SPRING 2026 SPARK GRANT AWARDEES

April 7, 2026

PERF^® congratulates Stephanie Brosius, MD, PhD, Natalie Katz, MD, PhD, and Jaclyn Martindale, DO as recipients of the SPARK Grant Award.

The SPARK Grant: Supporting Pediatric Neurology Advances through Research in K-Awards is a bridge grant program designed to support early-stage investigators by providing critical financial support to bridge the gap between initial career development (K-Award) application submission and successful resubmission.

Awardee: Stephanie Brosius, MD, PhD
Current Position: Dr. Brosius is a pediatric neuro-oncologist and Instructor of Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine / Philadelphia, PA.
Research Focus: pediatric high-grade glioma and tumor-related epilepsy
Research Title: Using Inhibitory Interneuron Transplants to Decrease Aberrant Glutamatergic Signaling that Induces Seizures and Drives High-Grade Glioma Growth

Awardee: Natalie Katz, MD, PhD
Current Position: Dr. Katz is a pediatric neurologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology at Duke University School of Medicine / Durham, NC.
Research Focus: facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
Research Title: Optimizing Early Detection of Respiratory Dysfunction in Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

Awardee: Jaclyn Martindale, DO, FAAN, FCNS
Current Position: Dr. Martindale is a pediatric neurologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology, Pediatric Neurology Division at Wake Forest University School of Medicine / Winston-Salem, NC.
Research Focus: Tourette Syndrome, Tic Disorders
Research Title: Evaluating and Promoting Resilience in Adolescents with Tourette Syndrome