Autism Centers of Excellence: Networks (R01) | RFA HD 17 008

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 17 008

The Autism Centers of Excellence: Networks (R01) opportunity (RFA-HD-17-008) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement led by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), with participation from other NIH Institutes. It supports autism research through the Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) Networks program, which is designed to fund coordinated, multi-site research efforts rather than single-investigator or single-institution projects. The core idea is to build a network of collaborating research sites that work together on one clearly defined autism-related research topic, using a structure that can bring together complementary expertise, shared methods, and broader participant reach than a single site could usually manage.

Under this announcement, each ACE Network is funded through the NIH R01 grant mechanism, but the application is expected to function as a true multi-site network. In practical terms, the network submits one R01 application that includes subawards (subcontracts/subgrants) to the collaborating institutions. This means there is one overall lead applicant organization coordinating the work, while partner sites receive funding through subawards and carry out defined parts of the project. The emphasis on a single application with multiple sites is meant to encourage unified scientific aims, consistent protocols, and coordinated management across the network.

This FOA is specifically for ACE Networks and is paired with a separate companion announcement for ACE Centers that are supported under a different mechanism (P50; companion FOA RFA-HD-16-009). The distinction matters because P50 center grants are typically structured to support broader center infrastructure and multiple projects/cores, while this R01 network announcement is framed around one multi-site project focused on a specific research topic.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional categories that may apply, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the opportunity places clear limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the FOA allows "foreign components" as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant can include certain types of foreign collaboration or work performed abroad if it meets NIH policy requirements and is appropriately justified and structured within the application.

Key administrative details from the source information include that this is a discretionary grant program within the broad funding activity category spanning environment, health, income security, and social services, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.113, 93.173, 93.242, 93.853, and 93.865. The opportunity was created on 2016-07-12 and had an original closing date of 2016-11-17. The listed award ceiling is $1,500,000, indicating the maximum funding level expected per award under the terms presented in the source summary (with the specific final budget and project period details typically governed by NIH policy, institute guidance, and the peer review and award process).

• The National Institutes of Health in the environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Autism Centers of Excellence: Networks (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.173, 93.242, 93.853, 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-07-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-11-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA HD 17 008

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