MDA Scientific Partnerships Accelerating Research and Knowledge (SPARK)
MDA Scientific Partnerships Accelerating Research and Knowledge (SPARK) supports multidisciplinary teams with workshops and collaborative research to address shared challenges across neuromuscular diseases.
Funder: Muscular Dystrophy Association
Due Dates: January 15, 2027 (Application) | April 2027 (Outcome notification) | September 14–16, 2027 (Workshop)
Funding Amounts: Up to $500,000 per selected SPARK project for follow-on activities, plus organizational and financial workshop support
Summary: SPARK supports multidisciplinary collaborations addressing scientific and translational challenges shared across multiple neuromuscular diseases.
Key Information: Lead applicants must be based at a U.S. institution; groups may include international participants.
Description
The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Scientific Partnerships Accelerating Research and Knowledge (SPARK) program brings together people with complementary expertise to address research gaps or unmet needs that impede progress across multiple neuromuscular diseases. Each selected project begins with a focused scientific workshop to examine a shared challenge, build consensus, identify actionable priorities, and develop a research roadmap.
MDA supports coordinated follow-on work arising from that roadmap, including collaborative research, pilot studies, shared methods or resources, and further scientific convenings. MDA works with each group to establish priorities, milestones, and an implementation plan, and may help connect participants with patient advocacy organizations, industry, and other partners. Progress and impact on research and patient communities are assessed over the three years following the workshop.
