Nested Early-Career Investigator Option: Investigators at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) may collaborate on a single application with a young investigator (at the level of postdoctoral fellow up to early-career independent faculty) who meets the following criteria at the application submission deadline date:

• Must be in a current postdoctoral training position or have completed postdoctoral training by the application deadline
• Is no more than 7 years from the receipt of a terminal degree
• Has the freedom to commit at least 50% time to the project

• Supports research with the potential to have a major impact on the treatment and/or management of ASD.
• Preliminary data relevant to the proposed clinical trial are required.
• Nested Early-Career Investigator Option: Supports the development of young investigators pursuing or wishing to pursue a career in ASD clinical trial research.


• Pre-application is required; application submission is by invitation only.

• Maximum funding of $1,800,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Nested Early-Career Investigator Option:

• Maximum funding of $2,100,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 4 years.

Multiple PI Option: 
Up to two investigators may collaborate on a single application, each of whom will be recognized as a Principal Investigator and receive a separate award. 

• Supports the development of innovative, high-impact ideas that advance the understanding of ASD and ultimately lead to improved outcomes.
• Preliminary data relevant to the proposed project are required.
• Clinical trials or applications, including a clinical trial aim, are not allowed.
• Pre-application is required; application submission is by invitation only.

• Maximum funding of $550,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 3 years.

Established independent investigators in an area other than ASD at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) and seeking to transition to a career in ASD, thereby bringing their expertise to the field.

Investigators must not have received a Career Development Award (or equivalent) previously from any program within the CDMRP. 

Investigators must not have received more than $300,000 in total direct costs for previous or concurrent ASD research as a Principal Investigator of one or more federally or privately funded, non-mentored, peer-reviewed grants.

• Supports early-career, independent investigators and/or the transition of established investigators from other research fields to conduct:
  • Innovative, high-impact ideas or
  • Early-phase, proof-of-principle clinical trials with the potential to have a major impact on ASD.
• Preliminary data relevant to the proposed project are required.
• Pre-application is required; application submission is by invitation only.

• Maximum funding of $500,000 for direct costs (plus indirect costs).
• Maximum period of performance is 3 years.