"You have cancer." These words are among the most difficult anyone will ever have to hear. Yet of the 100 or so cancers known to science, there are cures for only 30 percent. Many, while treatable, have different prognoses, and treatments are difficult to endure for the patient, and for the entire family.
As many know, cancer is a leading cause of death globally, accounting for 10 million deaths globally in 2020 alone. Building on strategy-building work with the Melanoma Research Alliance and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Milken Institute Philanthropy works with partners to identify promising but under-resourced approaches for cancer treatment.
We lead donors through the cancer research ecosystem, bringing experts from other sectors to the table to unlock potential that will lead to better treatments—and eventually a cure—for a range of cancers.
The human immune system is responsible for defending against bacterial, viral, and other pathogenic threats. It is multifaceted and complex, which makes it especially difficult to understand and target clinically.
Immune dysfunction can impact the body’s ability to fight disease by either becoming under-responsive or going into overdrive, causing the body harm. Once the immune system becomes ‘dysregulated’ the body can develop diseases like type 1 diabetes or sarcoidosis. Milken Institute SPARC has worked in lockstep with high-impact funders, developing giving strategies to support the researchers who seek to expand their understanding of these diseases and the patients and families who live with these conditions.
