INSAR 2026 Cultural Diversity
Research Excellence Award

Call for Applications

Deadline for Completed Submissions (please note as this differs from the other Awards):
Friday, January 23, 2026

Description:

The Cultural Diversity Research Excellence Award seeks to support and recognize research with a significant impact on culturally diverse and underserved communities. The goal of the award is to recognize investigators who conducted community-based or community-partnered research that has a lasting impact on underserved and under-researched communities beyond the scope of a single research study.

We recognize that diversity takes broad forms. This award is not meant to recognize diversity in autism research in all forms. There are other ways of recognizing such work in the field. This award focuses on recognizing human subjects research related to cultural diversity in the following categories:
a) research on underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in any country
b) research in low- or middle-income countries
c) research on immigrant groups in any country, and
d) research on under-represented socio-economic groups in any country

It is important that applicants clearly state the role of community partners, if any, in their work. Special consideration will be given to individuals or groups who have focused their work in lower-income countries/communities.

The award winner will be chosen based upon:

a) Dedication to a multicultural/diversity themes throughout career and professional work
b) Participation in individual or group efforts to promote diversity and expand access for underserved individuals with autism.

Nominations should emphasize significant and lasting contributions to research that directly impacts culturally diverse communities of individuals with autism and their families. We are particularly interested in completed research that promotes understanding and respect for diversity, which includes increasing professional work focused on groups that have historically been under-represented in autism research.

Cultural Diversity Research Award:

Eligibility: Membership of INSAR is not a requirement to be eligible for the award. However, applicants must have attended and presented at one or more INSAR Annual Meetings in the past five (5) years.

Application/Nomination: The application can be a self-nomination or nomination of another individual or team. The application must be submitted in English and include the following:

1. Description of the research conducted in under-served and culturally diverse communities (a maximum of 1000 words, Times New Roman, 12pt font, double-spaced).
   • Describe how this work addresses issues of cultural diversity in autism as defined in this RFA.
   • Specify the scope and significant impact the work has produced or will produce on improving the lives of individuals with autism in those communities.  
   • Describe the innovation of this work.
     
     
2. Using the Cultural Diversity Research Award - Research Program Logic Model provided in this RFA, describe the work (inputs, outputs, and activities) and the impact (short and long-term) of the work on under-served and culturally diverse communities. (Template)
3. Biographical sketch using the provided template. (Template)
4. Up to two (2) peer-reviewed, published articles that exemplify the impact of the nominee’s research on underrepresented communities

The application documents should be submitted as a single PDF document via the online submission form. Applications that do not follow the application instructions will not be reviewed.

Submit any application questions to the INSAR Cultural Diversity Committee, culturaldiversitycommittee@autism-insar.org.

Review Criteria:

1. Research trajectory emphasizing cultural diversity in autism.
2. The scope and impact of research in culturally diverse communities.
3. Innovation or originality of research in culturally diverse and underserved communities

The recipient will be selected by representatives of the INSAR Cultural Diversity Committee and this committee’s INSAR Board liaison.

Terms of Award:

Award recipients will be required to participate in Cultural Diversity Committee activities at the INSAR 2026 Annual Meeting, including a group photo and social media promotion. The award includes recognition at the INSAR 2026 meeting. INSAR will reimburse registration, hotel, and economy travel expenses for the award winner (or 1 representative from a team) to attend the INSAR 2026 meeting to be held April 22 - 25, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic.

SUBMIT HERE

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