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Newsletter

May 2026

Alice S. Chen-Plotkin, MD; Michael Johnson, DPhil, FRACP, FRCP; Miratul Muqit, MBChB, PhD; David K. Simon, MD, PhD

Behind Every Parkinson's Researcher, There's a Story

Stories, turning points, and motivations shaping the next generation of therapeutics for Parkinson's disease.

by Ariella Bersan, SPARK NS Senior Manager of Communications and Marketing

READ MORE

Program

Validate Your Project Fit

Request your Optional Pre-Submission Review before May 12.

Want to know if your project is a good fit for the SPARK NS Translational Research Program before submitting an application? You can request an Optional Pre-Submission Review and receive early feedback from our team.

This optional review is designed to help you assess alignment with the program and address any key scientific questions in advance. We’ll respond within 5–10 business days.

Note that we will not respond to submissions received after the deadline.

SUBMIT REQUEST

Opportunities

Call for Proposals

We're accepting applications!

Learn more about the SPARK NS Translational Research Program and how to apply to the 2027 Cohort.

View All the Details

Preparing Your Application?

Here's a resource to strengthen it

Academic researchers applying to the SPARK NS Program, 2027 Cohort, can now request access to the SPARK NS Learning Center.

Request Access

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What Makes SPARK NS Different?

Principal investigators in the 2026 Cohort share what sets the SPARK NS program apart from traditional funding organizations.

While their journey is still unfolding, one thing is already clear: advancing Parkinson’s and autism discoveries into therapeutics takes more than funding and scientific excellence. It requires a different way of thinking—one grounded in community, iteration, and patient impact.

Watch the video below to hear directly from them.

Expert Content

News + Insights

Gain access to high-quality expert content—offering fresh perspectives, practical guidance, and inspiration to think differently about drug development.