Stanford Community

Education and Project Support

SPARK at Stanford includes education, mentorship, and funding for promising product proposals. Graduate level courses about the drug discovery and development process are hosted through The Department of Chemical and Systems Biology and are taught by SPARK co-founders. Drug development is an iterative process that requires specialized knowledge and technical proficiency in a number of areas. These courses offer an excellent introduction to this process. Learn more about SPARK's courses.

SPARK’s mentorship and funding program provides hands-on advising and funding to Stanford affiliates whose product proposals have been accepted by the program. These "SPARK Scholars" work closely with SPARK industry partners and academic experts with the goal of moving their projects from the bench to the bedside.  

SPARK Project Selection Process

Project proposals are reviewed annually by an expert panel of faculty and industry advisors. The panel reviews new, unlicensed disclosures made to the University Office of Technology Licensing as well as proposals submitted from across the university. SPARK Scholars (AKA “SPARKees”) are funded for an average of two years and participate in weekly seminars with industry and academic experts.

Project Selection Criteria

Eligibility: SPARK accepts product proposals for any clinical indication from any Stanford affiliate. This includes professors, clinicians, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students.

The proposed therapy or diagnostic must:

• Address an unmet need
• Utilize a novel approach
• Have the potential to advance to clinic or commercialization with two years of funding

SPARK takes a special interest in projects addressing neglected, orphan and developing-world diseases.

SPARK Program Features

SPARK Scholars benefit from world class advising from industry partners and academic experts.

• Funding:  Milestone-based funding for two years. Each round of funding is contingent upon completion of the prior term goals.
• Education:  SPARK Scholars (AKA SPARKees) must attend weekly seminars that teach the process of development and commercialization of drugs and diagnostics.
• Mentorship:  Each project team provides quarterly updates to the advisory panel and receives feedback.  Expert advisors provide project-specific advice for each stage of product development.
• Advising:  SPARK provides top-notch advising and access to core facilities, as well as assistance in creating partnerships with industry and other academic institutions.