Up to $600,000 for Bold Autism Research: SFARI New Ideas Award

The Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) invites applications for its New Ideas Award, a grant program designed to provide early-stage support for exploratory research that tests novel hypotheses and opens new conceptual or experimental directions in the study of autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD).

About the Grant

The New Ideas Award is intentionally broad in scope. It seeks to fund fresh perspectives, new hypotheses, and bold approaches that reach beyond established paths, with the goal of accelerating discovery in new and unexpected directions. Proposed research may draw on any scientific discipline, methodology, or experimental system (including humans) and may operate at any scale or level of analysis.

Grant Amount and Duration

• Maximum budget: $600,000 over two years
• Indirect costs are limited to 20% of the modified total direct costs

Key Objectives

The program aims to:

• Support bold, high-risk, high-reward research with transformative potential
• Encourage new approaches not previously supported by SFARI
• Fund basic science grounded in autism biology
• Attract researchers new to the field, particularly those who have not previously been funded by SFARI

Eligibility Criteria

• Degree: Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree
• Position: Faculty position or equivalent at a college, university, medical school, or other research facility
• Applicants limited to one application per calendar year
• Investigators new to autism research are strongly encouraged to apply

Application Process

Letters of Intent (LOIs) are accepted on a rolling basis. All applications must be submitted through the Simons Award Manager (SAM).

Key Steps

1. Submit LOI via Simons Award Manager (SAM)
2. Initial Decision: Applicants should receive an initial decision on their LOI within three to four months
3. Full Application: If invited, applicants have four weeks to submit a full proposal for review by the SFARI science team and external experts

What to Include in Your LOI

• New approaches not previously supported by SFARI
• A clear and explicit case for relevance to autism and related NDDs
• Basic science focused on understanding fundamental mechanisms

Why This Grant Matters

The New Ideas Award represents SFARI’s commitment to keeping the field in continuous dialogue with the broader scientific community. It is designed to identify scientists and projects that will ask bold new questions, surfacing the approaches most likely to transform our understanding of autism and laying the groundwork for additional targeted RFAs that can move those directions forward at scale.

How Earth Focus Network Supports Grant Seekers

At Earth Focus Network, we connect researchers, institutions, and changemakers with funding opportunities and resources to succeed.

What We Offer Members

• Exclusive Funding Alerts – Be the first to know about grants like the SFARI New Ideas Award
• Vetted Opportunities – We review every opportunity to ensure it’s legitimate and aligned with your mission
• Global Connections – Connect with mission-aligned organizations, funders, and experts
• Visibility – Showcase your work to a global audience of stakeholders

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Earth Focus Network believes the future is not something we wait for—it’s something we build together. Apply today and contribute to transformative autism research!