DoW Autism Career Development Award
🏛 Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA (DOD-AMRAA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career investigators and established researchers transitioning into autism research. Applicants must propose innovative autism research or early-phase clinical trials with significant potential impact. The program encourages research addressing FY26 priority areas in autism. Applications with clinical trial components must include community partners such as autistic individuals or caregivers.
Institutional affiliation is typically required for DoD grant awards. Most recipients are researchers at universities, medical centers, or research institutes. International collaboration is permitted, but the applicant institution must be U.S.-based.
Competitiveness increases when proposals align with identified Areas of Interest or address critical autism research gaps. Strong preliminary data and detailed community engagement plans enhance competitiveness.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
Summary: The fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Autism Research Program (ARP) Career Development Award supports early-career, independent investigators and/or the transition of established investigators from other research fields to conduct innovative, high-impact ideas or early-phase, proof-of-principle clinical trials with the potential to have a major impact on autism.
Distinctive Features:
Applications are strongly encouraged to address one of the FY26 ARP Career Development Award Areas of Interest or provide justification that the proposed research addresses a critical problem, question, or need in autism.
FY26 Career Development Award submissions with a pilot clinical trial component are required to include community collaborations to optimize research impact. Applications are expected to name at least one community partner (e.g., an Autistic individual or caregiver, representatives of community-based organizations) who will provide advice and consultation throughout the planning and implementation of the research project.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Federal application form)
- Research Proposal/Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketch (NIH format typical for DoD)
- Letters of Support (institutional and community partners if applicable)
- Institutional Certification and Compliance Documents
Program contact
- 👤 JoAnn Martin Grantor
- 📧 help@eBRAP.org
- 📞 301-619-2594
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 12.420 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$2,265,729,366
-
$800,631,761
-
$74,531,880
-
$67,205,571
-
$55,443,120
-
$34,191,124
-
$24,907,742
-
$21,394,379
-
$19,100,256
-
$19,002,641
Top States by Funding
- MD 10 awards $3,150.1M
- NC 11 awards $132.3M
- CA 12 awards $107.3M
- FL 8 awards $99.8M
- TX 8 awards $76.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 12.420). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,483,968,520 | |
| 2025 | $1,201,153,417 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this award?
Early-career independent investigators and established researchers new to autism research can apply. Your institution typically must be U.S.-based.
Is there a deadline, and can I submit early?
The deadline is October 22, 2026 (fixed). Submit well before the deadline to avoid technical issues.
What research activities are supported?
Innovative autism research and early-phase, proof-of-principle clinical trials are supported. Clinical trial proposals must include community partners from autism communities.
What makes an application competitive?
Alignment with FY26 priority Areas of Interest strengthens proposals. Clear preliminary data and detailed community engagement plans are important for clinical trial components.
What is the typical funding range?
The total program pool is $1.5 million, though individual award amounts vary by proposal scope and institutional cost structures.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your proposal with FY26 Autism Research Program Areas of Interest; provide strong justification if addressing other autism gaps.
- If proposing a clinical trial, identify and engage a specific community partner (autistic individual, caregiver, or community organization) early in planning.
- Demonstrate proof-of-principle or preliminary data supporting feasibility of your approach.
- Clearly articulate the innovation and expected impact of your research on autism understanding or treatment.
- Review DoD grant writing requirements and institutional compliance procedures well before the deadline.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Misalignment with FY26 Areas of Interest without sufficient justification of why the work addresses critical autism needs. Missing or superficial community engagement plans in clinical trial proposals; genuine partnership should be evident. Insufficient preliminary data or proof-of-concept to support feasibility claims.
Similar grants
- OPEN DoW Autism Clinical Trial Award — Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA
- OPEN DoW Autism Idea Development Award — Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA
- OPEN DoW Alzheimer’s Transforming Diagnosis Award — Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA
- OPEN DoW Multiple Sclerosis Investigator-Initiated Research Award — Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA
- OPEN DoW Multiple Sclerosis Early Investigator Research Award — Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity - DHACA