SPARK Research Match Expansion RFA Grant

The SPARK Research Match Expansion initiative by the Simons Foundation aims to enhance autism research participation among undersampled groups. By providing incentives for participants in online surveys and other research methods, this program seeks to address the demographic disparities in clinical research. This funding opportunity encourages innovative studies that prioritize inclusivity, ensuring that the research reflects the diverse population of the United States, thereby advancing scientific discovery in autism and related fields.

Simons Foundation
Since its founding in 1994 by Jim and Marilyn Simons, the foundation has been a champion of basic science through grant funding, support for research and public engagement.
Our Work
The Simons Foundation makes grants in four areas: Mathematics & Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Autism & Neuroscience, and Science, Society & Culture.
What Are SFARI and SPARK?
Launched in 2006, SFARI is a scientific initiative within the Simons Foundation’s suite of programs.
SPARK (Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge) is the world’s largest research study on autism. SPARK’s goal is to accelerate autism research and discovery by building an online research community of thousands of individuals with ASD and their family members. Participation in SPARK is simple, free and open to any individual living in the United States with a professional diagnosis of ASD. SPARK participants consent to be contacted about other research opportunities in the future through SPARK Research Match.
Purpose
The SPARK Research Match Expansion request for applications (RFA) encourages and supports applications for SPARK Research Match studies from principal investigators to increase SPARK research opportunities to individuals whose genetic ancestries have been undersampled in clinical research. This will ensure that these research efforts better reflect the demographics of the United States.
Objective
Large segments of the U.S. population are less able to benefit from new clinical knowledge because they are undersampled in clinical research studies.
The SPARK Research Match Expansion request for applications (RFA) aims to increase research participation by soliciting studies on autism that recruit participants from undersampled groups. Proposals may be on any topic related to autism provided that:

• The study protocol prioritizes participation of undersampled group(s).

The study topic is clearly of interest, impact, and/or importance to the undersampled group(s). Applications should provide a clear justification regarding the topic’s importance.
Type of Funding
Funding will provide per-person participant incentive (e-gift cards) for participation in online surveys or remote projects (e.g., phone interview, focus group, telehealth) that utilize SPARK Research Match to recruit participants into new research studies.
Investigators may apply for $10,000 in per-person incentive funding per study.

Eligibility

Funding may ONLY be used for incentives for participants in the undersampled group.

Ineligibility

Funds will not be transferred directly to the institution but rather will be provided as part of the workflow built for the project. For example, for an online survey study, SPARK Research Match would build the surveys into an online workflow, and after completion, participants would receive an e-gift card. Data would be distributed to the investigator and, later, shared back with SFARI.