DoD Autism, Clinical Trial Award | W81XWH 20 ARP CTA

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81XWH 20 ARP CTA

The DoD Autism Research Program (ARP) Clinical Trial Award is a Department of Defense funding opportunity designed to support clinical research that could meaningfully improve the treatment or day-to-day management of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The key requirement is that the proposed work must be an actual clinical trial; funds under this mechanism are intended for human studies that test interventions, and they cannot be used for preclinical or basic laboratory studies. The overall emphasis is on research that could have a major, practical impact for individuals with ASD and their families, with projects expected to produce evidence that can inform real-world care, services, or clinical decision-making.

For FY2020, the ARP invited applications across the full range of clinical research topics, while highlighting several priority areas reflecting pressing needs in the ASD community. These priorities include efforts to disseminate and implement interventions that are already clinically validated, which focuses on closing the gap between what is known to work and what is routinely delivered in community settings. The program also encourages trials of behavioral, cognitive, and other non-pharmacological therapies aimed at core ASD symptoms or common co-occurring conditions, as well as trials of pharmacological, genetic, or other biologically based treatments targeting similar outcomes. Another major area of interest is improving diagnosis and access to services across the lifespan, recognizing that needs and barriers can differ substantially from early childhood through adulthood.

The opportunity further emphasizes interventions that help individuals with ASD succeed during major life transitions, particularly the transition to adulthood, where supports often change or decrease and outcomes can be strongly affected by education, employment, independent living, and community participation. It also encourages healthcare provider-focused approaches, such as training programs, clinical tools, or workflow supports that improve healthcare delivery across the continuum of care, including primary care, urgent or emergency settings, and even disaster relief contexts. In addition, the ARP specifically calls attention to cultural, socioeconomic, and gender-related factors that influence diagnosis, treatment effectiveness, how services are delivered, and who can access them, signaling an interest in reducing inequities and improving relevance across diverse populations. Finally, the program highlights the importance of understanding heterogeneity in treatment response, meaning applicants are encouraged to consider why some individuals benefit from an intervention more than others and to incorporate designs or analyses that can clarify variation in outcomes.

Administratively, this funding opportunity is listed as “DoD Autism, Clinical Trial Award” with opportunity number W81XWH-20-ARP-CTA, offered by the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, through USAMRAA. It is categorized as discretionary funding and supports awards via either a grant or a cooperative agreement, depending on the project and anticipated level of agency involvement. The activity area falls under science and technology research and development (CFDA 12.420). Eligibility is broadly described as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of applicant organization types may apply, subject to any additional eligibility details included in the full announcement. The posting indicates an original application closing date of July 16, 2020, an expected number of two awards, and an “award ceiling” listed as 0, which typically suggests applicants needed to consult the full announcement for budget limits or that a fixed ceiling was not specified in the summary field.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "DoD Autism, Clinical Trial Award" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.420.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 27, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 16, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for W81XWH 20 ARP CTA

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