In order to attain total health, we must normalize a “whole person” approach that prioritizes mental and physical health equally. To do so, we are working strategically with employers, as they are uniquely positioned to reach employees, their families, and the surrounding communities, and can help them access evidence-based, innovative, inclusive prevention, treatment, and recovery resources to address mental health issues and addiction.

The three focus areas for our mental health work are 1) access to mental health services and resources, 2) innovation in scalable health technologies, and 3) investment in policy change (includes employers’ internal policies).

In our signature program, the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care, we bring together a multi-sector coalition of leaders to uncover the latest breakthroughs in brain health and we work to increase timely detection, improve access to treatment, coordinated care, and address health equity for people at risk for or living with dementia and their caregivers. Through expert workgroups, convenings, collaborative initiatives, and thought leadership, the Alliance amplifies and promotes the adoption of proven polices, solutions, and promising innovations in dementia care.

Understanding that financial well-being is a cornerstone of a fulfilling life, the Future of Aging initiative drives change in policies and practices that enable meaningful work lives. It addresses long-term care gaps and caregiving impacts and promotes a life-course approach to financial wellness. By advocating for policies that support sustainable income and retirement planning, the initiative helps build a future where every individual can enjoy their golden years without financial anxiety.

Partnering with longevity innovators and multisector stakeholders, the Future of Aging develops solutions that enhance healthspan—the period of life spent in good health. By advancing preventive care, fostering social connections, and promoting purpose-driven living, the initiative champions scientific progress that encourages not just longer lives, but healthier ones. This holistic approach to health ensures that individuals can remain active participants in society throughout their lives. 

We promote innovations and policies that scale the integration of tech-enabled health and home care, create a broad spectrum of housing options, and foster social and intergenerational connections.

Preventable illnesses remain among the most significant global health challenges. Noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity contribute substantially to premature mortality, often linked to limited access to healthy foods, insufficient physical activity, and underused screening services. Embracing a prevention-first strategy is vital for preserving population health and moderating the escalating costs associated with advanced care.

At FasterCures, we aim to speed the delivery of treatments to all patients by addressing barriers to the development of new products, by leveraging patients’ data responsibly and delivering direct benefits from contributing their information, and by ensuring the biomedical research ecosystem is as diverse and inclusive as the populations it is intended to serve.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant gaps in our health-care system, including in our clinical trial infrastructure. In addition, the stark differences in health outcomes for different populations underscored the need to address health disparities and social determinants of health. FasterCures wants to ensure the lessons of the COVID-19 crisis are not lost as the urgency subsides, particularly in the conduct of research and development.  
 

Since FasterCures’ inception in 2003, we have emphasized the importance of putting patients at the center of the biomedical research system and produced resources to advance the science of patient input in biomedical research. Our capacity-building programs seek to strengthen the ability of patient foundations and nonprofit organizations to support, advance, or conduct research that can lead to new therapies for patient communities.

In our collaborations across Africa, and with inputs from members of its Africa Leadership Council, the Milken Institute strives to help ensure that African countries become full participants in global capital markets. Among other initiatives, we are building the next generation of leaders in financial policy and asset management; catalyzing technological innovation and entrepreneurship; and fostering policy and investor dialogue to help advance sustainability, health, and shared prosperity in Africa.