Where does better health start?
The greatest opportunities to improve health are not found only in hospitals, clinics, and laboratories. They are found in our homes, neighborhoods, and the policies that shape our communities.
More Than Medicine is a movement to advance health solutions science: the research, innovation, and real-world application that can help people stay healthier, live longer, and thrive.
Because breakthroughs matter only when they improve lives.
The Science Behind Healthier Lives
Only a fraction of health outcomes can be attributed to medical care alone. The rest is influenced by the conditions in which we live, learn, work, age, and connect with one another. Health solutions science seeks to understand those forces, and transform that knowledge into action.
From preventing chronic disease and improving mental health to strengthening communities and reducing disparities, this science identifies what works, why it works, and how to scale it.
The result? Healthier people, stronger communities, and more sustainable health systems.
Why This Matters Now
We know more than ever about how to improve health.
Yet too many proven solutions never reach the people who need them. Research remains fragmented. Communities are often left out of the innovation process. Funding for implementation and scaling what works lags behind funding for discovery. Translating evidence into routine practice can take many years. Policy incentives frequently fail to support adoption of effective solutions. Meanwhile, shifts in the research funding landscape threaten the future of this work.
The challenge is no longer simply generating knowledge.
The challenge is ensuring knowledge becomes better health.
If we work together, philanthropy can lead in overcoming barriers to better health.
The Doris Duke Foundation, together with American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Dana Foundation, Donaghue Foundation, Prebys Foundation, Robertson Foundation, Susan G. Komen, and additional philanthropic partners are the Pathways for Health Research Collective. The Collective is seeking to bring greater attention and resources for breakthrough health research to improve health outcomes. Our current activities are focused on promoting the value of rigorous health solutions science to boost funder investment and user demand.
Together, we can build the conditions for better health outcomes at scale.
Get Involved
More Than Medicine brings together funders, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, advocates, and communities committed to a stronger health solutions science ecosystem.
Whether you fund research, develop new solutions, implement evidence-based programs, or shape policy, your voice belongs here.
Let’s build a healthier future: not just through medicine, but through the science that makes health possible.
Ways to Join Us
- Fund transformational research
- Showcase your work and share implementation successes
- Advance policy solutions
- Join a growing community of changemakers
Contact Us
We have invested in medicine. Now it’s time to invest in health outcomes. Contact us to learn more about our work and how you can help drive lasting change.
