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
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.
Hermela Assefa
Associate
Hermela Assefa supports SPARC’s rare diseases and cancer focus areas. Her background in public health research and health equity, with experience in community engagement, project coordination, and strategic planning. Previously, at Pyxis Partners, Assefa led engagement efforts for pediatric partners of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) All of Us Research Program. At Children’s National Hospital, she coordinated care and services for low-income Black women as part of a maternal mental health research initiative. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public health with a concentration in sociology from Franklin & Marshall College.
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.
Benjamin Roberts, PhD
Senior Associate
Benjamin Roberts is a senior associate on the SPARC team. He has a deep understanding of the research ecosystem, including scientific funding policies and processes. At the Milken Institute, Ben is focused on engaging with programs that strengthen the biomedical research enterprise.
Before joining SPARC, Ben worked in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Extramural Research (OER), where he coordinated strategic communications and outreach activities aimed at supporting federal research policy initiatives. Ben received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in biochemistry and biophysics and completed postdoctoral training at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. He is based in the Milken Institute’s Washington, DC office.
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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