Sponsor
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI)
For More Information
Please visit the SFARI RFA websites for:
- Program guidelines
- Application forms
- Evaluation criteria
Description
Grants awarded through this request for applications (RFA) are intended to recharge and extend a consortium of researchers using rats as an experimental system to advance our understanding of the behavioral and circuit neuroscience mechanisms underlying autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD).
SFARI launched the Autism Rat Models Consortium (ARC) in 2022 with a group of researchers funded through the original Autism Rat Models Consortium RFA. These researchers are using rats generated with SFARI funding that carry mutations in high-confidence genes that, in humans, significantly increase the likelihood of developing autism and related NDD. These genes include FMR1, ARID1B, CHD8, CNTNAP2, DYRK1A, NRXN1, SCN2A and GRIN2B, and all lines are on the Long-Evans outbred genetic background (Charles River Laboratories). As part of the consortium, these same rat models are being evaluated through a comprehensive behavioral phenotyping pipeline established by the Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB). Access to these models, as well the resulting data from the SIDB pipeline, are available to any qualified researcher.
Eligibility
All applicants and key collaborators must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree and have a faculty position or the equivalent at a college, university, medical school or other research facility. Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign nonprofit organizations; public and private institutions, such as colleges, universities, hospitals, laboratories and units of state and local government; and eligible agencies of the federal government. There are no citizenship or country requirements. See "Personnel" in the FAQ section for more information on the responsibilities of a SFARI PI.
Foreign institutions may apply. Please see the grant policies regarding international grants.
Maximum Project Value
SFARI will offer two tracks within this RFA: Explorer and Collaboration.
Explorer:
- The total budget is $200,000, inclusive of 20 per cent indirect costs, for each year of funding over a period of two (2) years, with the possibility of an additional two (2) years of funding for successful projects based on progress in the first two years.
Collaboration:
- Each lab within a Collaboration project may request a maximum of $300,000, inclusive of 20 per cent indirect costs, for each year of funding over a period of three (3) to four (4) years. The budget for Collaboration Projects, regardless of the number of labs included, may not exceed an annual maximum of $900,000 (and a four-year maximum of $3,600,000).
Indirect Costs
20%
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | Applicant to submit a copy of application along with a complete OR5 form to research.services@uoguelph.ca. | |
External Deadline | Applications must be submitted via the Simons Award Manager (SAM). Please click on the ‘Funding Opportunities’ icon and navigate to the ‘Autism Research’ – ‘Autism Rat Models Consortium’ call. Click the ‘Create Application’ button to begin. Applications should be started and submitted under the applicant’s own account in SAM. Application templates are available in SAM as of January 6, 2025. Explorer applications will include a specific aims page and a three-page proposal narrative. Collaboration applications will include a specific aims page and a five-page proposal narrative. For both tracks, up to 10 figures may be included separately and do not count towards the page limit. |