CDMRP: FY26 Autism Research Program
Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).
Executive Summary:
The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Autism Research Program (ARP) from the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) will fund innovative, high-impact research with clinical relevance that improves outcomes for individuals with autism and their families. The program released this pre-announcement to allow investigators time to plan proposals before the formal Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) are released.
The FY26 ARP was funded through the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act. Investigators should begin preparing now because the program will require a pre-application before submission of a full proposal once the FOAs are released.
Application deadline: The deadline is not specified in the solicitation. Deadlines will be published in the FY26 ARP funding opportunity announcements when they are released on Grants.gov.
How much funding would I receive?
Funding depends on the specific award mechanism.
Career Development Award
Maximum funding: $750,000 total costs
Maximum period of performance: 3 years
Clinical Trial Award
Maximum funding: $1.5 million total costs
Maximum period of performance: 4 years
Clinical Trial Award – Nested Early-Career Investigator Option
Maximum funding: $1.75 million total costs
Maximum period of performance: 4 years
Idea Development Award
Maximum funding: $750,000 total costs
Maximum period of performance: 3 years
Total costs include direct and indirect costs.
What could I use the funding for?
Each mechanism supports different types of autism research.
Career Development Award
Supports early-career independent investigators or established investigators transitioning into autism research.
Projects must pursue research with the potential to have a major impact on autism.
Supported activities include:
Innovative, high-impact research ideas
Early-phase, proof-of-principle clinical trials
Preliminary data is required.
Clinical Trial Award
Supports research with the potential to have a major impact on the treatment and/or management of autism.
Projects must involve clinical trials supported by preliminary data.
Clinical Trial Award – Nested Early-Career Investigator Option
Allows a senior investigator (initiating PI) to collaborate with a young investigator.
Supports the development of investigators pursuing careers in autism clinical trial research.
Idea Development Award
Supports innovative, high-impact ideas that advance understanding of autism and lead to improved outcomes.
Includes a Partnering PI Option allowing collaboration between two investigators.
Clinical trials are not allowed under this mechanism.
All mechanisms require preliminary data relevant to the proposed project.
Are there any additional benefits I would receive?
The program includes several structural benefits:
Career Development Award supports the transition of researchers into the autism field.
Clinical Trial Award – Nested Early-Career Investigator Option provides structured development for young investigators.
Idea Development Award – Partnering PI Option encourages collaboration between investigators.
These structures are designed to expand the autism research workforce and accelerate impactful research.
What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?
Pre-announcement released: March 2, 2026
Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) will be posted on Grants.gov.
Pre-application submission through eBRAP is required before submitting a full application.
Application submission is by invitation only after review of the pre-application.
Pre-application and full application deadlines are not specified in the pre-announcement.
Funding start dates are not specified in the pre-announcement.
Where does this funding come from?
Funding for the program comes from the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act and is administered by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) within the Defense Health Agency Research and Development – Medical Research and Development Command.
The program is part of the Department of Defense’s Autism Research Program (ARP).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility varies by mechanism.
Career Development Award
Applicants must:
Be independent investigators at or below the level of Assistant Professor, or equivalent,
or
Be established investigators in a field other than autism at or above the level of Assistant Professor seeking to transition into autism research.
Additional requirements:
Must not have previously received a Career Development Award (or equivalent) from any CDMRP program or other federal agency.
Must not have received more than $250,000 in total direct costs for previous or concurrent autism research as a PI of federally or privately funded non-mentored peer-reviewed grants.
Must hold a Ph.D., M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent at the time of pre-application submission.
Must not be a graduate student, postdoctoral fellow, or other mentored researcher.
Clinical Trial Award
Independent investigators at any career level.
Clinical Trial Award – Nested Early-Career Investigator Option
Young investigator must:
Be currently in postdoctoral training or have completed postdoctoral training.
Be no more than 7 years from receipt of a terminal degree.
Commit at least 50% time to the project.
Idea Development Award
Independent investigators at any career level.
What companies and projects are likely to win?
Based on the pre-announcement, competitive applications will likely:
Propose innovative, high-impact research addressing autism
Demonstrate strong preliminary data
Show potential for major impact on understanding, treatment, or management of autism
Align with the goals of the specific award mechanism
For collaboration options, demonstrate meaningful partnerships between investigators
Applications must clearly demonstrate scientific merit and potential impact.
Are there any restrictions I should know about?
Key restrictions include:
Pre-application submission through eBRAP is required before submitting a full application.
Full applications are submitted by invitation only.
Preliminary data is required for all mechanisms.
Idea Development Award applications cannot support clinical trials, including a clinical trial aim.
Career Development Award applicants must meet prior funding and career stage restrictions.
All applications must conform to the final Funding Opportunity Announcements posted on Grants.gov.
How long will it take me to prepare an application?
The solicitation does not specify preparation time.
However, because the ARP uses a two-stage process (pre-application followed by invitation-only full application), applicants typically need time to:
Prepare a competitive pre-proposal
Develop preliminary data and a detailed research plan
Assemble collaborators and institutional approvals
Investigators are encouraged to begin planning early before FOAs are released.
How can BW&CO help?
BW&CO can support applicants throughout the ARP application process, including:
Evaluating project fit with ARP mechanisms
Developing a competitive proposal strategy
Structuring impact-focused research narratives
Managing the pre-application and full application process
Preparing supporting documents and compliance materials
Coordinating multi-investigator collaborations
Our team has extensive experience supporting Department of Defense CDMRP grant applications.
How much would BW&CO Charge?
We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.