Milken Institute and Ann Theodore Foundation Launch Grant for Cutaneous Sarcoidosis Clinical Trial
A new funding program, launched by the Milken Institute Science Philanthropy Accelerator for Research and Collaboration (SPARC) in partnership with the Ann Theodore Foundation (ATF), aims to accelerate the development of a clinical trial for cutaneous sarcoidosis. The program, called ATF Sarcoidosis Inhibitor of mTOR (SIM), will provide up to $575,000 over two years to support a Phase 2 investigator-initiated clinical trial.
Addressing an Unmet Demand in Sarcoidosis Treatment
Sarcoidosis is a debilitating inflammatory disease characterized by the formation of abnormal clusters of immune cells in various organs. While it can affect multiple organs, the lungs are most commonly impacted, followed by the skin, which is involved in approximately one-quarter of cases Milken Institute. Cutaneous sarcoidosis can manifest as painful rashes, skin lesions, and subcutaneous growths.
Currently, treatment options for sarcoidosis are limited to anti-inflammatory medications that manage symptoms but do not modify the disease or halt its progression. The ATF-SIM program focuses on evaluating mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, a class of drugs that have shown preliminary promise in treating sarcoidosis.
Promising Results from Early Trials
Recent data, including a small clinical trial in 2024, suggests that mTOR inhibitors could be a viable therapeutic option. In that trial, seven out of ten participants with cutaneous sarcoidosis experienced sustained improvement in their symptoms after treatment with the mTOR inhibitor sirolimus, a drug already approved for other inflammatory conditions ScienMag.
Grant Details and Application Process
The ATF-SIM program will award a two-year grant of up to $575,000 to independent biomedical researchers to design and conduct a Phase 2 clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of mTOR inhibitors in cutaneous sarcoidosis Trial MedPath. Applications are being accepted until Monday, April 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with fellow selections planned for June 2026 Milken Institute.
A Broader Commitment to Sarcoidosis Research
This initiative builds on previous collaborations between the Milken Institute, and ATF. Since 2020, they have launched two additional funding programs – ATF-LOMAS (Learning Opportunities in Medicine and Sarcoidosis) and ATF-BSI (Breakthrough Sarcoidosis Initiative) – with the latter committing over $11 million to sarcoidosis research. They have also published a “Giving Smarter Guide” to identify strategic philanthropic investment opportunities in the field Milken Institute.
“At ATF, we believe we owe it to the sarcoidosis community to support promising research directions at all stages of development,” said Lisa Spalding, spokesperson for the Ann Theodore Foundation Milken Institute.