DoW Autism Career Development Award

The Department of the Army through USAMRAA, working through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, is offering the FY26 Autism Research Program Career Development Award to support early-career investigators and researchers transitioning into autism research. The award is intended to fund innovative, high-impact autism studies, including early-phase proof-of-principle clinical trials, and applications should address an FY26 Area of Interest or justify a critical autism research need. Applicants are expected to meet career-development eligibility expectations, and any submission with a pilot clinical trial component must include community collaboration with at least one community partner. The program includes an estimated $1.5 million for two awards, with awards capped at $750,000 over three years, and uses a two-step application process with pre-applications due July 27, 2026 and full submissions due October 22, 2026.