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DoD Autism Idea Development Award (W81XWH 16 ARP IDA) - FAQs

What is the DoD Autism Idea Development Award?

The DoD Autism Idea Development Award is a discretionary research funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Defense through DOD-AMRAA. It is identified by Funding Opportunity Number W81XWH 16 ARP IDA and supports early-stage research in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is intentionally high-risk and high-reward.

What is the primary goal of this funding opportunity?

The central goal is to help investigators pursue bold, innovative ASD concepts that may be too preliminary or unconventional for traditional funding mechanisms, but that could generate initial, high-impact data. The intent is to open new research directions and accelerate progress toward better outcomes for individuals with ASD.

What type of research is this award designed to support?

This mechanism is focused on idea development rather than incremental extensions of established work. Proposals are expected to emphasize originality, a strong scientific rationale, and a credible plan for producing meaningful proof-of-concept results or other influential early findings.

What does "high-risk, high-reward" mean in the context of this award?

Within the description provided, "high-risk, high-reward" signals support for innovative ideas that might not yet have extensive preliminary data or that may challenge conventional approaches. The expectation is that, if successful, the work could produce outsized impact, such as critical discoveries or major advancements that reshape ASD research trajectories.

Is this award intended for incremental or continuation projects?

No. The opportunity specifically emphasizes idea development, not incremental extensions of existing, well-established lines of work. The program language highlights a preference for bold concepts that can lead to major advancements.

What kinds of outcomes or impacts is the program trying to achieve?

The program description highlights "critical discoveries" and "major advancements" as the intended payoff. Successful projects are expected to generate early, influential results that could shift current ASD research directions or open new avenues related to diagnosis, intervention, support strategies, or broader outcome improvements.

Which government agency administers this opportunity?

The opportunity is administered by the Department of Defense through DOD-AMRAA.

What is the CFDA number and program category for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.420 and is placed within the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" category.

What funding instruments are available under this opportunity?

Funding is offered through either a grant or a cooperative agreement. This indicates awards may range from relatively independent investigator-driven projects (grant) to projects that involve more substantial coordination or involvement consistent with a cooperative agreement structure, depending on program oversight needs.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning applicants from any type of entity may apply, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may appear in the full announcement.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The opportunity anticipated making about six awards.

When was the opportunity posted?

The announcement was posted and created on April 28, 2016.

What was the application closing date?

The application closing date was September 29, 2016. The original and current closing dates match.

What is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount)?

The listing includes an "Award Ceiling" field, but no dollar amount is provided in the information supplied here.

Is this opportunity a discretionary funding program?

Yes. It is described as a discretionary research funding opportunity.

Does the program require a particular research approach or stage of development?

Based on the description provided, the program is aimed at early-stage work that can credibly produce proof-of-concept or other initial high-impact results, rather than mature programs seeking incremental progress.

What should a competitive proposal emphasize according to the description?

Proposals are expected to emphasize originality, a strong scientific rationale, and a credible path to producing meaningful proof-of-concept data or other influential results capable of reshaping understanding or approaches within the ASD field.

What broader areas of ASD progress does the opportunity aim to accelerate?

The description indicates the work could lead to new avenues for diagnosis, intervention, support strategies, or broader outcome improvements for individuals with ASD.