Advancing Academic Discoveries in Neuroscience. Together.

SPARK NS two-year, immersive translational research programs eliminate barriers to success.

2 people collaborating in front of an orange line bending behind them going from left to right

Our vision

Every person with a neurological disorder has safe and effective treatments and cures.
Drug development is hard!

We fill gaps in knowledge and know-how

We bring academic researchers together to learn from their peers and industry experts and put aside competing interests for the benefit of patients.

OurPrograms
A young latin woman showing an older asian woman information on her tablet with graphic stripes wrapping around them.
From Lab To Clinic

All the resources you need

Our programs help academic principal investigators advance therapeutic discoveries at any stage between target identification and entry into clinical trials.

OurPrograms

Funding

Up to $2,000,0001,2 over two years

Education

Training and skills development

Mentorship

50+ industry expert advisors

Networking

Opportunities and introductions

PROVEN RESULTS

A model that works

SPARK NS programs use a translational research model with an unprecedented 50%3 success rate developed and refined at Stanford University School of Medicine since 2006.

OurPrograms
A black and white illustration of a brain
Source: Cajal, 1899
Call for Proposals

SPARK NS 2025 Translational Research Program

SPARK NS is no longer accepting applications for this program. We will release a Call for Proposals for our 2026 program in April 2025.

Sign up for updates

  1. Not all funds awarded go directly to PIs’ laboratories. For example, work done by vetted research organizations or academic research facilities will be paid for by SPARK NS directly to the organizations from awarded funds.

  2. SPARK NS does not claim ownership of any IP rights or take a financial stake in commercial products developed during or prior to the program.

  3. Kim, J.S., Kargotich, S., Lee, S.H. et al. SPARKing academic technologies across the valley of death. Nature Biotechnology 42, 339–342 (2024).