Explorer Awards — Request for Applications

This award program was designed to enhance our existing support of autism research by providing timely resources to enable high-risk/high-impact, exploratory experiments relevant to our mission. A deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying autism spectrum disorders or potential therapeutic approaches requires investigation at multiple levels, including but not limited to studies focused on gene discovery, molecular mechanisms, circuits, anatomy, and cognition and behavior. We considered proposals at all of these levels.

Explorer Awards were intended to provide resources to support exploratory experiments that will strengthen hypotheses and lead to the formulation of competitive applications for subsequent larger-scale funding by SFARI or other organizations. Innovative, high-risk/high-impact proposals were prioritized. We especially encouraged applications from investigators who are new to the field of autism, but who have expertise that could be brought to bear on this complex disorder.