SPARK NS

D-SPARK is a Phase 2b clinical trial investigating whether D-Serine can improve symptoms and potentially modify the course of Parkinson’s disease. Learn More: sparkns.org/news-and-insights/d-spark-crosses-halfway-mark-in-parkinson-s-clinical-trial-recruitment/ @chtzoulis.bsky.social

Could D-Serine help change the course of Parkinson’s disease? D-SPARK, the first clinical trial to emerge from the SPARK NS program, has now passed the 50% mark toward its recruitment goal. Learn more: sparkns.org/news-and-ins... @chtzoulis.bsky.social

Have you requested your *free* access yet? The SPARK NS Learning Center, our online learning platform offering courses and content on drug development, is open to *all* academic researchers! Learn more and request access: na2.hubs.ly/H06n27-0

📣 The September 2026 issue of the SPARK NS Newsletter is here: info.sparkns.org/september-20...

The blood–brain barrier protects the brain, but it also makes treating central nervous system (CNS) diseases more challenging. New delivery strategies, from viral vectors to molecular shuttles, are helping researchers find new ways across it. Learn more: sparkns.org/news-and-ins...

What does it really take to move a biomedical discovery toward patients? For academic researchers interested in drug development, knowing what comes next—and planning for it early—can make all the difference. 🔗 Learn more and request FREE access to the SPARK NS LEARNING CENTER: na2.hubs.ly/H06n27-0

Congratulations to Daria Mochly-Rosen, PhD, SPARK NS Chief Science and Education Advisor, on being named a recipient of the 2026 InnoPharm Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes Dr. Mochly-Rosen’s distinguished career at Stanford University. Learn more: pharm-science.com?utm_content=...

Drug development content for academic researchers at every experience level: ➝ New to drug development? Start with our Foundations course. ➝ More experienced? Go deeper with focused modules, videos, and lectures. Request free access: na2.hubs.ly/H06n27-0

Did you know modern Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations emerged after FDA uncovered major toxicology lab failures in the 1970s? Nearly 50 years later, GLP remains essential for trustworthy preclinical safety data. Read the latest SPARK NS News + Insights: sparkns.org/news-and-ins...

📣 The August 2026 issue of the SPARK NS Newsletter is here! ➡️ info.sparkns.org/-tempo… In this issue you’ll find: SPARK NS connects researchers worldwide to advance Parkinson’s & autism projects, share drug-development insights, and access free learning resources. Follow us on Bluesky & Substack!

From lab bench to first-in-human trial, the journey of a promising drug is long and complex. One key milestone along the way is the Investigational New Drug (IND) application. Check out our latest News + Insights story: sparkns.org/news-and-ins...

Have you requested your access to the SPARK NS Learning Center yet? You have nothing to lose. It’s free. ➡️ na2.hubs.ly/H06n27-0 In this video, @okornfeld.bsky.social explains why researchers need to think differently about how to advance their discoveries to therapies that can benefit patients.

📣 The July 2026 issue of the SPARK NS Newsletter is here ➝ info.sparkns.org/newsletter-page

Most scientific discoveries never make it to patients. Not because the science isn’t promising, but because the drug development process is complex, and rarely taught in academia. That’s why we created the SPARK NS Learning Center. Read our latest article to learn more: sparkns.org/news-and-ins...

🔔The SPARK NS Learning Center is now available to all researchers interested in or currently developing therapeutics for autism, Parkinson’s, and adjacent conditions. Researchers working in other areas can also request access. *It’s free!* Learn more and request access: na2.hubs.ly/H06n27-0

How do promising therapies reach patients faster than traditional timelines allow?  Through programs such as Accelerated Approval and fast-track designations, regulatory agencies are helping to speed access to life-changing therapies while maintaining scientific rigor. sparkns.org/news-and-ins...

Applications for the SPARK NS Translational Research Program, 2027 Cohort, are now closed! Thank you to everyone who applied! WHAT'S NEXT? Finalists will be notified in Sep with presentations in Oct. The 2027 Cohort will be selected by the end of 2025 and join the program in Jan 2027.

📣Applications for the SPARK NS Program, 2027 Cohort, close on June 5th! Before the deadline, hear directly from researchers already in the program and explore the latest SPARK NS updates in the June 2026 issue of our Newsletter: info.sparkns.org/newsletter-p...

Apply by June 5th to be considered for the SPARK NS Translational Research Program, 2027 Cohort. Start your application here ➡️ sparkservices.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

If you’re considering applying to the SPARK NS program, start with this. @micharapelab.bsky.social ……. ➡️ Learn more about the SPARK NS Translational Research Program and how to apply: sparkns.org/call-for-pro... ⏳ Application deadline: June 5, 2026, at 5:00 pm PT …….

Working on Parkinson’s or autism therapeutics? SPARK NS is accepting applications! Start yours today: na2.hubs.ly/H05H22c0 ....... ➡️ Learn more about the SPARK Program and how to apply: sparkns.org/call-for-proposals/ ⏳ Application deadline: June 5, 2026, at 5:00 pm PT

Many Parkinson’s and autism discoveries are published in scientific journals. Far fewer reach patients. Why do so many promising discoveries never make it to the clinic? Read the article: sparkns.org/news-and-insights/before-the-deadline-hear-from-researchers-inside-the-spark-ns-program/

New findings from Alice Chen-Plotkin, MD, Parker Family Professor of Neurology, @upenn.edu, and a principal investigator in the SPARK NS program point to a potential new path toward slowing #ParkinsonsDisease progression. @alicechenplotkin.bsky.social www.cell.com/neuron/fullt...

⏳ Final hours to request an Optional Pre-Submission Review for the SPARK NS program. Submit your request by this Tuesday, May 12 at 5pm PT. ➡️ lnkd.in/gWN_AqhU

Every Parkinson’s researcher has a different starting point. Some started in a moment with a patient. Others were inspired in a university or medical school course. One started by watching a television show! Learn more about the SPARK NS program and how to apply: lnkd.in/gy_nsHFU #Parkinsons

Wondering if you should apply to the SPARK NS program? Here’s a message from Timothy Ryan, PhD, an investigator in the program now. ➡️ Learn more about our program and how to apply: sparkns.org/call-for-pro... Application deadline: June 5, 2026, at 5:00 pm PT #ParkinsonsDisease #autism

In our latest News + Insights article, we explore how a well-planned target product profile (TPP) can serve as a roadmap for researchers, aligning scientific vision with regulatory, clinical, and business goals. sparkns.org/news-and-ins...

We spoke with principal investigators in the SPARK NS program about their paths into the field, the turning points that shape their work, and what continues to drive them as they seek to develop new therapeutics. Read our News + Insights story: sparkns.org/news-and-ins...

SPARK NS seeks academic researchers developing autism and Parkinson’s therapeutics. Up to $2M funding plus translational support. Apply by 5 June 2026. www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/funding/spar...

Heck of an opportunity for #Parkinsons research - calls for SPARK-NS Translational Research Program, 2026 Cohort are now open! Up to $2M in milestone-based funding, education, mentoring, & networking opportunities over two years, beginning January 2026 sparkns.org/call-for-pro...

Thank you to Spark NS for helping us turn the ubiquitin system against Parkinson's Disease! Kudos to @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social student Srividya Chandrasekhar and postdoc Josh Sheetz for their groundbreaking work! sparkns.org/programs/pro...

Congratulations to the latest batch of Principal Investigators to join the SPARK NS Program 2026 cohort - 9 new projects exploring #Parkinsons or Autism sparkns.org/news-and-ins...

SPARK NS invites principal investigators with promising discoveries in #Parkinson’sDisease & #autism in the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe to apply for the SPARK NS Translational Research Program, 2027 Cohort. ⏰ Application deadline: June 5, 2026, at 5:00 pm PT Info: sparkns.org/call-for-pro...