In 2023, the Prebys Foundation turned to the Science Philanthropy Alliance for strategic and operational support in developing a new medical research initiative. The Foundation sought to fund exceptional early- and mid-career researchers in San Diego—particularly those from groups historically underrepresented in biomedical research—whose work had the potential to drive transformative health outcomes.
The Alliance partnered closely with Prebys Foundation staff to co-design the program from the ground up. Over the course of several months, the Alliance helped define the program’s goals, refine selection criteria, design and implement the RFP and review process, and advise on nominee evaluation and the external review process. The result was the Prebys Research Heroes Award Program: a $7 million initiative announced in 2024 that awarded fourteen $500,000 grants to scientists working on urgent health challenges—from Alzheimer’s and cancer to infectious disease and maternal health.
The Alliance provided hands-on program office support throughout the initiative, including outreach to local institutions, managing the peer review process, developing program communications, and advising on metrics and evaluation. The initiative also benefited from a collaborative working model that included the consulting firm Open Impact, which worked alongside the Alliance and the Foundation to ensure the program was both rigorous and responsive to the needs of the local research ecosystem.
By investing in talent across institutions such as the Salk Institute, UC San Diego, Scripps Research, and San Diego State University, the Prebys Foundation has elevated a cohort of diverse scientific leaders while strengthening San Diego’s role as a hub for medical innovation. The Alliance’s involvement helped ensure that the program was grounded in practices from across science philanthropy—and built to generate long-term impact.
As Grant Oliphant, CEO of the Foundation, explained, “Our program is designed to empower brilliant researchers with the means to pursue cutting-edge research that promises to tackle some of the most challenging diseases facing our world today.”
Insight