The opportunity
Australia produces globally competitive science that can transform T1D, but too often discoveries stall before reaching the community. The challenge is not scientific capability; it is translation to outcomes for people living with T1D.
Turning research into therapies requires clear development pathways, strong intellectual property strategies, and engagement with industry and investors.
Transforming discovery into real-world impact requires alignment across capability, funding, industry engagement and capital. These elements rarely exist in a coordinated way. SPARC is designed to address that gap.
What is SPARC?
SPARC is Breakthrough T1D Australia’s structured pathway to translate and commercialise T1D research.
It brings together capability building, targeted funding and commercialisation expertise, alongside access to industry and investors, creating a coordinated pathway from discovery to impact.
SPARC is not a traditional grant or training program. It is designed specifically for early-stage biomedical translation where promising science often fails to progress due to fragmentation across the system. By integrating funding, capability and access into a single model, SPARC reduces this fragmentation and accelerates movement toward real-world outcomes.
Delivered in partnership with Cicada Innovations, Australia’s leading incubator for science and engineering-led startups, the program combines deep scientific expertise with practical commercialisation experience — ensuring that projects are not only scientifically strong, but strategically positioned.
Dr Auvro Mridha, Director of Advanced Therapies & Translation at Breakthrough T1D, said:
Australia produces exceptional research in T1D, but discoveries only change lives when they reach the real world. SPARC was created to help researchers translate promising breakthroughs beyond the lab by combining funding, mentoring and industry connections.
How SPARC works
SPARC operates as a staged pathway, taking participants from a collaborative workshop through targeted funding to expert coaching and investor engagement. It progressively builds projects toward real-world translation and commercial readiness.
2-day commercialisation workshop
Participants in the workshop explore the translational potential of their research and learn how discoveries can move beyond the laboratory.
- Connect with commercialisation experts, investors and peers
- Explore the real-world potential of your research
- Learn what investors actually want
- Build a translational strategy for your project
Workshop details:
- 24 – 25 June 2026
- 9am – 5pm each day
- Cicada Innovations, South Eveleigh, NSW
Applications for this workshop have now closed.
Competitive grant & mentoring program
Breakthrough T1D invites the most promising projects to apply for the SPARC translational grant and mentoring program. Selected teams receive funding and expert guidance to accelerate translation through:
- Funding to progress critical translational milestones
- Proof-of-concept validation and technology optimisation
- Intellectual property and commercial strategy development
- Up to 18 months of 1:1 mentoring from industry and commercialisation experts
- Preparation for regulatory pathways, partnerships and investment
The grant opportunity will open later this year, after the workshop has taken place.
Showcase event
The program culminates in a showcase, where projects engage directly with investors, industry partners and stakeholders to unlock further opportunities. Participants present their innovation to:
- investors
- pharmaceutical & biotech companies
- strategic partners
Impact
SPARC has already supported a portfolio of assets, progressing them toward commercialisation and external engagement.
Importantly, SPARC has demonstrated that structured support can significantly accelerate translation, particularly when aligned with real-world expectations.
Professor Stuart Mannering said:
SPARC has helped me and my team think much more clearly about where our assay could have clinical impact. With bespoke mentoring from experienced coaches, it gave us a clearer commercial pathway and strengthened how we communicate the opportunity to investors and potential partners.
Dr Thomas King said:
SPARC has equipped me with the practical tools and insights needed to translate scientific discoveries into real therapeutic opportunities, including navigating regulatory, commercial and development pathways.
Get involved
SPARC is designed to engage across the full translation ecosystem.
Researchers, clinicians and early-stage companies can join the SPARC workshop to explore and test the translational and commercial potential of their work.
They may also apply for targeted funding and tailored support to progress high potential projects along the translation pathway.
Industry, investors and ecosystem partners, including funders, industry bodies, translational initiatives, service providers and global collaborators can connect with us to access emerging opportunities and work with us to strengthen the translation pathway.