Transformative Computational Biology
SPARC partnered with the Biswas Family Foundation to advance the use of computational approaches in translational research and clinical settings through the Transformative Computational Biology Grant Program.
Science Ecosystem
Medical research propels global health and well-being. But, too often, innovation gets stuck—trapped by siloed fields, risk aversion, limited funding, and competing priorities—making it difficult to achieve the breakthroughs needed to improve human health.
SPARC brings together funders and stakeholders across disciplines and sectors to build strategic partnerships and programs that strengthen the biomedical ecosystem. We work with philanthropic organizations to invest in high-impact tools and approaches—such as artificial intelligence (AI), health equity, venture philanthropy, prevention-focused initiatives, and therapeutic development—that accelerate scientific progress.
By channeling philanthropic capital into cross-cutting areas of science, SPARC helps expand the infrastructure, talent, and resources necessary for systems-level change. Our efforts have contributed to transformative health discoveries and a more resilient, connected research ecosystem.
Active Funding Programs
Programmatic Areas
AI in Health
AI holds transformative potential to deepen our understanding of disease, accelerate translational research, and improve clinical care. SPARC has worked with several philanthropic partners to launch initiatives at the intersection of AI and health—advancing innovations that support the well-being of communities around the world.
Health Equity
Achieving health equity requires ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. SPARC works to identify strategic pathways for philanthropy to help build community-centered research systems that drive more equitable health outcomes.
New Therapies and Prevention
Bringing new therapies and prevention tools to patients is a complex process, often slowed by high costs and lengthy timelines. SPARC works across the scientific ecosystem to identify strategic opportunities where philanthropy can accelerate progress in therapeutic development and disease prevention.
Cross-Disciplinary Programs
The complex health challenges facing us today demand bold innovation and collaboration across disciplines. SPARC advances interdisciplinary research by developing strategies that connect diverse areas of expertise, data, tools, and perspectives across sectors to work toward a shared goal.
Infrastructure and Resources for Systems Change
Coordinated, intentional philanthropy is essential not only for driving medical breakthroughs but also for building resilient biomedical systems capable of withstanding crises. SPARC develops strategic approaches to help funders invest more effectively in the infrastructure, resources, and workforce needed to catalyze systems-level change.
Organizational Strategy
Philanthropy is a critical tool for improving human health, but developing cohesive organizational strategies within the complex biomedical ecosystem can be challenging for nonprofit entities. SPARC partners with private funders, foundations, and nonprofits to craft strategic, mission-driven plans that maximize impact and drive meaningful progress.
Program Experts
Cara Altimus, PhD
Managing Director
Cara Altimus leads SPARC at the Milken Institute. She is also the Managing Director of Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD2), a philanthropic initiative launched out of SPARC. Previously, Altimus led the Neural Interfaces Laboratory at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). She serves as the chair for the Trainee Advisory Committee for the Society for Neuroscience and as an advisor to the Ontario Brain Institute. Altimus holds a PhD in biology from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in genetics from the University of Georgia.
Ishita Das, PhD
Director
Ishita Das manages SPARC’s Science Ecosystem focus area, which builds partnerships and programs in cross-disciplinary areas of biomedical research and healthcare that accelerate scientific progress. Previously, Das was a project manager at Ripple Effect, a management consulting firm, where she implemented science and health initiatives for federal agencies, nonprofits, and public-private partnerships. Das holds a PhD in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Taylor Evans, PhD
Senior Associate
Taylor Evans focuses on cross-disciplinary programs in SPARC’s Scientific Ecosystem focus area, leveraging her expertise in molecular genetics, rare diseases, and computational biology tools. Previously, Evans was a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, where she assessed cutting-edge therapeutic and diagnostic technologies. She also supported University-industry partnerships in RNA therapeutics. Evans holds a PhD in cellular and molecular medicine from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences from Rochester Institute of Technology.
Cody Fisher, PhD
Senior Associate
Cody Fisher’s expertise lies within biomedical research, science/health policy, immunology/infectious disease, and coalition-building. At the Milken Institute, he researches cross-cutting subject matter across the biomedical research landscape to develop and support meaningful philanthropically funded projects across science and health disciplines.
Previously, Cody worked in the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) – Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), where he supported the Federal Task Force for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB), the US’s all-of-government approach to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) domestically and abroad. He also led a multi-project policy research portfolio investigating infectious disease preventatives, diagnostics, and therapeutics, as well as biomedical research priority areas. Cody received his bachelor’s degree in microbiology and biomedical sciences from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and his doctorate in immunology and infectious disease from the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Rochester, MN.
Kara Whelply, MBA, MPH
Associate Director
Kara Whelply has supported a range of SPARC’s initiatives from bipolar disorder to follicular lymphoma. Previously, she was an ORISE fellow at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the US FDA, where she assessed regulatory data and knowledge management systems to improve efficiency and workflow for regulatory reviewers and administrators. Whelply holds a master of business administration and a master of public health with a concentration in epidemiology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama.
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