While every funder faces unique challenges, thoughtfully curated spaces to learn from other funders can offer new ideas and fresh perspectives focused on solutions. At this year’s Philanthropic Investors Forum (PIF), we heard how leaders are navigating philanthropy at an inflection point, highlighting new partnership models beyond traditional grantmaking and reflecting candidly on big bets. The forum served as a key focal point for our Philanthropy Leadership Collective, where members engage with peers throughout the year and attend PIF sessions exploring philanthropy in action. Learn more about our active peer learning communities.
When the need for philanthropy and impact capital seems endless, holding onto hope can feel challenging—but there is progress, and philanthropy’s growth and evolution can pave the way to action. Melissa Stevens, executive vice president, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy, hosted a panel discussion with leaders from corporate foundations, institutional philanthropy, and more who are working through this evolution in real time to discuss what’s needed to move more capital off the sidelines and toward progress and new hope. Watch the session to capture insights from the discussion.
From neuroscience and brain care to rare disease and pediatric health, this year’s conference featured timely conversations on the current funding landscape, barriers to research, and where strategic investment is most urgently needed in science and health. Rewatch the following sessions to understand how today’s leaders see the path forward to accelerate research and innovation across the scientific ecosystem.
On the final day of Global Conference, the Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation announced the $1 million grand prize winner of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing, designed to recognize established companies driving innovation in Africa’s manufacturing sector with the potential to scale, create jobs, and expand the adoption of these technologies across the world. BleagLee, a Cameroon-based AI-powered waste recycling company, was awarded top honors for leveraging AI-powered waste collection to convert plastic, agricultural, and e-waste into premium recycled products. Learn more about the winners and help raise awareness of our newest prize, the Milken-Motsepe Prize in Circular Economy, focused on scalable companies using technology to advance circular economy practices. Applications are now open at MilkenMotsepePrize.org.
In the coming decades, the rising generation will inherit significant wealth, creating an opportunity to reshape philanthropy and reimagine not only how giving works but also what it is meant to achieve. At the same time, philanthropy is operating in a more complex environment, with capital increasingly being asked to do more—to help shape systems, build resilience, and restore confidence in the future.
A new report from the Milken Institute, Forward Together: How Philanthropic Families Can Create Impact Across Generations, offers practical recommendations and tools for anyone in a family seeking to navigate the challenges—and maximize the impact—of multigenerational philanthropy. Download the report for a deeper dive on insights gathered from 34 deep-dive interviews with rising-generation philanthropists and philanthropic advisors.
Next-Gen Industry: A Prize in Scalable AI and Manufacturing Innovation
The Milken-Motsepe Prize in AI and Manufacturing addresses a key challenge: connecting manufacturers ready to adopt AI with innovators ready to deploy it. Designed for established, growth-stage businesses, the prize aligns incentives across the ecosystem, channels capital, validates real-world performance, and accelerates adoption at scale. The prize awards a total of $2 million, including $1 million to the grand prize winner. Finalists and semifinalists receive unrestricted funding, mentorship, and opportunities to connect with investors and industry leaders. Download the report to learn more about the prize design process, the potential of AI in manufacturing, and how African companies are leading the way.
Anxiety: A Giving Smarter Guide
Anxiety disorders affect one in five adults and arise from a complex mix of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors, yet research and treatment remain fragmented and underfunded. To support scientific progress in anxiety, the Dauten Family Foundation has partnered with Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy’s Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC). Based on SPARC’s extensive review of scientific literature, analysis of public and private funding for anxiety, conversations with more than 70 stakeholders, and an in-person convening of relevant experts, this Giving Smarter Guide presents five areas of opportunity that philanthropic funders are well suited to improve. Download the report to learn more about the areas of opportunity and in-depth research from the field.
Financing Cancer Care: Investing in Prevention, Early Detection, and Diagnosis
Globally, cancer claims nearly 10 million lives each year, inflicting immeasurable pain and loss across families, workplaces, and communities. Estimates suggest that at least 40 percent of US cancer cases are linked to modifiable risk factors, and nearly half of cancer deaths are preventable. So why are we not investing more in prevention, early detection, and diagnosis? While these interventions are often perceived as public goods essential to society, the benefits of early cancer detection and accurate diagnosis do not easily or directly translate into near-term profits. As a result, resources tend to concentrate on treatments with clearer pathways to scale and sustainability. Download the report and explore strategies to coordinate resources and financing to advance more equitable, cost-effective, and sustainable approaches to cancer care.
In Case You Missed It: Power of Ideas
Check out two compelling quotes from essays on philanthropy in this year’s Milken Institute Power of Ideas series, where corporate philanthropy leaders share how leadership is showing up in the field:
“Resilience isn’t built in moments—it’s built through sustained, responsive investment."—Investing in Resilience: Supporting Partners in a Changing World —Allison Goldberg, president, Merck Foundation
“Philanthropy is not separate from institutional strategy; it helps inform and strengthen it.” —From What Works to What Lasts —Roma Kaundal, managing director and head, US Philanthropy, JPMorganChase
TRAIN eNews is delivered directly to organizations participating in The Research Acceleration and Innovation Network (TRAIN). TRAIN is an affinity network of foundations interested in taking a more strategic and entrepreneurial approach to their role as funders of medical research. TRAIN convenes dozens of forward-thinking foundations to learn from one another and share their novel solutions with the rest of the medical research system. To learn more about becoming a TRAIN organization, visit the TRAIN application page.
In This Newsletter:
Milken Institute Global Conference
In May, the Milken Institute hosted its 29th annual Global Conference in Beverly Hills, CA, convening leaders across sectors to explore solutions to today’s most pressing challenges and identify opportunities to build a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.
The health track featured discussions on topics including innovation, investment, care delivery, and policy, with a focus on translating recent advances into real-world impact. All public session recordings are available online. We encourage you to watch “Rewriting the Rules: Scaling Innovation for Rare Diseases,” in which panelists explore how new approaches—such as AI-driven tools, platform-based therapies, and cross-disease models—are helping accelerate progress. The session features LeadersLink mentor Michael Hund, CEO of EB Research Partnership.
The annual Future of Health Summit will return to Washington, DC, November 11–13, 2026. Additional details will be shared in the coming months. View highlights from last year’s program.
FasterCures Welcomes 2026–2027 LeadersLink Cohort
We’re excited to announce the 2026–2027 FasterCures’ LeadersLink cohort. In a record-setting year with the highest application volume in program history, nine patient organization leaders were selected to join the 18-month program, which includes a capstone project and mentorship through FasterCures Changemakers and the Milken Institute network.
Throughout the program, cohort members will strengthen their capacity to build strategic industry partnerships that help accelerate biomedical research. Meet the 2026–2027 LeadersLink cohort:
De-Risking Next-Gen Science: Cross-Disease Platform Approaches
FasterCures kicked off the 2026 TRAIN webinar series with a discussion on how patient organizations can invest earlier in the research process to reduce risk and accelerate therapeutic development. The session focused on cross-disease platform approaches, highlighting how shared research infrastructure, platform trial designs, and collaborative funding models can drive progress across multiple conditions. Speakers from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Blood Cancer United, and the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance shared real-world examples of how organizations are working across disease areas to pool data, align research efforts, and maximize limited resources. Watch the recording to learn how these models can be applied across different disease areas and inform your organization’s research strategy.
New Framework to Improve Patient Engagement in Medtech
FasterCures has released Framing the Value of Patient Engagement for Medtech Product Developers, a new framework designed to help medical device, diagnostic, and digital health companies strengthen patient engagement across the total product lifecycle (TPLC).
The framework provides a nonprescriptive menu of options, designed to:
It also serves as the foundation for a broader suite of FasterCures resources supporting practical, impact-driven patient engagement. Access the framework.
Vital Voices Toolkit Now Available
FasterCures’ Vital Voices Toolkit offers a curated set of resources to help patient organizations better understand the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) processes and identify where and how patient input can make an impact.
Designed as a step-by-step resource, the toolkit guides organizations from foundational knowledge to actionable strategies, strengthening their ability to contribute meaningful patient perspectives to CMS decision-making. Whether your organization is new to CMS engagement or refining an existing approach, it serves as a concise and accessible starting point.
Access the Vital Voices Toolkit.
Apply the Research Partnership Maturity Model Framework
On October 28, 2026, FasterCures staff will facilitate an interactive workshop at the Foundations Conference for patient advocacy organizations to help patient foundations leverage the Research Partnership Maturity Model as a strategic planning tool.
The framework serves as a resource to help patient organizations assess their assets and capabilities as research partners and improve their ability to advance research.
FasterCures Hosts Rare Disease Community Policy Discussion with NSCEB
FasterCures, of the Milken Institute, hosted a breakfast convening rare disease community stakeholders to socialize the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) policy recommendations, collect feedback on areas of overlap between the Milken Institute and NSCEB reports, and gauge appetite for collective advocacy. NSCEB sunsets in December 2026; the commission's goal is to advance as many of its core recommendations as possible before then.
Key themes included:
Join TRAIN Communities of Practice
TRAIN Communities of Practice (CoP) are peer-led, bimonthly forums designed to foster open dialogue and collaboration across the patient organization community. Sessions provide a dedicated space for members to share real-world experiences, exchange practical tools and proven approaches, and learn from one another’s successes and setbacks. CoP focus areas include expertise, patient-centeredness, funding, and relationship-building to advance research and development. The next session, on June 17, features an engaging discussion on strategic partnerships. To join, please submit the interest form.
TRAIN Welcomes New Organizations
We’re pleased to announce the recent addition of the following organizations to TRAIN:
Undiagnosed Diseases Network Foundation
The Undiagnosed Diseases Network Foundation (UDNF) is a patient-driven nonprofit fostering community, support, innovation, and action for families affected by rare and undiagnosed diseases. UDNF’s mission is to support and improve access to diagnosis, research, and care for all individuals with rare and undiagnosed diseases.
MEPAN Foundation
The MEPAN Foundation works to advance research for MEPAN Syndrome, an ultra-rare neurodegenerative mitochondrial disease with no current treatment. Its mission is to change the course of MEPAN and related diseases and improve the quality of life for those affected and their families.
ASXL Research Symposium and Family Conference
On June 25–28, 2026, Rare Research Endowment (ARRE) Foundation will host its ASXL Research Symposium and Family Conference in Ann Arbor, MI, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and families. The program includes translational and disease-agnostic sessions with insights relevant to a broad range of patient organizations.
Accelerated Cure Project Advances Initiative on Aging and MS Treatment Decisions
The Accelerated Cure Project (ACP) has received funding to lead an initiative focused on treatment decisions for older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). Building on the DISCO-MS trial, the first large-scale study to evaluate stopping disease-modifying therapies in stable older adults with MS, the project will help interpret findings. ACP will convene patients, caregivers, clinicians, and researchers to translate this evidence into plain-language resources that support more informed, patient-centered care decisions.
Advancing Research Through AD PACE
Through the AD PACE Initiative, UsAgainstAlzheimer’s is continuing efforts to generate insights on treatment outcomes that matter most to patients and caregivers, helping inform research, regulatory, and care decisions.
First CDRH-Developed Course on Patient Engagement in Medical Device Studies
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), has developed a patient education course for patients, caregivers, patient organizations, industry, and health care stakeholders. The course, “Patients as Advisors in Medical Device Clinical Studies,” is part of a series on medical devices and the role of patient advisors throughout the medical device life cycle and is intended for those interested in learning how to more effectively engage with the FDA and medical device developers. Access the course.
HHS Has a Potential Solution for Cancers That Keep Coming Back: Vaccines
In a recent update, the National Cancer Institute has proposed a $200 million public-private partnership to support clinical trials of therapeutic cancer vaccines designed to help prevent recurrence in high-risk patients. The effort aims to scale up larger studies, including mRNA-based and personalized vaccines.
Cures Within Reach Opens 2026 AI Validation RFP
Cures Within Reach is accepting proposals for its 2026 funding opportunity focused on validating AI-driven drug repurposing in Phase I/IIA clinical trials. The Request for Proposal (RFP) supports investigator-initiated studies across disease areas by validating AI-driven opportunities and requiring AI model data as part of the preclinical support. Letters of intent are due June 26, 2026. Find more information on how to start a submission.
Patient Advocacy Voices Shares New Resources for Advocacy Leaders
Patient Advocacy Voices, a podcast and resource series hosted by Sanofi US Head of Public Affairs and Patient Advocacy Eric Racine and cohosts, shares insights from patient advocacy leaders on topics shaping access and care. The episode, “Why Innovation Isn’t Enough: Esther Krofah and Adam Gluck on Patient Access,” features Milken Institute Health Executive Vice President Esther Krofah in a conversation on bridging innovation, policy, and patient access to ensure breakthroughs reach patients faster.
MDIC Launches Patient Engagement Estimation Tool
The Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC) has released the first version of its Patient Engagement Estimation Tool and User Guide, designed to help developers plan, assess, and strengthen patient engagement throughout the medical product life cycle. MDIC is actively seeking stakeholder feedback to refine and improve the tool. A dedicated working group is currently convening and welcomes additional participants from across the patient organization community and beyond. For more information, contact Jonah Golder ([email protected]) or Eileen Mihas ([email protected]).
Global Gene Rare Drug Development Symposium
Global Genes, in partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital and the Termeer Institute, will host the RARE Drug Development Symposium on September 9–11, 2026, in Boston, MA, bringing together advocates, researchers, and industry leaders. The program features main stage sessions, breakout discussions, and hands-on workshops to support early-stage research and drug development.
During Rare Disease Week, FasterCures and TRAIN staff participated in events that elevated patient voices and highlighted gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and access. Advocates shared firsthand experiences to underscore the need for continued investment in research and policy.
At the FDA Rare Disease Day event, leaders emphasized the need for faster, more flexible regulatory approaches. The National Institutes of Health highlighted advances in genomics, AI-enabled discovery, and data integration, reinforcing the broader impact of rare disease research. Across events, a clear message emerged: Patients are driving discovery, and collaboration is key to translating progress into treatments.
Raymond Puerini, director, FasterCures, and Manvit Adusumilli, associate, attended the Medical Device Innovation Consortium Innovations in Evidence Summit. The event featured FDA/CMS leaders discussing evidence strategy across the device lifecycle.
Puerini and Ainslie Tisdale, associate director, presented a poster at the National Health Council’s 2026 Science of Patient Engagement Summit on FasterCures’ Vital Voices. Vital Voices focuses on strengthening patient engagement in CMS coverage and access decision-making.
Tisdale and Elizabeth Burke, associate director, Strategic Philanthropy, attended the National Organization for Rare Disorders Rare Disease Scientific Symposium in Arlington, VA, on April 14–15, 2026.
