Bipolar Disorder Giving Smarter Guide

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a mental condition characterized by significant shifts in mood and energy. While treatment options work well for some people, BD can lead to serious challenges in relationships, work, and everyday life, and there is a myriad of barriers to accessing support. To better understand the ecosystem of BD research and care, SPARC partnered with the Sergey Brin Family Foundation to develop a Giving Smarter Guide. Through this analysis, SPARC found that federal funding for BD research is shrinking—making philanthropic funds more important than ever. In particular, the Giving Smarter Guide identified key areas where philanthropic capital could enable transformational change in how we understand and treat BD. These include:

• Characterize symptoms and trajectory of BD
• Better understand the biology underlying BD development
• Support opportunities to translate research discoveries to clinical care
• Support workforce training and education
• Incentivize collaboration and thought leadership