INSAR 2026: SIG Call for Proposals

Submission Deadline: November 10, 2025 - CLOSED

Notifications of successful SIG proposals will be sent before the end of 2025
and specific scheduling along with the INSAR Annual Meeting schedule in early 2026.

The INSAR Special Interest Group (SIG) Committee is soliciting applications for new SIGs to meet at INSAR 2026.

A SIG comprises a group of researchers, students/trainees, and other stakeholders who are interested in a particular area of autism research that is emerging, underdeveloped or underrepresented. The SIG will offer an opportunity for increased interaction to increase capacity in this area.

We anticipate being able to accommodate between 6 and 8 SIGs within the 2026 INSAR Annual Meeting program. We encourage submissions for both New SIGs and Returning SIGs. SIGs selected in response to this call are supported for one year only. However, once established, SIG leaders can reapply for a Returning SIG in future years (to a maximum 3-year term). We anticipate adding new SIGs to the INSAR Annual Meeting program. Support is for one year only; the SIGs, once established, will need to reapply in future years if they are interested (with a maximum of 3 years).

SIG sessions will be scheduled as part of the pre-conference day (Wednesday) and main Annual Meeting (Thursday-Saturday) program. Selected SIGs will be notified of such before the end of 2025, and will specifically be advised of their scheduled time slot when the main Annual Meeting program is finalized in 2026.

The Committee and Reviewers will consider the following criteria for merit-based selection of New and Returning SIGs:

1. Novelty and significance of the theme, including:

• Emerging, underdeveloped or underrepresented in autism research to date (e.g., could relate to few or no standardized approaches in the area, lack of conceptual models guiding the field, or underdeveloped or competing methodologies).
• Requiring interdisciplinary connections and/or broad stakeholder input.
• Non-duplicating of a topic addressed in a past SIG (i.e., where name may sound similar, explain how the new SIG proposal differs from what has been done).

2. Clarity of the goal(s) and consistency with INSAR’s priorities, including:

• Alignment with INSAR’s Values.
• Relevance to a wide section of INSAR membership (i.e., not specific to a particular discipline, or geographic region).
• Consideration of longer-term outputs beyond the SIG session; e.g.,:
-  Collaborative position paper, consensus statement, resource pool/database
-  Panel submission or increased number of abstract submissions at future Annual Meeting
-  Collaborative grant application
-  Training initiatives

3. Participants, including:

• Names of SIG Leader  and Co-Leader (who must be current INSAR members)
• Affiliations (noting SIG Leader and Co-Leader must be based at different institutions)
• That one of SIG Leader or Co-Leader must be a Student/Trainee
-   For help identifying an appropriate Student/Trainee, contact the INSAR Student and Trainee Committee: studentcommittee@autism-insar.org 

4. Effectiveness of the plan, including:

• Capacity to achieve depth in work on the proposed theme.
• Structured opportunities for attendee interaction during the SIG session—beyond a few presentations with Q&A; e.g.,
-  Dividing attendees into working groups to discuss issues
-  Guided discussion on common pitfalls and lessons learned
-  Data blitz
-  Discussions of collaborative opportunities
• Opportunities for exchange and interactions beyond the SIG session (in between sessions for Returning SIGs).
• The active involvement of Students/Trainees, mentorship, and/or career development opportunities.
• Effective consideration of engaging stakeholders with relevant lived experience.

5. Impact, including:

• Description of anticipated impact of the SIG (beyond information exchange and networking during the session).   
• Suggestion as to how Leaders might evaluate the success of the SIG in achieving its goals (but noting that there is no requirement for a formal evaluation plan).

Submitting a SIG Proposal

Applications must be submitted through the online form (link below). SIG selection is merit-based and successful New and Returning SIGs will receive space for the session at the pre-conference (Wednesday) or during the Annual Meeting (Thursday through Saturday) INSAR program schedule (including audio-visual support). Successful SIG Leads may consult with the SIG Committee, Student/Trainee Committee and other relevant INSAR Committees as required to support structuring the session for maximal benefit.

Notifications of successful SIG proposals will be sent before the end of 2025 and specific scheduling along with the INSAR Annual Meeting schedule in early 2026. SIG proposal notifications will be sent February 2026.

2026 SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED