The SPARK Research Match Expansion from the Simons Foundation supports autism research studies that recruit participants from groups whose genetic ancestries have been undersampled in clinical research, so that study populations better reflect the demographics of the United States.
Proposals may address any autism-related topic, provided the study protocol prioritizes participation of the undersampled groups and the topic is clearly important to them.
Applications are open to principal investigators who wish to use SPARK Research Match, the online platform provided in kind by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI), to recruit SPARK participants into new online surveys or remote projects such as phone interviews, focus groups, and telehealth studies. Investigators must share their Research Match data back with SPARK.
Investigators may apply for up to 10,000 USD in per-person incentive funding (e-gift cards) for each study. Funds may be used only for incentives for participants from the undersampled groups and are not transferred to the institution.
Applications close on December 31, 2026.