A bold idea could SPARK the next biomedical breakthrough | 2026 SPARK Awards Finalists скачать в хорошем качестве

A bold idea could SPARK the next biomedical breakthrough | 2026 SPARK Awards Finalists

Hear from several 2026 SPARK finalists as they share the innovative projects they hope to pursue. From taking new approaches to cancer—teaching the immune system to recognize tumors as it would a virus, and mapping the immune landscape of prostate cancer to guide new therapies—to creating a model that could transform how a common congenital infection is studied. These early-career scientists have identified critical questions in immunology and are eager for the opportunity to find answers. For more information about the finalists' proposed projects and the Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards, please visit this link: https://lji.org/SPARK La Jolla Institute for Immunology’s Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology is a structured, multi-year program designed to support early-career scientists and catalyze bold new ideas. This philanthropically funded program offers $30,000 per award in seed funding to support projects that may not secure traditional grant funding due to their innovative or “risky” nature, where preliminary data are crucial for success in subsequent peer reviews, such as those conducted by the NIH. The program’s goal is to enable scientists to generate enough preliminary data for bold new approaches to diagnoses, treatments, and potential cures for diseases that affect us today so that they can attract additional funding to achieve Life Without Disease®. What sets SPARK apart is its dual focus on cutting-edge research and professional development. In addition to receiving seed funding for high-risk, high-reward projects, finalists also gain specialized training on communicating their research to a range of audiences. The program’s hyper-competitive format stimulates the real-world challenges of securing research grants and biotech investment, equipping young scientists with practical tools for career success. Over the course of eight months, SPARK awardees lead their own independent research projects, generating preliminary data that often lays the groundwork for larger grants and future clinical breakthroughs. Support The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology: https://donate.lji.org/SPARK —------------------ 2026 SPARK Awards Finalists Emil Johansson, Ph.D. https://www.lji.org/spark26-emil/ Jessica Nevarez-Mejia, Ph.D. https://www.lji.org/spark26-jessica/ Mousa Vatanmakanian, Ph.D. https://www.lji.org/spark26-mousa/ Rashmi Tippalagama, Ph.D. https://www.lji.org/spark26-rashmi/ Remi Marrocco, Ph.D. https://www.lji.org/spark26-remi/ Tanner Michaelis https://www.lji.org/spark26-tanner/ Violante Olivari, Ph.D. https://www.lji.org/spark26-violante/ Zhen Dong, Ph.D. https://www.lji.org/spark26-zhen/ —------------------- Sign up to receive our newsletter and/or our free science magazine: https://www.lji.org/signup/ Follow along on LinkedIn:   / la-jolla-institute   BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/lji.org