Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 21 201
The Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (PA 21 201) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program that reissues the earlier announcement PA-18-401. It supports R01-level research projects aimed at improving understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and strengthening how ASD-related services are delivered. The FOA is broad in scope and is designed to attract applications that can meaningfully advance knowledge about ASD across the full research pipeline, from causes and population patterns to better identification and real-world supports.
At its core, the FOA encourages studies that clarify ASD etiology (the biological, genetic, environmental, and developmental factors that contribute to ASD), epidemiology (how common ASD is in different groups, how it presents across populations, and how risk and protective factors operate at the population level), and diagnosis (improving detection, screening, diagnostic tools, and differentiation from related conditions). A key emphasis is also placed on research that identifies optimal means of service delivery, meaning projects that test, compare, or refine ways to provide interventions and supports in clinical, educational, and community settings. Because the announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," applicants may propose either clinical trial or non-clinical-trial research, depending on what best fits the scientific question and study design.
Eligibility is intentionally expansive, allowing a wide range of organizations to apply. In addition to common applicant types such as state, county, city, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), the FOA also allows applications from for-profit entities (other than small businesses), small businesses, independent school districts, and various other organizations. It explicitly welcomes participation from communities and institutions that often play important roles in ASD research and service delivery, including faith-based or community-based organizations, and a number of designated 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 (AANAPISISs). The opportunity also recognizes the eligibility of U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, and tribal entities, including Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized as well as tribal organizations. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are also listed as eligible, which can be important for international collaborations or studies that benefit from global data and comparative approaches.
From an administrative standpoint, this is an NIH grant opportunity categorized under Environment, Health, Income Security, and Social Services, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.113, 93.173, 93.242, 93.853, 93.865), reflecting NIH’s multi-institute involvement and the cross-cutting nature of ASD research. The opportunity record shows an original closing date of 2025-01-25, and it was created on 2021-03-31. While the listing includes an "Award Ceiling" field, no specific ceiling amount is provided in the source text, and the expected number of awards is also not specified there, which typically means applicants should consult the full FOA details and NIH budget guidelines for R01 applications when planning project scope and cost.
Overall, PA 21 201 is a wide-open R01 funding pathway for rigorous ASD research that can improve fundamental understanding of autism and translate that knowledge into better diagnostic practices and more effective, equitable service delivery across healthcare, education, and community systems.Apply for PA 21 201
- 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 (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2021-03-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) (PA 21 201)
What is the name and identifier of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) and is identified as PA 21 201.
Who is the funding agency for PA 21 201?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program.
What type of grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity supports R01-level research projects.
Is a clinical trial required?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose either clinical trial or non-clinical-trial research, depending on the scientific question and study design.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The FOA supports research aimed at improving understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and strengthening how ASD-related services are delivered in real-world settings.
How broad is the scope of the research topics supported?
The FOA is described as broad in scope and intended to attract applications that advance ASD knowledge across the full research pipeline, from causes and population patterns to better identification and real-world supports.
What ASD research areas are emphasized in this announcement?
The FOA encourages studies focused on ASD:
- Etiology (biological, genetic, environmental, and developmental contributors)
- Epidemiology (prevalence across groups, presentation across populations, and population-level risk/protective factors)
- Diagnosis (improving detection, screening, diagnostic tools, and differentiation from related conditions)
- Service delivery (testing, comparing, or refining ways to provide interventions and supports)
What does "service delivery" research mean in the context of this FOA?
Service delivery research refers to projects that identify optimal ways to provide ASD interventions and supports in clinical, educational, and community settings, including studies that test, compare, or refine delivery approaches.
What kinds of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as expansive. Eligible applicants include many organization types across government, education, nonprofit, and business sectors.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible government applicants include state, county, city, and special district governments, as well as U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations.
Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA allows applications from public and private institutions of higher education.
Are nonprofits eligible to apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible, including those with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA allows applications from for-profit entities (other than small businesses) and also from small businesses.
Are independent school districts eligible?
Yes. Independent school districts are listed as eligible applicants.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly welcomes participation from faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are designated serving institutions included in the eligible applicant list?
Yes. The FOA lists multiple designated serving institutions as eligible, including:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs)
Are tribal entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include tribal entities, including Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized and tribal organizations.
Are federal government agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA recognizes eligibility of eligible agencies of the federal government.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are listed as eligible, which may support international collaborations or comparative/global research approaches.
What is the program category associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Environment, Health, Income Security, and Social Services.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this NIH funding opportunity?
The listing references multiple CFDA numbers: 93.113, 93.173, 93.242, 93.853, and 93.865.
What do multiple CFDA numbers imply for this opportunity?
The presence of multiple CFDA numbers reflects multi-institute involvement at NIH and the cross-cutting nature of ASD research covered by this FOA.
Does the listing specify an award ceiling?
An "Award Ceiling" field is shown in the opportunity record, but no specific ceiling amount is provided in the information given.
Does the listing specify the expected number of awards?
No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the information provided.
What should applicants do if budget limits and award counts are not listed?
Based on the information provided, applicants typically need to consult the full FOA details and NIH budget guidelines for R01 applications when planning project scope and cost.
What earlier announcement does PA 21 201 reissue?
PA 21 201 reissues the earlier announcement PA-18-401.
What is the original closing date shown in the opportunity record?
The opportunity record shows an original closing date of 2025-01-25.
When was this opportunity record created?
The record indicates it was created on 2021-03-31.
What kinds of settings can proposed ASD service research focus on?
The FOA highlights service delivery and supports across healthcare (clinical), education, and community systems.
What is the overarching goal of PA 21 201?
The overall goal is to enable rigorous ASD research that improves fundamental understanding of autism and translates knowledge into better diagnostic practices and more effective, equitable service delivery.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PA 21 201) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 21 200 Funding Number: PA 21 200 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 21 199 Funding Number: PA 21 199 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Autism Centers of Excellence: Centers (P50 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 22 008 Funding Number: RFA HD 22 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Autism Centers of Excellence: Networks (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 22 007 Funding Number: RFA HD 22 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 21 319 Funding Number: PAR 21 319 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for PAR 21 311 Funding Number: PAR 21 311 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 22 098 Funding Number: PAR 22 098 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for PAR 22 097 Funding Number: PAR 22 097 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Diagnostic Centers of Excellence (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 171 Funding Number: PAR 23 171 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Implementation Research on Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factors among Low- and Middle-Income Country and Tribal Populations Living in City Environments (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 23 319 Funding Number: PAR 23 319 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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