People
We are scientists, educators, project managers, industry experts, and business and nonprofit leaders working together to more effectively advance academic discoveries from the lab to the clinic.
Our Team
Stephen Kargotich PhD, MBA, LLB
Executive Director
Daria Mochly-Rosen, PhD
Chief Science and Education Advisor
Kevin Grimes, MD, MBA
Chief Clinical and Education Advisor
Opher Kornfeld, PhD
Director of Translational Research and Development
Industry Advisors
Our 75+ industry expert advisors have experience in every aspect of the drug discovery and development process and long track records of success advancing academic discoveries from lab to clinic. Academic researchers in our program benefit from cohort-wide project and progress meetings attended by panels of advisors at the same time as well as one-on-one or small group mentoring in areas of need.
Clinical Operations
Venture Capital
Diagnostics & Biomarkers
Pharmacology
Legal & Licensing
Medical Affairs
Pharma Business Development
Medicinal Chemistry
Clinical Trial Design
Regulatory
Formulation
Entrepreneurship
Antibody Engineering
SPARK NS Translational Research Program, 2026 Cohort
SPARK NS invites principal investigators with promising discoveries in Parkinson's disease or autism to apply to the SPARK NS Translational Research Program, 2026 Cohort. The program will provide $2,000,000 in funding, education, mentoring, and networking opportunities over two years.
How to apply