Image
A smiling woman in a light blouse against an outdoors background.

Melanie Schwartz

Associate Director, Milken Institute Finance
Melanie Schwartz is an associate director with Milken Institute Finance and has a background in African and emerging markets, strategic communications, and international development. Schwartz works within the Institute’s Inclusive Capitalism program and proudly supports the program’s various initiatives designed to progress diversity, equity, and inclusion in the financial sector.
Image
A smiling woman in a black top against a light background.

Sarah Ortner

Senior Associate, Public Finance, Milken Institute Finance
Sarah Ortner is a senior associate with Milken Institute Finance. She focuses on the Institute’s Excellence and Equity in Public Finance initiatives, with a portfolio that includes climate resilience, community infrastructure deployment, and emerging markets.
Image
Professional headshot of Julia Hesse-Fong, a woman with long dark hair, wearing a white blouse and gold hoop earrings. She is smiling gently with arms crossed, set against a dark gray background.

Julia Hesse-Fong

Senior Associate, Feeding Change, Milken Institute Health
Julia Hesse-Fong is a senior associate with Feeding Change at the Milken Institute. Before joining the Milken Institute, she completed her Master of Science (MS) in agriculture, food, and environment with a concentration in sustainability and strategy in food systems and business.
Image
A man in a suit against a light brown background.

Ed Greissing

Edward Greissing is the president and CEO of Greissing Strategic Advisors LLC, a strategic advisory group focused on delivering value to boards of directors, management teams, and stakeholder organizations by aligning business plans to solve commercial needs and the evolving public interest.
Image
An woman named Taylor Evans white skin, bobbed auburn hair and glasses. She is wearing a red blazer with a black shirt and standing outside.

Taylor Evans, PhD

Senior Associate, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Taylor Evans, PhD, is a senior associate on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Her expertise lies in biomedical research, molecular genetics, rare diseases, and computational biology tools.

Computational Biology

Body

The research and health ecosystem has entered an era where vast amounts of biological and clinical data are continuously generated. Integrating, analyzing, and understanding these data are only possible with computational tools such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Incorporating such tools across the biomedical ecosystem has great promise to further the understanding of biological mechanisms, advance translational research, and enhance clinical care for better patient outcomes. 

The field of computational biology sits at the nexus of biology, big data, and computer science. The principles of AI intersect with the larger discipline of computational biology. Methods and approaches use mathematical modeling, simulations, analytics, statistical methods, and algorithm development to address biology-based questions.

The application of computational tools can revolutionize how to study, prevent, and treat human disease. However, the unique nature of the biomedical ecosystem brings specific challenges that must be overcome before the promise of these tools to help people live longer and healthier lives can be fully realized.

The Biswas Family Foundation partnered with the Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) in 2023 to conduct a comprehensive review of the computational biology field and identify areas of opportunity for philanthropy to advance the integration of computational tools in biomedical research and clinical care. 

Using the findings and insights from this analysis, which are published in Transformative Computational Biology, a Giving Smarter Guide, the Biswas Family Foundation developed the Transformative Computational Biology Grant Program, which is focused on accelerating the use of computational approaches in translational research and clinical settings to improve the well-being and health of the global community.

977

Accelerating Discovery for Frontotemporal Dementia

Body

Frontotemporal dementia is a family of neurodegenerative conditions that cause changes in behavior, mood, executive function, language, memory, and motor function. Based on brain pathology, FTD could account for as many as 10-20 percent of all dementia cases. The disease is underdiagnosed, and a true global prevalence estimate is hindered by a general lack of awareness and the complex nature of its detection. The hallmark trait of FTD is a progressive deterioration of the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, but specific biomarkers or treatments for FTD have not been developed.

FTD tends to affect people earlier in life than other forms of dementia and is thought to be the most common form of dementia in people under the age of 60, with the average age of onset between ages 45 and 65. Although not fatal, FTD symptoms progress to the point where patients need full-time care. The average life expectancy is about 7.5 years after symptom onset. There are no definitive diagnostic tools, no disease modifying therapies, and most patients do not receive distinct care for FTD.

With these challenges top-of-mind, Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) is working to bring more attention and strategic funding into the FTD field to change the experience and trajectory for people experiencing this disease.  As part of this initiative and in partnership with the Kissick Family Foundation, SPARC is leading a new effort to infuse research dollars into the ecosystem to drive accelerated discovery.

976

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Body

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease that affects an estimated 350,000 individuals around the world at any given time. Despite common patterns of symptoms, ALS manifests differently from individual to individual. The mechanisms that govern ALS onset and progression in most people are either unknown or poorly understood. 

ALS doesn’t have a cure yet, but increased attention and investment from public and private funders over the last two decades have generated critical progress and momentum. In 2021, Tambourine partnered with Milken Institute Philanthropy SPARC to review the ALS scientific and funding landscapes and identify opportunities for strategic philanthropic investments. This analysis revealed that an incomplete understanding of the disease’s fundamental biology and mechanisms remains a central, underfunded scientific barrier.  

 

ALS Breakthrough Research Fund 

The ALS Breakthrough Research Fund builds on the findings of the Giving Smarter Guide by funding high-risk, high-reward, and innovative discovery-driven research proposals. This program is supported by Tambourine, the philanthropic initiative of Ben and Divya Silbermann. Drawing inspiration and drive from their family experience with ALS, their work includes funding research to enable breakthrough scientific discoveries.  

This initiative seeks to change scientific understanding and improve the treatment of ALS by supporting innovative basic and discovery-focused research around the world. It particularly focuses on soliciting and funding creative, high-risk, high-reward ideas that might not otherwise fit existing grant programs but hold the potential to generate breakthrough insights.

  • ALS Breakthrough Research Fund Awardees: Tambourine has committed more than $5 million to eight research teams selected to receive funding through the ALS Breakthrough Research Fund's 2023 RFP. Learn more about the investigators and their projects here. 

  • RFP Focus: The ALS Breakthrough Research Fund’s 2023 RFP received proposals that reflect exciting, foundational scientific directions that can shed light on ALS mechanisms, sporadic ALS, and non-inherited contributions to disease.

  • Review Process: All submitted proposals underwent rigorous scientific peer review by an external panel of ALS and related experts. Proposals were assessed across a number of criteria specified in the RFP. The ALS Breakthrough Research Fund’s scientific leadership – including the Scientific Advisory Board - utilized scientific review feedback in tandem with the Fund’s strategic direction in making funding recommendations to Tambourine.

975
Image
Professional headshot of Brenda Huneycutt, a woman with short gray hair and tortoiseshell glasses, wearing a dark textured blazer over a navy blouse. She is smiling broadly against a dark gray background.

Brenda Huneycutt

Senior Director, International, Milken Institute Health
Brenda Huneycutt, PhD, is a senior director at the Milken Institute, where she oversees Milken Institute Health work internationally across all four Milken Institute Health portfolios – FasterCures, the Future of Aging, Feeding Change, and Public Health.

Middle East

Body

Our work in the Middle East region stems from intentional engagement with leaders in government, business, academia, and civil society. We convene thought leaders at invite-only and public events to foster regional development and growth. 

Level
Portfolio
Pillars
Intro text

Our work in the Middle East region stems from intentional engagement with leaders in government, business, academia, and civil society. We convene thought leaders at invite-only and public events to foster regional development and growth. 

Children type
Practice Area