Open call – Simons Foundation – 2021 Genomics of ASD: Pathways to Genetic Therapies

May 6, 2021 | Awards & Funding, Research

To: All Divisional Faculty and Researchers
From: Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Subject: Funding Opportunity

The Office of Foundations Relations is pleased to share this open call for funding from the Simons Foundation.  For more information follow the links below. 

 UCSC Contact: cfr@ucsc.edu
Funder: Simons Foundation
Opportunity: 2021 Genomics of ASD: Pathways to Genetic Therapies
Deadline:  July 6, 2021
Informational Zoom Meeting: May 20, 2021

 Overview

Grants awarded through this request for applications (RFA) are intended to advance our understanding of the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and the molecular and cellular consequences of genetic risk, and to provide a foundation for the development of treatments for select genetically defined forms of the condition.

In this RFA, Simons seeks proposals in three broad areas of ASD genomics:

  1. risk gene discovery and systems biology,
  2. functional analysis of variants associated with ASD risk genes and
  3. gene-targeted therapies.

Successful proposals with a focus on the first two areas will likely involve large-scale analyses.

Applications should focus, at least in part, on a subset of 50 genes from the SPARK gene list that SFARI has selected as strong candidates for the development of translational programs (download the Prioritized SPARK Gene List here).

Award Amount & Terms

  • The annual budget is between $200,000 and $400,000, inclusive of 20 percent indirect costs, for a period of two (2) or three (3) years.
  • Allowable indirect costs to the primary institution for subcontracts are not included in the total budget threshold (see grant policies).

Eligibility

  • All principal investigators and unfunded collaborators must hold a Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent degree and have a faculty position or the equivalent at a college, university, medical school or other research facility. In addition, eligible applicants must have independent lab space at their institution.
  • Applications may be submitted by domestic and foreign nonprofit organizations. There are no citizenship or country requirements.
  • Individuals currently receiving funding from the Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain are not eligible for additional funding but can serve as unfunded collaborators.

Special Requirements

Please promptly submit your proposal intake form prior to UCSC’s Internal Institutional Deadlines. For proposal support, or for any questions about institutional requirements, please send requests and questions to the research development team at resdev@ucsc.edu. A proposal development specialist will field your requests.

Call sent: May 6, 2021


The Office of Foundation Relations is a unit of University Relations. The FR team creates and maintains mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with private organizations, matching grant initiatives with educational and research programs and centers. FR supports faculty and staff to identify and approach these and other private foundations and corporations for funding, to assist in strategic positioning of the grant application, and to facilitate funder campus visits.

For a list of recent funding opportunities, please visit the FR website.  FR Calls for Funding

If you have any questions or comments, please contact cfr@ucsc.edu