Gregory V. Carr, PhD; Xavier Salvatella, PhD; Mehrdad Shamloo, PhD
News
Three Additional Projects Join the SPARK NS Program
by Susan Thomas,
SPARK NS Communications Advisor
SPARK NS has added three additional projects and principal investigators to our SPARK NS Translational Research Program, 2026 Cohort, bringing the total in the cohort to 12. The 12 projects are based at academic and other non-profit research institutions in the US, UK, and Europe.
The additional projects in the 2026 Cohort bring the total number of projects now participating in the program to 25. Collectively, the projects are eligible for up to $50,000,000 in milestone-based funding.
Opher Kornfeld, PhD, Managing Director of Translational Research and Development, andBen Kraemer, PhD,Translational Science Liaison, will be available throughout the event to answer questions about how SPARK NS supports academic researchers developing therapeutics for autism. Feel free to connect with them on LinkedIn to schedule time during the conference.
This online educational platform offers courses and content across the drug development process—designed to help you strengthen your application and approach translational research with greater clarity.
If you’re preparing an application, or considering one, the SPARK NS Learning Center is a strong place to start.
Curious what the experience is like? Hear directly from researchers who have used the SPARK NS Learning Center in the video below:
Visit the Call for Proposals page on the SPARK NS website to request access and see other resources available for potential applicants.
Highlights from the SPARK NS Short Course "Positioning Neuroscience for Successful Drug Development"in Spain
Principal investigators from across Europe and the UK working on therapeutics for autism, Parkinson’s disease, and adjacent conditions attended the in-person SPARK NS short course, “Positioning Neuroscience for Successful Drug Development,” in Madrid, Spain last month.
The course provided participants with expert guidance and practical insights to help advance their discoveries from the lab to the clinic.
Here’s a snapshot of evaluation results from the course (53 attendees):
100%
Believe the course will better position them for funding and partnerships
91%
Extended their engagement by registering for the SPARK NS Learning Center
50%
Have also completed one or more modules of the SPARK NS Learning Center
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SPARK NS is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to efficiently advancing promising academic discoveries in neuroscience from the lab to the clinic.
