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Redefining Psychiatric Illness Through Neuroimmune Science
At the heart of our work is the evolving field of neuroimmune psychiatry, which explores how immune dysfunction, infection, and inflammation contribute to psychiatric symptoms. This perspective challenges the long-standing divide between mental and physical illness—offering a more accurate, integrated understanding of brain-body health.
We are especially grateful to the PANS/PANDAS community, whose advocacy and lived experience have brought critical attention to these mechanisms. Their leadership has laid the foundation for a broader rethinking of psychiatric conditions—not only in children, but across the lifespan.
Increasingly, we are seeing striking overlaps between neuroimmune psychiatric conditions and brain-related diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, underscoring the urgent need for research that connects immune pathways, mental health symptoms, and long-term neurological outcomes.
Our Team
Mary Sparks, Principal & Founder
Mary Sparks is a dynamic business leader with expertise spanning scientific research, special education, mental health, and entrepreneurship. With a background in clinical research management, program development, and advocacy, she is dedicated to advancing the understanding of the relationship between physical and mental health.
Mary founded Sparks Healthcare Solutions after witnessing firsthand how the healthcare system routinely fails individuals with complex autoimmune and mental health challenges. Having experienced the system’s failures with loved ones—and as co-chair of her district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Council—she saw how families were left to navigate fragmented systems and inadequate support. She was especially struck by the growing number of children exhibiting early mental health symptoms—often precursors to more serious conditions—and the alarming shortage of qualified providers embracing emerging science.
These personal and professional experiences led her to a simple truth: science, clinical practice, and society must work together if we’re going to solve what’s broken.
Mary has led research administration and strategic initiatives at major academic medical centers, managing multi-million-dollar research portfolios and overseeing clinical and educational programs. As a consultant and research professional, she has spearheaded IRB submissions, grant development, and program strategy for school-based research at Dearborn Academy. She also brings start-up and business development experience, having worked with early-stage companies to secure venture funding, develop strategic partnerships, and create marketing strategies.
This cross-sector experience has given Mary a rare vantage point—allowing her to see how disjointed our systems have become and how much potential is lost in the gaps between research, care, and community. It’s this perspective that fuels her commitment to building the infrastructure and partnerships needed to drive meaningful and scalable change in mental health care.
Joe Wizda, Software Architect
Joe Wizda is a well-rounded professional with a powerful combination of technical expertise and creative insight. As a software engineer, technical lead, and software architect, he has developed and maintained high-traffic platforms that balance complex system design with seamless user experience.
Joe played a key role in developing Catalina HUB360, a data-driven advertising platform used by brands like Kraft, Walgreens, and Nestlé, and led production releases for catalinacoupons.fr, a French coupon site serving 10,000+ daily users—all while ensuring GDPR compliance and data security.
He excels at designing innovative, scalable software solutions that bridge the gap between technical complexity and intuitive design. His ability to engage both analytical and creative thinking allows him to uncover connections others might miss—whether optimizing customer engagement through Adobe Personalization, managing APIs for global marketing sites, or composing music.
As a Release Train Engineer (RTE) and Scrum Master, Joe fosters collaboration across teams, driving measurable results through Agile methodologies and continuous improvement.