Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC)

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A smiling light-skinned, brunette, female-presenting individual named Kelsey Barcomb wearing a blue blazer and a black shirt against a blurred outdoor background.

Kelsey Barcomb, PhD

Senior Associate, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Kelsey Barcomb, PhD, is a program manager for BD² and a senior associate on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team of Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Barcomb received her doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and completed postdoctoral training in the field of neuroscience.
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A smiling dark-skinned woman named Martine Polycarpe with long dark hair, wearing a black blazer and glasses, and standing in a room with dark wood details.

Martine Polycarpe

Senior Associate, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Martine Polycarpe is the program coordinator for the BD² Integrated Network and a senior associate at the Milken Institute, where she supports the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration team.
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A smiling light-skinned female-presenting person named Agnes Stephens with light brown hair wearing a pink and black patterned shirt against an outdoor background.

Agnes Stephens

Associate Director, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Aggie McMahon Stephens, MSc, is an associate director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. With a background in clinical neuroscience, she specializes in science philanthropy, research sector development, and global collaborations that maximize the impact of investments in science.
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A smiling Caucasian female-presenting person with brown hair wearing a dark blue suit jacket against a green foliage background.

Kara Whelply

Associate Director, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Kara Whelply is an associate director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. She leverages her expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, philanthropic funding, and therapeutic development to advise individual philanthropists and nonprofit organizations on methods to advance their mission and accelerate the development of treatments.
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Smiling light-skinned, female-presenting individual with long dark hair and glasses wearing a blue blazer against a nature-like background.

Erin Ross

Director, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Erin Ross is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at the Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. She applies her expertise in health systems, analyzing scientific evidence's role in health policy implementation and identifying ways the scientific and policy communities can collaborate.
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An image of a female-presenting person named Nadia Penrod. She has medium length brown hair and white skin. She is smiling at the camera and wearing a black jacket with a tan sweater.

Nadia Penrod, PhD

Senior Associate, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Nadia Penrod,PhD, is a senior associate on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. In this role, she leverages her expertise as an interdisciplinary scientist in biomedicine and informatics to identify high-impact opportunities for philanthropic investment that promote science for the public good and have the potential to transform health.
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An image of a woman with white skin and shoulder-length blonde hair named Sylvie Raver. She has a white suit jacket and a black shirt and she is smiling at the camera.

Sylvie Raver

Senior Director, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Sylvie Raver is a senior director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. Raver applies her expertise in neuroscience, neurodegenerative disease, mental health, and biomedical research to identify opportunities for philanthropic investments that can have a transformative impact on medical research and health.
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Smiling light-skinned female-presenting person with light hair wearing a black shirt against a nature-ish background

Emily Baxi, PhD

Director, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Emily Baxi, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. A neuroscientist and educator, Baxi works with the pillar's SPARC team to advise foundations and philanthropists on the state of research so they are empowered to make impactful giving decisions.
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A smiling light-skinned, Asian-presenting man named Daniel Pham with short black hair, wearing a geometric black and white sweater, and smiling and standing with his arms crossed in a room with dark wood details.

Daniel Pham, PhD

Director, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Daniel Pham, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy. He utilizes his expertise in scientific research, neuroscience, science policy, communication, and advocacy to advise philanthropic partners on opportunities to make the biggest impact in various fields of science and health.
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Smiling female-presenting person of color with dark hair named Ishita Das wearing a red shirt and a blue blazer against an ambiguous outdoor background.

Ishita Das, PhD

Director, Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team, Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy
Ishita Das, PhD, is a director on the Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) team at Milken Institute Strategic Philanthropy, where she leads cross-disciplinary projects. Her expertise lies in biomedical research, science policy, stakeholder engagement, workforce diversity, strategic planning, and project management.