In 2021, SPARC partnered with the Baszucki Group to co-develop the Baszucki Brain Research Fund’s Bipolar Disorder Grant program. This initiative was designed to support BD research at the point of treatment, a critical yet historically underfunded area. A total of $9.2 million in funding was awarded to 45 investigators across 35 organizations globally. Each recipient received up to $200,000 over two years to support pilot research focused on therapeutic discovery and translational efforts, aiming to accelerate progress in the field.

SPARC led the full lifecycle of the grant program, from proposal solicitation and peer review to award distribution and post-award reporting. To further support the research community, we organized and hosted the Catalyzing New Research in Bipolar Disorder Meeting in Denver, CO, in 2022. This convening brought together over 70 investigators alongside a community of BD funders from private foundations, nonprofits, and government agencies. Attendees engaged in peer feedback, explored new collaborations, and connected directly with funding partners.