 16 386
The Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 16-386) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to spur exploratory and early-stage research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). It uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is commonly aimed at supporting innovative, higher-risk projects that can generate preliminary data or test new ideas that may later grow into larger research efforts. The overall goal of this announcement is to encourage studies that deepen understanding of ASD and improve real-world outcomes for individuals on the spectrum and their families.
The scientific scope is broad and centers on strengthening the evidence base across the full continuum of ASD research. The FOA explicitly highlights projects focused on elucidating ASD etiology (what causes ASD and the biological, genetic, and environmental factors that contribute to it), epidemiology (patterns, prevalence, risk factors, and population-level trends), diagnosis (better identification methods, screening approaches, biomarkers, and diagnostic tools), treatment (pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, behavioral therapies, technology-assisted supports, and related strategies), and service delivery (how care and supports are organized, accessed, coordinated, and optimized in clinical, educational, and community settings). In other words, applicants are encouraged to propose research that either clarifies underlying mechanisms of ASD or directly improves how ASD is identified, treated, and supported across systems of care.
Eligibility under this program is notably expansive, reflecting NIH's interest in drawing proposals from many types of organizations and sectors. Eligible applicants include a wide range of government entities (state, county, city or township governments, special district governments), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and multiple categories of tribal entities (federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations). The opportunity is also open to nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status (so long as they meet other requirements), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses. Beyond these general categories, the FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal government agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations. This breadth is important because it allows proposals from both traditional research institutions and community-embedded or service-oriented organizations that may be positioned to study service delivery and intervention implementation in real-world settings.
From a funding standpoint, the announcement lists an award ceiling of $200,000, indicating the maximum award amount anticipated under this FOA (as provided in the source data). The opportunity is categorized under the broader federal activity areas of environment, health, income security, and social services, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.113, 93.173, 93.242, and 93.865, which reflect the NIH program areas and awarding components that may participate in or be relevant to the funding. The FOA was created on 2016-08-04, and the original closing date provided in the listing is 2017-11-30, which is useful for historical reference and for locating the official FOA record and any related NIH notices or updates.
In practical terms, this grant opportunity is aimed at organizations that can propose a focused, research-driven project that pushes the field forward in understanding ASD or improving outcomes through better diagnosis, treatment, or systems of care. The inclusion of many institution types, including foreign organizations and community-based entities, signals that NIH is open to diverse research settings and partnerships, as long as the proposed work is scientifically rigorous and aligned with the FOA's ASD-focused priorities.Apply for PA 16 386
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.173, 93.242, 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2016-08-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-11-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PA 16 386) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Genetic Susceptibility and Variability of Human Structural Birth Defects (R01) Apply for PAR 17 236 Funding Number: PAR 17 236 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Fertility Status as a Marker for Overall Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 049 Funding Number: PA 18 049 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on Autism Spectrum (R21- Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 400 Funding Number: PA 18 400 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on Autism Spectrum (R03-Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 399 Funding Number: PA 18 399 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Research on Autism Spectrum (R01- Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 401 Funding Number: PA 18 401 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for PAR 18 835 Funding Number: PAR 18 835 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 836 Funding Number: PAR 18 836 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Early Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 19 121 Funding Number: RFA MH 19 121 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| U.S.-Brazil Collaborative Biomedical Research Program (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA AI 18 054 Funding Number: RFA AI 18 054 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanistic Studies of Gene-Environment Interplay in Dental, Oral, Craniofacial, and Other Diseases and Conditions (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 292 Funding Number: PAR 19 292 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development of Novel and Robust Systems for Mechanistic Studies of Gene-Environment Interplay in Dental, Oral, Craniofacial, and Other Diseases and Conditions (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 293 Funding Number: PAR 19 293 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Small Research Grants for Establishing Basic Science-Clinical Collaborations to Understand Structural Birth Defects (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 065 Funding Number: PAR 20 065 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Small Research Grants for Analyses of Down Syndrome-related Research Data for the INCLUDE Project (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 20 006 Funding Number: RFA OD 20 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transformative Research Award for the INCLUDE (Investigation of Co-occurring Conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndrome) Project (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 20 005 Funding Number: RFA OD 20 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 21 201 Funding Number: PA 21 201 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 21 200 Funding Number: PA 21 200 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 21 199 Funding Number: PA 21 199 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Autism Centers of Excellence: Centers (P50 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 22 008 Funding Number: RFA HD 22 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Autism Centers of Excellence: Networks (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 22 007 Funding Number: RFA HD 22 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 21 319 Funding Number: PAR 21 319 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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