Autism Centers of Excellence P50

The Autism Centers of Excellence P50 program is a forecasted opportunity issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). This initiative is developed in partnership with several NIH institutes including the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Collectively, these institutes intend to continue and expand the efforts of the Autism Centers of Excellence, a program that has been advancing autism research for over 23 years. The forecasted notice is intended to give researchers and organizations sufficient lead time to develop collaborations and prepare high-quality applications that align with the upcoming funding opportunity announcement. The purpose of the Autism Centers of Excellence program is to support innovative, interdisciplinary research projects that advance understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The program aims to leverage cutting-edge technologies and methods while fostering collaborative investigations that cross scientific disciplines. The use of the P50 Research Program Projects and Centers mechanism allows for the development of comprehensive research projects with multiple components under a unified theme. Through this mechanism, NIH seeks to fund centers that will further the scientific momentum already established by past ACE programs and expand it through new directions and methodologies. The scope of funding will focus on autism-related research that may involve genetics, neuroscience, environmental factors, behavioral science, and therapeutic approaches. While detailed spending rules are not yet available, it is expected that funding may be used for direct project costs, staffing, equipment, and collaborations, in accordance with NIH guidelines for research centers. Applicants are encouraged to begin building collaborative teams and designing multi-component projects to maximize their competitiveness once the full Notice of Funding Opportunity is released. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes state governments, local governments, tribal governments, higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, independent school districts, housing authorities, small businesses, and special district governments. The eligibility list also includes federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribal entities, U.S. territories and possessions, regional organizations, faith-based and community-based organizations, and eligible federal government agencies. This wide eligibility scope reflects NIH’s goal of encouraging diverse participation and multidisciplinary collaboration in autism research. The forecast indicates that applications will be due on November 2, 2026, with an anticipated award date of July 1, 2027. The estimated project start date is also July 1, 2027. The estimated total program funding for this opportunity is $10,000,000, with approximately three awards expected. At this stage, specific award ceiling and floor amounts are not provided, and applicants should await further details in the finalized NOFO. Importantly, no cost sharing or matching requirements are associated with this program, lowering barriers to participation. Applications are not being solicited at this time. The notice has been published to allow potential applicants to prepare in advance, with the official posting anticipated for July 1, 2026. The program is recurring, building on a longstanding NIH tradition of funding Autism Centers of Excellence, and researchers can expect future funding cycles. Evaluation criteria, submission requirements, and application questions are not yet provided but will be detailed in the forthcoming NOFO. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor updates and prepare accordingly. The primary contact for this opportunity is Alice Kau, Ph.D., who can be reached by email at Kaua@mail.nih.gov or by phone at 301-496-1385. For further updates, applicants should regularly check Grants.gov and NIH announcements for the official posting of the NOFO and related instructions. This forecast provides an opportunity for early engagement and planning for organizations and researchers committed to advancing the science of autism.