Collaborations for Impact

Effective science needs strategic funding, collaboration from multiple fields, and expertise across many scientific discovery stages. However, competing priorities, concerns about risk, limited funding streams, and siloed fields have made...
Learn more

Launching and Leading Scientific Funding Programs

Once a funding strategy has been identified, SPARC advisors work alongside our philanthropic partners to develop programs that transform medical research systems. Each funding initiative is custom designed. Drawing from deep experience, we...
Learn more

Guiding Scientific Funding Strategy

Milken Institute Philanthropy SPARC works in partnership with philanthropists and foundations to develop comprehensive strategy and launch and lead high-impact science and health-oriented research initiatives.   Our experts leverage their...
Learn more
Image
An image of a smiling light-skinned female-presenting person named Elizabeth Burke with light hair wearing a black shirt against a nature-ish background

Elizabeth Burke, PhD

Associate Director, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Elizabeth Burke, PhD, is an associate director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Her expertise lies in rare disease research, including neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, strategic planning, project management, and promoting collaboration between clinical and scientific teams.

Oncology

Body

"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. 

Level
Practice Area
Children type
Programs