Guiding Scientific Funding Strategy
Immunology
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Sarcoidosis: A Giving Smarter GuideThis Giving Smarter Guide by Milken Institute Philanthropy's SPARC lays out what is known about the condition, provides analysis of the research landscape, and makes recommendations for how donors can drive collaboration, unlock more funding, and improve the health of those who endure this debilitating disease. -
Type 1 Diabetes Autoantibody Screening Implementation Roadmap: 2022 REPORT UPDATEFor this update, SPARC interviewed 27 thought leaders and stakeholders, opened a public comment period, and hosted a public session to discuss the status of the goals and action items in the roadmap. Based on input from the field, this report update captures the ongoing efforts of the community to continue toward T1D screening for the general population and identifies areas where further work or collaboration might be needed. -
Type 1 Diabetes Autoantibody Screening: A Roadmap for Pediatric Policy ImplementationThis roadmap was developed with substantial input from a variety of stakeholder groups across the T1D research, clinical, and nonprofit community, as well as decision makers in preventive health policy. There are four goals and two supporting goals with a total of 16 action items that will aid the entire T1D community as it works toward the objective of general population autoantibody screening.
Mental Health
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Giving Smarter: Philanthropic Opportunities to Advance Bipolar Disorder ResearchThis Giving Smarter Guide by SPARC builds on the Survey of Lived Experiences released in 2018. Here, we take a detailed look at the BD research and funding landscape and makes recommendations for how philanthropy can advance the field. -
Misophonia - A Giving Smarter GuideThis Giving Smarter Guide, released in 2019, has encouraged philanthropic funding that targets research programs that cross multiple disciplines, require data sharing or collaboration, and asks funded researchers to contribute to the field through mentorship or other activities. -
Moonshots for Youth Mental Health and Well-Being: Exploration of Big Bets and Bold GoalsThis report outlines big ideas to decrease stigma, increase access to care, build a diverse mental health workforce, and develop measurements and interventions that are grounded in inclusive research. With the right support from philanthropy and other sectors, these moonshots would provide a path to better mental health for young people, and a better future for all. -
Supporting Wellness: Initial Findings from a Survey of Lived Experience and Research Priorities of Depression and BipolarIn 2018, the Milken Institute and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance collaborated to develop a first of its kind community survey. The goal was to learn about the experiences of people living with depression and/or bipolar and ultimately to use this insight to guide research prioritization and drug development efforts.
Neuroscience
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) A Giving Smarter GuideThere is an untapped opportunity for philanthropists to pull the levers that will drastically improve the quality of life and health outlook for all people living with ALS. -
Parkinson's Disease - A Giving Smarter GuideThe Milken Institute has developed this Giving Smarter Guide for Parkinson’s Disease to enable patients, supporters, and stakeholders to make strategic and informed decisions when directing their philanthropic investments and energy into research and development efforts. This guide hopes to tap into the renewed interest in PD due to recent breakthroughs in the genetics of the disease and in digital health. As the size and proportion of the elderly population grows, so too will the societal and economic burden. -
Frontotemporal Dementia: A Giving Smarter GuideThe Kissick Family Foundation partnered with Milken Institute Philanthropy SPARC in 2022 to analyze the funding landscape and summarize the current state of FTD research. -
Alzheimer's Disease - A Giving Smarter GuideThis Giving Smarter Guide provides deep scientific insight into the issues and outlines a concrete and actionable set of options. We welcome feedback regarding our findings, as well as partners in our quest to advance scientific knowledge through philanthropy. -
Targeting Tau — Our Hope to Solving the Dementia CrisisIn our systems-based review of the biomedical landscape supporting research of a cellular protein called tau, we make the case that focused strategic investment in tau research and the category of neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies, could have a transformative impact on the landscape of neurodegenerative diseases writ large. -
Neurotechnology: A Giving Smarter GuideAlthough this rapidly changing technology class offers enormous promise for people living with a broad range of diseases, navigating investments in neurotechnology is complex. Success depends on biology, engineering, device regulation, and macro trends in the device market. This report, funded by BrightFocus Foundation breaks down the landscape and explores potential applications, opportunities, and barriers to help guide philanthropy’s pivotal role in moving the field forward. -
Epilepsy - A Giving Smarter GuideThe purpose of this guide is to empower patients, supporters, and stakeholders to make informed, strategic decisions when directing their philanthropic investments and energy into research and development efforts.
Oncology
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Clinical Developments in Follicular LymphomaThis report identifies current and emerging therapeutic innovations in the FL field, and highlights efforts of the Follicular Lymphoma Foundation to drive research into better treatments and find the fastest pathway to a cure. -
Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Giving Smarter Guide to Accelerating Research ProgressThere are quite a few areas of promising clinical research that could serve as the tipping point toward extending survival in GBM patients and potentially pave the way to a cure. With this report, SPARC aims to generate awareness and increase funding and participation in medical philanthropy to accelerate the translation of high-impact research into accessible medical solutions to combat GBM. -
An Overview of Pediatric Preventive Health Care in the United StatesFor philanthropists to invest their capital effectively in any pediatric disease area, it is first crucial to understand the pediatric preventive health landscape. In this research report, SPARC has provided a thorough review of the pediatric preventive care system, offered analysis on the organizations responsible for implementing preventive health measures, and laid out the challenges in implementing new preventive health measures for children.
Rare Disease
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Neurofibromatosis Type 1 - A Giving Smarter GuideAs there are no effective therapies to reverse disease symptoms or to prevent new ones from arising, and since there is no cure for NF1, the Milken Institute has developed this Giving Smarter Guide for NF1 to help patients, supporters, and other stakeholders understand the state of the science and make informed decisions when directing their philanthropic investments. -
Giving Smarter Guide: LipedemaTo capitalize on this potential, the Lipedema Foundation and the Milken Institute convened leading stakeholders to discuss the current state of lipedema science and identify the key philanthropic research opportunities to advance the field. -
Childhood Brain Cancer: A Giving Smarter GuideThis guide recognizes seven areas for philanthropic investment that, if utilized, can transform how pediatric cancer patients are diagnosed, managed, and treated.