Now Open: SPARK NS Call for Proposals, 2027 Cohort

Principal investigators with promising discoveries in autism and Parkinson's disease in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe are encouraged to apply for the SPARK NS Translational Research Program.

SPARK NS staff members, advisors, and principal investigators clapping during an in-person SPARK NS event.
SPARK NS staff members, advisors, and principal investigators from the 2026 Cohort of the SPARK NS Program

SPARK NS is now accepting applications from academic researchers developing therapeutics for autism, Parkinson's disease, and adjacent disorders for the 2027 Cohort of the SPARK NS Translational Research Program. Selected projects will receive milestone-based funding of up to $2,000,000 over two years, along with extensive support across all aspects of translational research and drug development. The deadline to apply is June 5, 2026, at 5:00 pm PT.

Currently, 22 projects focused on autism or Parkinson’s disease are participating in the SPARK NS Translational Research Program. The most recent cohort, announced in February 2026, includes nine projects; the 2025 Cohort includes eight; and the 2024 Cohort includes five. Collectively, these projects are eligible for up to $44 million in funding. Explore all 22 projects in the SPARK NS Program.

The SPARK NS Translational Research Program is based on an unconventional and proven model of translational research with an exceptional 50+% success rate at guiding discoveries from the lab to the clinic. Research teams participating in the program meet regularly in-person and virtually as a cohort. In these confidential sessions, researchers share successes, failures, and challenges, and learn from industry expert advisors and each other.

“There is no other program like this where you receive free advice from people who genuinely care about helping your project succeed—not about getting something from you,” said Špela Miroševič, PhD, Founding President of the CTNNB1 Foundation and a principal investigator in the SPARK NS 2026 Cohort.

“From application right through to being accepted and starting the program, SPARK NS makes it a wonderful experience that really gives you hope that we can all make a difference together,” said Saranna Fanning, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital and a principal investigator in the SPARK NS Program, 2026 Cohort.

Hear application tips directly from principal investigators in the SPARK NS 2026 Cohort in the video below:

Application Tips from the SPARK NS 2026 Cohort

Wondering what makes SPARK NS different? Explore perspectives shared by principal investigators participating in the program.

What Makes SPARK NS Different

Learn more

  • Learn more about the program and how to apply in the “Call for Proposals” page
  • Sign up for updates on the 2027 Cohort of the program and other SPARK NS updates
  • Explore the 22 projects and principal investigators from the SPARK NS 2024, 2025, and 2026 Cohorts
  • Learn more about SPARK NS

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