Profound Autism Pilot Grants and Pre-doctoral Fellowships

The Autism Science Foundation is currently inviting applications for its Profound Autism Pilot Grants and Pre-doctoral Fellowships, supporting one-year research initiatives aimed at addressing the critical needs of individuals with profound autism or severe, intense, and dangerous behaviors. This funding opportunity arises from the Autism Science Foundation's recognition of the gaps in research for autistic individuals who are minimally verbal or nonverbal, have an IQ below 50, and require lifelong, round-the-clock support. Drawing on the Lancet Commission’s definition, this grant program underscores the urgent need to better understand and support this population through focused, methodologically rigorous research. The Pilot Grant mechanism is designed for established investigators holding advanced degrees (M.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., or Sc.D.) affiliated with universities or nonprofit institutions. These grants aim to fund exploratory studies that identify the biological underpinnings of profound autism, assess the efficacy of behavioral, pharmacological, or genetic interventions, address research recruitment and retention barriers, or investigate co-morbid conditions prevalent in this population. Each pilot grant provides up to $35,000 for eligible expenses such as salary support, fringe benefits, and modest consulting fees, excluding indirect university costs. The Pre-doctoral Fellowship mechanism targets graduate students pursuing doctoral or dual-degree training in fields related to autism research. Eligible applicants must be in good standing in their academic programs and work under the mentorship of a faculty member with demonstrated experience in autism studies. The fellowship provides $35,000 strictly for salary and fringe benefits and mandates submission of a training plan and an additional recommendation letter from a non-mentor source. Tuition expenses and indirect costs are explicitly unallowable. All applicants—regardless of track—must include a letter of support from an advocacy organization actively involved with profound autism. These partners are expected to contribute to study design, recruitment, and dissemination. Recommended organizations include the National Council on Severe Autism, Profound Autism Alliance, and groups affiliated with the Alliance for Genetic Etiologies in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Autism (AGENDA). Collaborations with community-based autism service providers are also encouraged to ensure real-world relevance and applicability of proposed studies. The application window opens with the release of the RFA on November 10, 2025, and closes on March 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Awards will be announced in June or July 2026, with anticipated project start dates no later than August 1, 2026. Successful applicants must provide documentation of IRB approval and complete contracting procedures through their institutional offices. ASF does not accommodate delays in IRB or contract processing. Applications must be submitted as a single PDF to grants@autismsciencefoundation.org. All required documents, including abstracts, research plans, biosketches, budget justifications, and letters of support, must conform to detailed formatting guidelines. An optional Q&A webinar for applicants will be held on December 22, 2025. For further inquiries, applicants may contact Dr. Alycia Halladay at ahalladay@autismsciencefoundation.org.

Ensure advocacy letters describe specific project roles and outcomes; Fellowship applications require autism-specific training plans; Generic mentor letters reduce competitiveness.