Developmental Disabilities Research Funded by FCIDD: McNulty Scientist Program

The FCIDD McNulty Scientist Award program with UAB/CIRC has grown in its benefit to help additional scientists in a myriad of fields of research within intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since 2005 the FCIDD has awarded 23 scientists grants to further their research.

Over the past twenty-plus years, the award has been an exceptionally successful initiative, contributing over $1,250,000 to further scientific advancements. This leading pilot grant program has resulted in numerous significant discoveries, which have been used to secure additional funding, amounting to millions of dollars from the National Institutes of Health and other sources.

In 2024, the FCIDD Board voted to increase the McNulty Award to $225,000 annually, allowing UAB/CIRC to achieve their shared vision of advancing discovery even  further through concurrent, three-year grants.

Pictured left: Craig Powell, MD Ph.D. (UAB/CIRC Director) and Mr. Bill Garrett (FCIDD Executive Director) for the presentation of the $225,000 annual McNulty Scientist award, and 2025-2026 awardee Scott Cruikshank, Ph.D. and (not pictured) Rachel June Smith, Ph.D.

The McNulty Award funds interdisciplinary Clinical or Fundamental science research aimed at enhancing understanding of typical and atypical brain development, autism spectrum disorders,  intellectual disabilities, neuro-developmental disabilities and malformations, impaired cognitive  development, or the effects of environmental toxins on brain development.