Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 13 217
Apply for PA 13 217
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113 Environmental Health 93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 1, 2013 and posted on May 1, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2016. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments City or township governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Small businesses Special district governments Independent school districts.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number: PA-13-217) was a discretionary grant program designed to stimulate new, exploratory research focused on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The core purpose of the announcement was to encourage investigators to propose studies that improve understanding of ASD across key areas such as causes and contributing factors (etiology), patterns and determinants in populations (epidemiology), approaches to identifying ASD (diagnosis), strategies to improve outcomes (treatment), and the most effective ways to organize and deliver supports and interventions (service delivery). The announcement explicitly welcomed basic, clinical, and applied research, signaling that projects could range from laboratory-based or mechanistic work to patient-centered clinical studies and real-world service and systems research.
This opportunity used the NIH R21 mechanism, which is specifically meant for exploratory and developmental projects, particularly those at early, conceptual, or proof-of-principle stages. In practice, that means the program was aimed at helping researchers test promising ideas that might not yet have enough preliminary data for a larger, more definitive award. The FOA highlighted that R21 projects may involve considerable risk, but that the payoff could be substantial if the work leads to a breakthrough finding or enables a new line of investigation. Examples of the types of advances the NIH hoped to catalyze included novel techniques, therapeutic or intervention agents, methodological innovations, new experimental or computational models, and applications that could significantly influence biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research related to ASD.
From a funding standpoint, the listed award ceiling was $200,000. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which lowers barriers for institutions and organizations that may not have flexible resources to commit upfront. The opportunity fell under multiple CFDA program areas, reflecting how ASD research intersects with several NIH missions and scientific domains: Environmental Health (93.113), Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders (93.173), Mental Health Research Grants (93.242), Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (93.853), and Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research (93.865). That breadth underscores that ASD research proposals could legitimately span topics like communication and language development, neurodevelopment and neural circuitry, mental and behavioral health, environmental influences, and child development and functioning across settings.
Eligibility was broad and included a wide range of U.S.-based organizations, such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses and other for-profit entities (other than small businesses were also listed), and multiple levels of government (state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts). Housing authorities and Indian housing authorities were included, as were Native American tribal governments (both federally recognized and other than federally recognized) and tribal organizations. The FOA also clarified additional eligible applicant categories, including minority-serving institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Importantly, the announcement allowed non-U.S. entities to apply: foreign organizations and foreign institutions were eligible, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were eligible, and foreign components (as defined in NIH policy) were allowed. This openness supported international or cross-national ASD research collaborations when scientifically justified.
Timing and status details indicate this was an older, now-archived opportunity. It was posted and created on May 1, 2013, with an original and current closing date of May 7, 2016, and an archive date of June 7, 2016. In other words, it is no longer open for applications, but it remains a useful reference point for understanding NIH priorities and the kinds of ASD-focused exploratory projects NIH has historically sought to encourage through the R21 mechanism.
The sponsoring agency was the NIH, and applicants were directed to the full announcement on the NIH Grants Guide website. For access or technical issues with the online posting, the contact provided was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster (FBOWebmaster@od.nih.gov). Overall, the FOA was essentially an invitation to propose high-impact, early-stage ASD research ideas across the full translational spectrum, with an emphasis on innovative concepts that could open up new scientific or clinical directions even if the work carried higher uncertainty than a typical, later-stage project.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIH "Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21)" (PA-13-217)
What is this funding opportunity?
This was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant funding opportunity titled "Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21)" under Funding Opportunity Number (FON) PA-13-217. It was designed to stimulate new, exploratory research focused on autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
What was the main purpose of PA-13-217?
The core purpose was to encourage investigators to propose studies that improve understanding of ASD across major research areas, including etiology (causes and contributing factors), epidemiology (patterns and determinants in populations), diagnosis (approaches to identifying ASD), treatment (strategies to improve outcomes), and service delivery (how supports and interventions are organized and delivered).
What research areas and topics were encouraged?
The announcement explicitly encouraged research spanning key ASD domains: etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and service delivery. The breadth of these categories meant proposals could address questions ranging from causal mechanisms and population-level patterns to practical approaches for identifying ASD and improving outcomes through interventions and systems of care.
What types of research approaches were eligible (basic, clinical, applied)?
The FOA welcomed basic, clinical, and applied research. This signaled that projects could range from laboratory-based or mechanistic studies to patient-centered clinical research and real-world service and systems research focused on ASD.
What grant mechanism did this opportunity use?
This opportunity used the NIH R21 mechanism, which is intended for exploratory and developmental research projects, particularly those in early, conceptual, or proof-of-principle stages.
What does it mean that this is an R21 exploratory/developmental award?
In practice, the R21 mechanism is aimed at helping researchers test promising ideas that may not yet have enough preliminary data to support a larger, more definitive award. The FOA emphasized innovation and early-stage exploration.
Were high-risk ideas acceptable under this FOA?
Yes. The FOA highlighted that R21 projects may involve considerable risk, but that the payoff could be substantial if the work enables a breakthrough finding or opens a new line of investigation related to ASD.
What kinds of advances did NIH hope to catalyze through this program?
Examples described in the FOA included novel techniques, therapeutic or intervention agents, methodological innovations, new experimental or computational models, and applications that could significantly influence biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research relevant to ASD.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling was $200,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Which CFDA program areas were associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity was listed under multiple CFDA areas: Environmental Health (93.113), Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders (93.173), Mental Health Research Grants (93.242), Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (93.853), and Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research (93.865).
What does it mean that multiple CFDA areas were listed?
The multiple CFDA listings reflect that ASD research intersects with several NIH missions and scientific domains. Based on the FOA description, this could include work related to communication and language development, neurodevelopment and neural circuitry, mental and behavioral health, environmental influences, and child development and functioning across settings.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included a wide range of organizations, such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses and other for-profit entities (including entities other than small businesses), and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township, special district governments, and independent school districts).
Were nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA included nonprofits, including 501(c)(3) organizations and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status.
Were for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list included small businesses as well as other for-profit entities (including entities other than small businesses).
Were government entities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants included state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts.
Were housing authorities eligible?
Yes. Housing authorities and Indian housing authorities were included among eligible applicants.
Were tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA included Native American tribal governments (both federally recognized and other than federally recognized) and tribal organizations.
Were minority-serving institutions specifically identified as eligible?
Yes. The FOA clarified eligibility for multiple minority-serving institution categories, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
Were faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA identified faith-based and community-based organizations as eligible applicant categories.
Were regional organizations eligible?
Yes. Regional organizations were included among eligible applicants.
Were federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA indicated that eligible federal agencies were included as eligible applicants.
Could non-U.S. organizations apply?
Yes. The FOA allowed non-U.S. entities to apply, stating that foreign organizations and foreign institutions were eligible.
Could non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations be included?
Yes. The FOA stated that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations were eligible.
Were foreign components allowed under NIH policy?
Yes. The FOA stated that foreign components (as defined in NIH policy) were allowed.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity is archived and no longer open for applications.
What were the key dates for this FOA?
The opportunity was posted/created on May 1, 2013. The original and current closing date was May 7, 2016. The archive date was June 7, 2016.
Who was the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency was the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement?
Applicants were directed to the full announcement on the NIH Grants Guide website.
Who was the contact for access or technical issues with the online posting?
For access or technical issues, the contact provided was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@od.nih.gov.
What is the overall takeaway from this FOA?
Overall, the FOA functioned as an invitation to propose high-impact, early-stage ASD research ideas across the translational spectrum, emphasizing innovative concepts that could open new scientific or clinical directions, even when the work carries higher uncertainty than later-stage projects.
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