Conference Support for Rare Neurodevelopmental Disorder Communities in Simons Searchlight – 2027 Request for Applications: FAQs

Patient advocacy groups (PAGs) planning a conference between January 2027 and February 2028 focusing on one of the genetic conditions under study by Simons Searchlight are eligible to apply.

Yes, non-U.S. institutions may apply. Please see our policies regarding non-U.S. Awards.

Yes, groups can apply every year. Please note that applications are considered anew each year, and we cannot guarantee repeat funding or sustained funding at a previously funded level.

This grant mechanism is intended to support meetings that are organized around genes on the Simons Searchlight gene list and that either already do or intend to use Simons Searchlight as their primary registry.

Contact the SFARI science team at [email protected], and we’ll do our best to help facilitate connections, if possible

While we strongly encourage engagement with the Simons Searchlight team to plan your conference, blood draws and presentations from the Simons Searchlight team are already separately sponsored by SFARI and Simons Searchlight. These activities will not be considered toward additive research agendas evaluated for this award.

The conference for which support is sought should happen between January 2027 and February 2028. Applications are due on March 11, 2027. Applicants will be notified of the funding decision in May 2027. Depending on the date of your conference, payments may be issued retroactively.

There is currently only one RFA scheduled for this year. Groups can apply to this RFA for the support of two meetings. However, it is unlikely that more than one meeting per genetic condition will be awarded funding.

You should submit a single joint application, whether it’s two groups for the same genes or two different gene groups organizing a joint conference.

The review panel takes into consideration the timeline for conferences relative to RFA deadlines. In any draft agenda, please indicate whether speakers / researchers are suggested, invited or confirmed. Confirmed researchers should provide letters of support, to be included with your application

Not within the same year.

Please list the individual judged by the applicant organization to have the appropriate level of authority and responsibility to direct the project or program supported by the grant. They are responsible and accountable to the applicant organization and the Simons Foundation for the proper conduct of the project or activity. They will act as the main point of contact for the foundation.

There is no page limit, but we anticipate Tier 1 and 2 applications likely will not need to exceed two (2) pages and that Tier 3 proposals will not need more than an additional page or two to articulate the in-person research.

Please see the RFA’s Instructions for Submission section and the template available in SAM for proposal narrative instructions.

Each proposed scientist should provide a separate letter confirming their commitment to participate in the conference. The letters should be on the investigator’s official institutional letterhead.

For researchers giving a presentation, they should describe, in a few sentences, what they plan to speak about and how it is relevant for your gene group.

For those proposing in-person research, they should describe the objectives, approach, anticipated new enrollment at the conference, power calculation and future plans for the work. Proposed scientific content or in-person research without a corresponding letter of participation will not be considered in application review.

Please refer to the “Level and Duration of Funding” section of the RFA for the three tiers of funding being issued. Because these awards will be issued as gifts, indirect costs are not applicable.

Applications must be submitted via the Simons Award Manager (SAM). Please see the “How to Apply” section for more details. Applications should be started and submitted under the applicant’s own account in SAM.

We encourage gift recipients to upload a descriptive post-meeting report after the conference takes place. More details will be communicated with the award letter.

If you are applying to the Simons Foundation for the first time, please register in SAM before selecting “Apply now.” If you have a ProposalCentral (pC ) account, a profile  has been created for you in SAM using the email address associated with your pC account. Please select “Forgot Password?,” set a new password for your SAM account and then select “Apply now.”

No, the Simons Foundation only accepts applications submitted online through the Simons Award Manager (SAM).

Yes, adding a user to the “Institution Administrative Contacts” section of the application as an Institution Administrator will give them full access to edit an application and submit it for sign-off. To do so, the person who created the application would navigate to the ”Contacts and Personnel” tab of the application. Under the “Institution Administrative Contacts” section, they would select the user and use the drop-down to indicate their role. If the user does not yet exist, click on the “Create New Institution Official” button, and add the newly created user as an Institutional Administrator.

The “Submit” button is located at the bottom right of the screen. You will be unable to submit if you have not provided all the required information. If the submission deadline has NOT passed, use the “Check Application Progress” button to check for missing requirements. If the problem persists, please contact [email protected]. If the deadline has passed, the submission period has closed, and you will not be able to submit.

The “Check Application Progress” button reviews your application for missing sections. The submission instructions list the required sections and attachments. You must complete the missing sections listed. If you are still receiving error messages after completing and saving the indicated sections, please contact [email protected].

A confirmation email is sent upon submission of the application. Make sure that spam filters allow emails from [email protected]. Additionally, the application will appear in the “Submitted” tab of the “Applications in Progress” table after submission.

For assistance navigating SAM, please refer to the SAM frequently asked questions and instructional videos webpage.

No. Please be advised that all deadlines are in U.S. Eastern time. We recommend registering early and submitting with ample time for corrections prior to the deadline hour. Site traffic can slow page-load times. You will not be able to submit after the deadline has passed.

Only one person can edit a record at a time. A record will be locked for editing if another user already has it opened, and a gray bar will display at the bottom of the record to prevent multiple users from overwriting one another’s changes. Ask other users at your institution to close the application, then refresh your page. If this still does not correct the issue, please reach out to [email protected].

Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations, The Simons Foundation, Inc. (“the Foundation” or “SF”) reserves the right to refer an application to SFI for consideration and funding. SFI and SF have entered into an agreement pursuant to which SF provides program operations and grant administration services, including payment processing, to SFI. SFI grant recipients are subject to SF Policies and Procedures.

If changes are required to the application after submission, you must first contact [email protected]. Applications can only be changed prior to the deadline. Once revised, the application must be sent for sign-off and signed by the Signing Official again in order to resubmit. If changes are required to the application after it has been sent for sign-off, the Signing Official must send the application back for revisions. Once revised, the application must be sent for sign-off again and signed by the Signing Official in order to submit by the deadline. You will not be able to submit once the deadline has passed.