This episode of Nonprofit Report explores the mission and impact of the American Brain Foundation (ABF), a pioneering nonprofit funding early-career brain researchers with the potential to uncover treatments and cures across more than 600 brain diseases.
Guests:
Michelle Heritage, Executive Director
Heather Heart, Director of Philanthropy
Julia Miglets-Nelson, PhD, Director of Research Programs and Partnerships
Interview by: Mark Oppenheim
Key Points:
- American Brain Foundation funds early-career researchers to accelerate innovation and launch long-term scientific careers.
- One in three people will experience a brain disease, making brain research relevant to everyone.
- The foundation’s “Cure One, Cure Many” strategy targets research with cross-disease impact.
- More than 98% of ABF-funded researchers go on to secure additional grants and publish widely.
- Brain disease prevention is increasingly viable through lifestyle, behavioral, and community factors.
- Cuts to federal research funding pose serious risks to long-term progress in neuroscience.
Other Points on the American Brain Foundation:
The American Brain Foundation is revolutionizing the way we approach brain research by focusing on early interventions and collaborative innovation. It invests in scientists at the beginning of their careers—often providing their first major research grant.
Backed by the scientific rigor of the American Academy of Neurology, ABF operates like a strategic donor-advised fund, ensuring every dollar supports the highest-potential projects. Its grantees have gone on to head major research labs, publish breakthrough findings, and even develop gene therapies for conditions like ALS.
The foundation’s model is designed not just to fund research, but to build an entire ecosystem of cures, prevention strategies, and diagnostics. It’s equally committed to rare diseases and high-profile conditions, ensuring no community is left behind. With science under increasing pressure, ABF’s work has never been more urgent. It reminds us that investing in brain research is not only good science—it’s essential for the future of global health.