Relevant funding announcements
- Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI): New Ideas RFA - rolling submission, up to $300,000
- The goal of the New Ideas Award is to provide early stage support for bold, exploratory research that tests novel hypotheses and opens new conceptual or experimental directions in the study of autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). This program is intentionally broad in scope and is designed to encourage ideas, approaches and perspectives that may differ substantially from those previously supported in the field or by SFARI.
- NIH Highlighted Topics: Each topic represents a selected research priority area within one or more NIH Institutes,
Centers, or Offices (ICOs) that may or may not have dedicated funding
- Understanding Nutritional Influences on Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Children (Expires March 2027)
- Tackling Acquisition of Language in Kids (TALK)
- Developing and Evaluating Evidence-Based Practice for Users of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Research on Drowning Prevention
- Research on the Transition from Pediatric to Adult Health Care
Specific Aims Review
We offer CAN Research Center members the opportunity to have the 1-page specific aims for an upcoming grant application reviewed.
Timeline Requirements
- Contact us at LEAST 4 weeks before you want to schedule your review.
- Submit your 1-page aims one week ahead of the review.
- To have your review scheduled, complete the CAN Grant Review Survey.
You will need:
- Targeted sponsor (e.g., NIH, NSF, DoD, foundation)
- Targeted mechanism (e.g., R01, NSF CAREER). Provide a link to the request for application (RFA) if available.
- Investigator team at USC (PI, Co-I's). Note: This is mostly for scheduling purposes to make sure we get reviewers who are not already involved.
- Suggested reviewers (optional)
- Brief description of the study (1-3 sentences) to help recruit reviewers.
- Preferred timeline for review (e.g., approximate dates, last possible date)
Full Panel Review
Occasionally, we will host a full "mock" grant review in which senior CAN members will review, score, and discuss an application. This will be open to the CAN research community, including trainees and other faculty.
A selection committee will review interest forms and select one grant for the mock review based upon funding sponsor/mechanism and reviewer availability. Early-career scientists will be prioritized. Grants that are not selected for full panel review will still have their aims reviewed by standing grant review committee members.
Scheduling & Submission Requirements
- Full panel reviews occur on an as-requested basis.
- Please allow 4–6 weeks to schedule.
- Be prepared to submit your application (commonly just Aims + Research Strategy/Narrative) 2 weeks before the scheduled mock review.
Grant Application Templates
We are always collecting new materials and section templates for CAN members to use (e.g., CAN-related Facilities and Environment template for NIH).
Email Caitlin to:
- (a) receive a copy of a specific template
- (b) request help reviewing or developing a CAN-related section
- (c) request CAN help in soliciting grant examples