The ARP Pilot Award supports conceptually innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will drive the field of ASD forward. Research projects should include a testable hypothesis based on a strong scientific rationale. This award is not intended to support the continuation of existing studies or the next logical extension and/or incremental step. The Pilot Award emphasizes untested, novel, innovative, and potentially groundbreaking concepts, theories, paradigms, and/or methods.