Research in Disabilities Education (NSF)

The Research in Disabilities Education (RDE) program seeks to broaden the participation and achievement of people with disabilities in all fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and associated professional careers. Particular emphasis is placed on contributing to the knowledge base by addressing disability related differences in secondary and post-secondary STEM learning and in the educational, social and pre-professional experiences that influence student interest, academic performance, retention in STEM degree programs, STEM degree completion, and career choices. Projects also investigate effective practices for transitioning students with disabilities across critical academic junctures, retaining students in undergraduate and graduate STEM degree programs, and graduating students with STEM associate, baccalaureate and graduate degrees.

Research project results inform the delivery of innovative, transformative and successful practices employed by the Alliances for Students with Disabilities in STEM to increase the number of students with disabilities completing associate, undergraduate and graduate degrees in STEM and to increase the number of students with disabilities entering our nation's science and engineering workforce. RDE projects contribute to closing the gaps occurring for people with disabilities in STEM fields by successfully disseminating findings, project evaluation results, and proven good practices and products to the public.

Amount: $200,000 - $3m

Date due: February 2, 2011

For more information, click here.

NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grants

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) funding opportunity supports the development of new research activities in categorical program areas. (Support generally is restricted in level of support and in time.) Investigator-initiated research, also known as unsolicited research, is research funded as a result of an investigator submitting a research grant application to NIH in an investigators area of interest and competency. All investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental applications described in this announcement will be assigned to NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) according to standard Public Health Service (PHS) referral guidelines and specific program interests. Investigators are strongly encouraged to consult the list of participating ICs and special research interests.

The Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on a field of biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism, numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.

Date due: January 25, 2011

For more information, click here.

National Mentoring Networks to Enhance the Clinician-Investigator Workforce in Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA), issued by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), solicits Resource-Related Research Projects-Cooperative Agreement (U24) applications from institutions/organizations that propose to develop and pilot research mentoring networks for budding clinician-scientists on a national scale. These networks will recruit and nurture promising clinically-trained individuals seeking to establish an independent research trajectory in deafness and other communication disorders within their careers, but requiring ongoing mentorship to achieve this goal. This nurturance will be achieved through matching these protgs to highly qualified, committed research mentors and facilitating ongoing contact between the mentors and protgs. Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the NIH Resource-Related Research Projects- Cooperative Agreement (U24) award mechanism. Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards.

Date due: February 17, 2011

Amount: $250,000

For more information, click here.

Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities (NSF)

The Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities (RAPD) program supports research that will lead to the development of new technologies, devices, or software for persons with disabilities. Research may be supported that is directed to the characterization, restoration, and/or substitution of human functional ability or cognition, or to the interaction of persons with disabilities and their environment. Areas of particular recent interest are disability-related research in neuroscience/neuroengineering and rehabilitation robotics. Emphasis is placed on significant advancement of fundamental engineering and scientific knowledge and not on incremental improvements. Proposals should advance discovery or innovation beyond the frontiers of current knowledge in disability-related research. Applicants are encouraged to contact a program director prior to submitting a proposal.

Amount: $80,000

Date due: March 3, 2011

For more information, click here.

Update on IES research priorities

From -- Inside School Research

The Institute of Education Sciences published a proposed list of research priorities yesterday. (Thanks to Jim Kohlmoos of the Knowledge Alliance for alerting me to the Federal Register noticemaking the announcement.)

If you've been following the media reports on IES Director John Easton's talks and interviews, you have a pretty good idea what those priorities are. IES is placing a big emphasis, for instance, on the idea that "effective education research must be informed by the interests and needs of education practitioners and policymakers."

"To this end," the priorities list reads, "the Institute will encourage close partnerships between researchers and practitioners in the conceptualization, planning, and conduct of research and evaluation." Indeed, that kind of collaborative focus is already embedded in some of the research grants the institute has given out this year.

The priorities also reflect the new director's interest in: looking beyond student achievement and studying "the behaviors, skills, and dispositions that support learning in school and later success in life"; learning how to generate higher-order thinking in students; developing "innovative approaches" to improve education outcomes; developing a better understanding of the educational processes through which policies and programs affect students; and studying the context of schooling.

When it comes to study methods, the priorities reiterate the institute's long-standing commitment to "rigorous scientific methods." But they also say "the work of the institute will include a variety of research and statistical methods" and that the IES will work to ensure that the methods used are appropriate to the questions being asked.

These priorities aren't yet set in stone. The institute will accept comments from the public until Sept. 7. The National Board for Education Sciences, which advises the institute, has to weigh in on them, too. That's likely to happen in the fall when the newly reconstituted board convenes.

Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs)—Effective Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Service Delivery Practices

The purpose of the Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTCs) program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, through advanced research, training, technical assistance, and dissemination activities in general problem areas, as specified by NIDRR. Such activities are designed to benefit rehabilitation service providers, individuals with disabilities, and the family members or other authorized representatives of individuals with disabilities.

Amount: $1,000,000

Date due: August 23, 2010

For more information, click here.

Disability Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP)— International Exchange of Knowledge and Experts in Disability and Rehabilitation Research

The purpose of the Disability Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP)—International Exchange of Knowledge and Experts in Disability and Rehabilitation Research program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, by developing methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technologies that advance a wide range of independent living and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. DRRPs carry out one or more of the following types of activities, as specified and defined in 34 CFR 350.13 through 350.19: research, training, demonstration, development, dissemination, utilization, and technical assistance. An applicant for assistance under this program must demonstrate in its application how it will address, in whole or in part, the needs of individuals with disabilities from minority backgrounds.

Amount: $400,000

Date due: August 23, 2010

For more information, click here.

Personnel Development Preservice Programs

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) announces the Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities: Special Education Preservice Program Improvement Grants. The purpose of the Combined Personnel Preparation priority is to improve the quality and increase the number of personnel who are fully credentialed to serve children, including infants and toddlers, with disabilities—especially in areas of chronic personnel shortage—by supporting projects that prepare early intervention, special education, and related services personnel at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and specialist levels. In order to be eligible under this priority, programs must provide training and support for scholars 8 to complete, within the project period of the grant, a degree, State certification, professional license, or State endorsement in early intervention, special education, or a related services field.

Amount: $300,000

Date due: July 14, 2010

For more information, click here.

TBI Research Program Cognitive Rehabilitation (Veteran's)

The PH/TBI Research Program’s Cognitive Rehabilitation For TBI Clinical Trial Award mechanism is offered for the first time in FY10. These awards are intended to encourage rapid implementation of clinical trials to assess the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitative therapy for TBI for members or former members of the Armed Forces. Collaborations with military researchers and clinicians are encouraged. NOTE: Priority will be given to studies that use military or veteran populations who have been diagnosed with a TBI incurred in the line of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

Amount: $10,000,000

Date due: September 7, 2010

For more information, click here.

Science Education Partnership Award

National Center for Research Resources encourages applications to its Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program for the development and evaluation of innovative research education programs to improve PreK-12 research career opportunities and the community's understanding of the health science advances supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded clinical and basic research. SEPA encourages dynamic partnerships between biomedical and clinical researchers and PreK-12 teachers and schools and other interested organizations. Particular importance will be given to applications that target PreK-12 and/or ISE/media topics that may not be addressed by existing curriculum, community-based or ISE/media activities.

Amount: $250,000

Date due: June 22, 2010

For more information, click here.

State Implementation Grants for Improving Services for Children and Youth with with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other Developmental Disabilitie

The purpose of this program is to improve access to comprehensive, coordinated health care and related services for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder ASD and other developmental disabilities. Grantees will implement an existing state plan to improve the system of services for children and youth with special health care needs who have ASD and other developmental disabilities as defined by the following components: partnerships between professionals and families of children and youth with ASD, access to a culturally competent family-centered medical home which coordinates care with pediatric subspecialties and community-based services, access to adequate health insurance and financing of services, early and continuous screening for ASD and other developmental disabilities,community services organized for easy use by families, and transition to adult health care.

Amount: $300,000

Date due: June 14, 2010

For more information, click here.

Rehab Long-term Training

The Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program provides financial assistance for-- (1) Projects that provide basic or advanced training leading to an academic degree in areas of personnel shortages in rehabilitation as identified by the Secretary; (2) Projects that provide a specified series of courses or program of study leading to the award of a certificate in areas of personnel shortages in rehabilitation as identified by the Secretary; and (3) Projects that provide support for medical residents enrolled in residency training programs in the specialty of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Amount: $100,000

Date due: June 7, 2010

For more information, click here.

Research Grants on ASD Interventions

The Maternal and Child Health Research Program will award grants to conduct research on evidence-based practices for interventions to improve the health and well-being of children and adolescents with ASD and other developmental disabilities.

Amount: $100,000 - $300,000/year for 3 years

Date due: June 7, 2010

For more information, click here.

Autism Speaks Family Services Grants

Autism Speaks is accepting grant applications for its Family Services Community Grants program for projects that promote services that enhance the lives of those affected by autism spectrum disorders. The focus of these grants will be on proposals that serve to build the field of services for individuals with autism and expand the capacity to effectively serve this growing community.

Autism Speaks will accept family services community grant proposals that address one of three areas of need — education, recreation/community activities, and young adult/adults services. Successful applicants will apply grant funding to support new programs or the expansion of existing projects.

Amount: $25,000

Date due: June 10, 2010 (Letter of intent)

For more information, click here.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) -- Increasing Support for Families

The purpose of this program is to enhance support to family members of patients with a suspected or diagnosed case of human prion disease as well as enhance support for national surveillancefor CJD and its emerging variants by (1) providing family members of such patients with easy access to consultations with persons experienced and knowledgeable about practical issues related to this disease, 2) facilitating educational and other mutually beneficial interaction of researchers with family members of CJD patients (3) increasing general awareness about CJD and (4) increasing the number of autopsies of suspected CJD cases.

Amount: $325,000

Date due: April 19, 2010 (Letter of intent); June 4, 2010 (proposal)

For more information, click here.

Research on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NIH)

These funding opportunities announcements (FOA) encourage research grant applications to support research designed to elucidate the etiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and optimal means of service delivery in relation to autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Basic, clinical, and applied studies are encouraged. This FOA is intended to support the broad research goals of the Strategic Plan for ASD Research (http://iacc.hhs.gov/reports/2009/iacc-strategic-plan-for-autism-spectrum-disorder-research-jan26.shtml).

The R01 grant is an award made to support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing the investigator's specific interest and competencies, based on the mission of the NIH. Basic, clinical, and applied studies are encouraged.

Amount: $250,000/year (for 5 years)

Date due: June 5, 2010; October 5, 2010

The R03 award mechanism supports different types of projects including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology. The R03 is intended to support small research projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited resources.

Amount: $50,000/year (2 years)

Date due: June 15, 2010; October 15, 2010

The R21 grant mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact on biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.

Amount: $275,000 (across 2 years)

Date due: June 15, 2010; October 15, 2010

For more information, R01 click here, R03 click here, R21 click here.

Autism Research Program

The Autism Research Program recognizes the critical need for improved resources to advance the field of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) research and diagnosis, and to improve outcomes for individuals with ASD. The Resource Development Award supports product-driven research aimed at developing tools for use by the ASD research and/or clinical communities.

These resources may include, but are not limited to, (1) high-throughput assays, (2) noninvasive imaging techniques, (3) diagnostic tests, (4) databases, (5) devices, (6) clinical tools, and (7) model systems. Applicants should clearly articulate how the proposed product addresses an unmet need in the ASD research or clinical communities.

Research involving human subject use is permitted under this funding opportunity, but is restricted to studies without clinical trials.

Preliminary data relevant to the proposed product development is allowed, but not required. (1)Preliminary data, (2) unpublished results from the laboratory of the principal investigator, (3) the research team, or (4) the collaborators named on this application, may be from outside of the ASD research field.

Amount: $150,000 (across 2 years)

Date due: March 31, 2010 (Pre-application)

For more information, click here.

Disability Rights Fund International Grants

The Disability Rights Fund seeks to strengthen the participation of Disabled Persons' Organizations in the advancement of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the country level in the Global South and Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union.

The fund's 2010 Moving Rights Forward grant cycle will consist of two rounds. The first is directed at DPOs in Indonesia, Mexico, Ukraine, and eligible states and cities in India (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi). Applicants can apply as single organizations or partnerships for small grants and/or as national DPO-led coalitions for national coalition grants.

Single organizations or partnerships can apply for twelve-month grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 each. Grants may be used to increase DPO skill in addressing the CRPD by building more inclusive organizations or partnerships and/or internal capacity building, and to accomplish rights-based advocacy and monitoring by increasing DPO participation in decision-making processes regarding the CRPD at state or local levels and/or directly addressing implementation of CRPD Articles.

National DPO-led coalitions can apply for 24-month grants ranging from $30,000 to $50,000 each per year to work on ratification of the CRPD, passage of specific legislation to accord with the CRPD, or the production of an alternative/parallel report.

Cross-disability and other partnerships in-country are strongly encouraged, as are projects that address particularly marginalized sectors of the disability community.

The deadline for small grants applications for the first funding round is March 24, 2010. The deadline for National Coalition Grants applications for the first round is April 12, 2010. The RFP for the second grantmaking round will be released in July 2010.

For more information, click here.

IES Autism Spectrum Disorders Research

The purpose of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Research (ASD) program is to contribute to the improvement of developmental, cognitive, communicative, academic, social, behavioral, and functional outcomes of students identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from preschool through Grade 12 by (1) exploring malleable factors relevant to comprehensive preschool and school-based interventions (e.g., intervention practices) that are associated with better developmental, cognitive, communicative, academic, social, behavioral, and functional outcomes for students identified with ASD, as well as mediators or moderators of the relations between these factors and student outcomes, for the purpose of identifying potential targets of intervention; (2) developing innovative comprehensive preschool and school-based interventions or modifying existing interventions to make them comprehensive to address the developmental, cognitive, communicative, academic, social, behavioral, and functional needs of students identified with ASD; (3) establishing the efficacy of fully developed comprehensive preschool and school-based interventions for students identified with ASD; (4) evaluating the effectiveness of comprehensive preschool and school-based interventions for student with ASD when implemented at scale; and (5) developing and validating measures of developmental, cognitive, communicative, academic, social, behavioral, and functional outcomes that can be used by practitioners to monitor progress and evaluate outcomes for students identified with ASD.

The long-term outcome of this program will be an array of comprehensive programs and assessments that have been documented to be effective for improving the developmental, cognitive, communicative, academic, social, behavioral, and functional outcomes of students identified with ASD from preschool through Grade 12.

Amount: $100,000 - $1.2m (3 years)

Date due: September 16, 2010

For more information, click here.

IES Related Services Research Program

The purpose of the Related Services (Related Services) research program is to contribute to the improvement of reading, writing, language, mathematics, science, social, or behavioral outcomes, as well as functional skills that improve educational and transitional results of students with disabilities by: (1) exploring malleable factors (e.g., related services practices and delivery systems) that are associated with better child outcomes for children with disabilities, as well as mediators or moderators of the relations between these factors and child outcomes, for the purpose of identifying potential targets of intervention; (2) developing innovative related services interventions — practices, programs, and delivery systems — that are intended to improve outcomes for students with disabilities; (3) determining the efficacy of related services practices, programs, and delivery systems for students with disabilities; (4) providing evidence on the effectiveness of related services practices, programs, and delivery systems for students with disabilities when implemented at scale; and (5) developing assessments that can be used to evaluate the performance of related service providers and validating these or existing assessments against child outcomes.

The long-term outcome of this program will be an array of tools and strategies (e.g., assessments, services, curricula, programs, practices, interventions) that have been documented to be effective for improving the reading, writing, mathematics, science, social and behavioral outcomes, as well as functional skills that improve educational and transitional outcomes of students with disabilities who receive related services from kindergarten through Grade 12.

Amount: $100,000 - $1.2m (3 years)

Date due: September 16, 2010

For more information, click here.

IES Teacher Quality Research (Special Education)

The purpose of the Institute's Teacher Quality Research (Teacher Quality) program is to identify effective strategies for improving the performance of current teachers and other instructional personnel in ways that increase reading, writing, language, mathematics, science, or secondary transitional outcomes for students with disabilities from kindergarten through Grade 12. The Institute intends for the Teacher Quality research program to fulfill five goals: (1) exploring the relations between malleable factors (e.g., practices of teachers and other instructional personnel; professional development experiences) and student outcomes, as well as mediators or moderators of the relations between these factors and student outcomes, for the purpose of identifying potential targets of intervention; (2) developing innovative programs and practices for professional development of teachers and/or other instructional personnel that are intended to improve instructional practices and through them student outcomes; (3) evaluating the efficacy of fully-developed programs and practices for professional development of teachers and/or other instructional personnel; (4) evaluating the effectiveness of programs and practices for professional development of teachers and/or other instructional personnel that are implemented at scale and intended for improving instructional practices and through them student outcomes; and (5) developing and validating new assessments of teacher quality for current classroom teachers or other instructional personnel, or validating existing assessments for teachers or other instructional personnel at any grade level from kindergarten through grade 12 against measures of student outcomes.

Long-term outcomes of the Teacher Quality program will be an array of tools and strategies (e.g., in-service programs, teacher supports, assessments) that have been demonstrated to be effective for improving and assessing performance of teachers and other instructional personnel in ways that are linked to improvements in student outcomes.

By "professional development," the Institute refers to in-service training and supports (e.g., information resources) for current personnel. By "teachers and other instructional personnel," the Institute refers to special education teachers, general education teachers, paraprofessionals, teacher consultants and specialists, and other personnel involved in the instruction of students with disabilities. Personnel involved in providing related services are not included under the Teacher Quality topic but can be included under the Related Services research topic.

Amount: $100,000 - $1,200,000 (3 years)

Date due: September 16, 2010

For more information, click here.

NIH Research Conference Grant (Interdisciplinary Teams)

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages Research Conference Grant (R13) applications from institutions and organizations that propose to develop interdisciplinary research teams. Teams must include investigators from the social and/or behavioral sciences, and may include the life and/or physical sciences. The goal is to broaden the scope of investigation into scientific problems, yield fresh and possibly unexpected insights, and increase the sophistication of theoretical, methodological, and analytical approaches by integrating the analytical strengths of two or more disparate scientific disciplines while addressing gaps in terminology, approach, and methodology. This program will allow investigators from multiple disciplines to hold meetings in order to provide the foundation for developing interdisciplinary research projects.

Amount: Varies

Date due: April 12, 2010; August 12, 2010

For more information, click here.

Technology & Media Services for Individuals with Disabilities

The purposes of the Technology and Media Services for Individuals with Disabilitiesprogram are to: (1) Improve results for children with disabilities by promoting the development, demonstration, and use of technology; (2) support educational media services activities designed to be of educational value in the classroom setting to children with disabilities; and (3) provide support for captioning and video description that are appropriate for use in the classroom setting. Phase 1 projects must develop, refine, and test the feasibility of specific technology-based approaches. Phase 2 projects must subject technology-based approaches to rigorous field-based research to determine their effectiveness.

Amount: Phase 1 ($200,000/year for 2 years); Phase 2 ($300,000/year for 3 years)

Due date: March 19, 2010

For more information, click here.