Cara Altimus, PhD

Cara Altimus is a director at the Milken Institute Center for Strategic Philanthropy, where she leads the Center’s neuroscience portfolio. A PhD neuroscientist, Altimus advises individual philanthropists and foundations on the state of research for areas including neurodegenerative disease and mental health, to identify opportunities where their capital can make the biggest impact. With more than a decade of experience in neuroscience research, Altimus has led Center projects ranging from the development of a philanthropic drug development program for neurodegenerative disease to a large patient-perspectives study for depression and bipolar research. Prior to joining the Institute, Altimus led the Neural Interfaces Laboratory at the Food and Drug Administration. She serves as the chair of SfN’s Trainee Advisory Committee and is an advisor to the Ontario Brain Institute. Altimus holds a bachelor's degree in genetics from the University of Georgia and a doctorate in biology from Johns Hopkins University. She works at the Institute's Washington office.