Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND)
Can you apply?
This grant is for interdisciplinary graduate training in neurodevelopmental disabilities. Eligible applicants are accredited universities, medical schools, and schools of nursing with strong clinical training programs. The program supports Master's and doctoral-level trainees pursuing advanced degrees in fields related to developmental disabilities.
Geographic scope covers all U.S. states, territories, and tribal lands. Funded programs must offer fellowships to graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. Supported activities include coursework, clinical rotations, and leadership development in neurodevelopmental disability care.
Programs must serve underrepresented populations and rural/underserved areas. Institutions must demonstrate capacity to coordinate interdisciplinary clinical training across multiple health professions.
Key dates
- May 6, 2026 Applications open
- Jun 15, 2026 Application deadline in 14 days
- Jul 1, 2026 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2026 Project start
This grant is for interdisciplinary graduate training in neurodevelopmental disabilities. Eligible applicants are accredited universities, medical schools, and schools of nursing with strong clinical training programs. The program supports Master's and doctoral-level trainees pursuing advanced degrees in fields related to developmental disabilities.
Geographic scope covers all U.S. states, territories, and tribal lands. Funded programs must offer fellowships to graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. Supported activities include coursework, clinical rotations, and leadership development in neurodevelopmental disability care.
Programs must serve underrepresented populations and rural/underserved areas. Institutions must demonstrate capacity to coordinate interdisciplinary clinical training across multiple health professions.
Program description
The purpose of the LEND program is to improve the quality of care for children and youth with autism/developmental disabilities (DD) by training health and related professionals to meet their needs across the lifespan. LEND programs train health and other professionals to screen, diagnose, and provide services for children and youth with autism/DD.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public University
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for interdisciplinary graduate training in neurodevelopmental disabilities. Eligible applicants are accredited universities, medical schools, and schools of nursing with strong clinical training programs. The program supports Master's and doctoral-level trainees pursuing advanced degrees in fields related to developmental disabilities.
Geographic scope covers all U.S. states, territories, and tribal lands. Funded programs must offer fellowships to graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. Supported activities include coursework, clinical rotations, and leadership development in neurodevelopmental disability care.
Programs must serve underrepresented populations and rural/underserved areas. Institutions must demonstrate capacity to coordinate interdisciplinary clinical training across multiple health professions.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (program description and goals)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional commitments and letters of support
- CV/biosketches of key faculty
- Trainees and recruitment plan
- Evaluation plan
- Letters of commitment from clinical training sites
Program contact
- 👤 MCHB
- 📧 mchblendnofo@hrsa.gov
- 📞 3014432170
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.877 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$15,249,000
-
$14,163,687
-
$10,109,998
-
$6,174,787
-
$5,803,560
-
$5,803,550
-
$5,753,550
-
$5,752,560
-
$5,605,404
-
$5,593,550
Top States by Funding
- CA 13 awards $49.5M
- NY 7 awards $22.6M
- DC 5 awards $21.1M
- PA 6 awards $15.9M
- MD 3 awards $13.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.877). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $51,280,552 | |
| 2025 | $51,748,318 | |
| 2026 est. | $36,000,000 |
FAQ
What institutions can apply for LEND funding?
Accredited universities, medical schools, nursing schools, and research institutions can apply. Applicants must have existing graduate training programs and clinical training capacity.
Who can participate as trainees in a LEND program?
Master's and doctoral-level graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and residents are eligible. Trainees must be pursuing degrees in health-related fields.
What activities does LEND support?
LEND funds advanced degree programs, clinical rotations, interdisciplinary training, and leadership development. Programs must include structured curriculum in neurodevelopmental disabilities.
How competitive is this grant?
LEND is highly competitive. Strong applicants demonstrate established clinical programs, experienced faculty, and commitment to serving underrepresented and underserved populations.
What is the typical funding range?
LEND awards typically support full programs over multi-year periods. Budgets vary based on program scope, trainee cohort size, and geographic focus.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize interdisciplinary coordination. Show how medicine, nursing, allied health, and social work collaborate in your program.
- Target underrepresented populations. Demonstrate commitment to recruiting and supporting trainees from diverse backgrounds.
- Highlight rural and underserved reach. Explain how your trainees will eventually serve communities with limited disability expertise.
- Showcase faculty expertise. Feature senior faculty with research, clinical, and leadership credentials in developmental disabilities.
- Use data strategically. Include trainee outcomes, employment rates in disability services, and community impact metrics from similar programs.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak interdisciplinary coordination reduces competitiveness. Applicants must show genuine collaboration across health professions, not just participation from multiple departments. Applications lacking clear commitment to underrepresented and underserved populations face rejection. Reviewers expect specific recruitment and support strategies, not generic diversity statements.
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