Autism Speaks Request for Applications for its Autism Treatment Network
Autism Speaks announces the upcoming release of a Request for Applications (RFA) for the next funding cycle of its Autism Treatment Network (ATN), a collaboration of treatment and research centers dedicated to improving medical care for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The RFA will solicit letters of intent from hospitals and academic medical centers interested in participating in a multi-site clinical care and research network. The ATN mission is to provide and expand access to a state-of-the-art comprehensive and coordinated medical care model for children with ASD. This RFA is open to both new and existing ATN sites.
This RFA is targeted towards institutions that have an established autism program and actively provide comprehensive, on-going, multidisciplinary care for children and adolescents with ASD. Participating sites will take an active role in the development of treatment guidelines, clinical research, and support of the patient registry activities of the ATN. Additionally, sites must be willing and able to meet network goals for patient registry enrollment and data quality. In order to apply, interested sites must meet the following minimum requirements:
1. Co- principal investigators (2) must be experienced clinicians (MD or PhD) with expertise in ASD who oversee their clinic operations and have the authority to effect change in care as needed. At least one of the PIs must be an MD and one or both PIs should have substantial experience in clinical research, with a demonstrated capacity to obtain external research funding. The lead PI, together with the institution, will take responsibility for grant deliverables, performance monitoring, and fiscal matters.
Each site should be able to provide a comprehensive, coordinated, multi-disciplinary care model that draws upon a team of clinicians from each of the core specialties listed below:
o Pediatrics
o Psychology/Neuropsychology
o Psychiatry
o Pediatric Neurology
o Pediatric Gastroenterology
o Sleep
o Genetics/Metabolics
o Ancillary care services (speech therapy, OT, PT, nutrition)
2. Each site must be willing to integrate the ATN assessment battery into their standard of care.
3. Each site must commit to the enrollment of children into the ATN Patient Registry and ongoing data collection for follow-up visits. Teams will have staff dedicated to coordinating systematic data collection for baseline and follow-up assessments through a web-based data management system.
4. Each site should have demonstrated expertise in conducting clinical research and be willing to participate in collaborative network research activities.
5. Successful sites must demonstrate institutional support for their participation in the network.
RFA Release Date: February 22, 2010
Due Date for Letters of Intent: March 29, 2010
Invitations for Full Applications: May 2010
Full Applications Due: July 2010
Funding Period: Jan. 2011-Dec. 2013
Contacts:
Nancy Jones, PhD, Program Director: 323-297-4754 Email: njones@autismspeaks.org
For more information go to:
http://www.autismspeaks.org/science/programs/atn/atn_physicians_researchers.php
