Early-career scientists face a significant challenge in advancing their careers: securing funding for new projects that do not yet have preliminary data.
The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards program was designed to solve this issue for the most promising new projects. The SPARK program thrives thanks to the generous support of our donors, whose contributions make it possible for us to fuel groundbreaking research and empower emerging scientists.
About SPARK
Innovation comes at a cost. Without proof-of-concept to convince highly competitive granting agencies to fund a novel project, many bold ideas never come to fruition. This is especially challenging for early-career scientists who are still building their professional foundations. La Jolla Institute’s Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology are designed to overcome these hurdles.
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®.
Learn more in this 90-second video.
Meet the Finalists
After a competitive selection process, the finalists for the 2026 Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology have been determined. Each finalist is competing to receive a $30,000 award to fund their high-risk, high-reward independent research project aimed at advancing Life Without Disease®. Meet and support this year’s finalists below.
Emil Johansson, Ph.D.
Does the immune system play a role in schizophrenia?
“With this SPARK project, my biggest hope is that we can find a specific autoimmune T cell response associated with schizophrenia onset, which can guide the development of immunomodulatory treatments that reduce the risk of developing schizophrenia.
Jessica Nevarez-Meija, Ph.D.
Can we discover new immune targets that lead to a safer, stronger vaccine to protect millions from deadly Strep infections?
“SPARK funding will enable me to perform an innovative large-scale screening to uncover new protein vaccine targets against Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections. This work will pave the way for a long-lasting and safe vaccine that could protect millions from life-threatening GAS infections.”
Mousa Vatanmakanian, Ph.D.
Can we train the immune system to see cancer as a virus and wipe it out?
“Funding for this project gives us the rare opportunity to test a completely novel way to reactivate the immune system against tumors, something too risky for conventional grants, but too promising to ignore. I hope this research sparks a new category of cancer immunotherapy, one that uses the body’s natural antiviral defenses to expose and eliminate cancer.”
Rashmi Tippalagama, Ph.D.
Are unconventional like CD4 T cells the missing link to preventing diabetes-related complications?
“I hope my research helps uncover how unconventional CD4 T cells contribute to immune dysfunction in diabetes and ultimately sparks the development of new therapies that prevent complications before they start. By studying these overlooked cells, we could shift from treating disease to predicting and protecting against it.”
Remi Marrocco, Ph.D.
What if an experimental model held the key to stopping CMV-caused birth defects?
“My SPARK project represents an opportunity to develop a tool that could be used all over the world by scientists who wish to study congenital CMV. It could represent the beginning of a new era in the study of congenital CMV, thus drastically increasing the odds of finding a new treatment.”
Tanner Michaelis
Can we develop a vaccine to slow down ALS progression?
“This project represents a shift in how we view the immune system’s role in ALS, not only as a source of harm, but potentially as a key to protection. By identifying immune responses linked to slower disease progression, I hope to uncover new therapeutic opportunities.”
Violante Olivari, Ph.D.
Could cellular 'food' be the hidden factor that unlocks exceptional anti-tumor T cells?
“I hope my research will help reexamine how we treat prostate cancer by understanding how the prostate environment ‘feeds’ the immune system, either suppressing it and enabling tumor escape or, if properly guided, helping energize it to fight back. By understanding and modifying these signals, we could turn that ‘food’ into medicine and help more patients benefit from immunotherapy.”
Zhen Dong, Ph.D.
Can we silence a toxic gene to treat a rare and severe brain disorder in children?
"My project explores novel molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies that have not been well studied. This support gives me the freedom to test out bold ideas early on, and have a chance to collect the preliminary data for larger grants."
About the Process
Beginning in 2026, the SPARK program timeline will shift earlier in the year to better align with institutional priorities and federal funding cycles, enhancing both efficiency and impact.
LJI receives diverse research proposals from early-career investigators across its labs and core facilities. A selection panel evaluates these submissions based on scientific promise and the applicants’ ability to clearly communicate their ideas to a lay audience. Finalists then present their pitches to a panel of LJI Leadership, Faculty, Board members, and donors. Selected finalists receive the Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Award for Innovations in Immunology, which now provides $30,000 over eight months—an increase that supports more ambitious projects while preserving SPARK’s grassroots spirit and accessibility to donors.
Thanks to the generosity of private donors and stakeholders, a select number of SPARK finalists receive funding each year—advancing high-impact, early-stage research in biomedical science. Yet strong proposals often outnumber available awards, leaving some promising projects unfunded despite valuable feedback.
To address this gap, SPARK launched the Brown Foundation Reignite Round—a pilot initiative offering select applicants a second chance to revise and re-pitch their ideas. One researcher is awarded $30,000 to advance their project and join the newest cohort of awardees.
Beyond funding bold and innovative research aimed at transforming how we prevent and treat disease, the SPARK program is deeply committed to education and professional growth. For many participants, it’s a pivotal career moment—offering hands-on experience in project design, execution, and leadership that prepares them for long-term success in science and beyond.
Impact Summary
$1.81 million+ raised
to support early-career researchers
241 donors
nationwide
53 innovative projects
funded over 8 years
33 SPARK winners earned promotions or new positions
after receiving project funding
14 independent laboratories
have been established by SPARK winners
$12.2 million+
in follow-on funding secured by SPARK winners through competitive granting agencies
1 highly cited
SPARK winner ranks among the prestigious top 1% of most-cited immunologists worldwide
*These numbers reflect the impact of The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology from its launch in 2017 through Summer 2025.
SPARK Annual Report
Philanthropy is the driving force behind the success of The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards. It’s the generosity of donors that fuels the curiosity, ambition, and breakthroughs of emerging scientists—transforming bold ideas into research that could one day save lives.
By making a gift during our 2025 campaign, you’ll help determine how many SPARK finalists receive funding in 2026. Your support sparks discovery and empowers the next wave of biomedical innovation.
Learn more about the impact of SPARK in our latest annual report.
About the Tullie and Rickey Families
Thanks to the support and generosity of LJI Board Director Tom Tullie and his wife Judy, as well as LJI Board Director Dave Rickey and his wife Brenda, and their families, we are celebrating nine years of SPARK. Their belief in the program and their multi-year investment have been critical to ensuring the longevity and continued growth of the SPARK Awards program.
In recognition of their dedication, LJI renamed the program in 2019 to The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology. We are grateful for their generosity—and for the support of more than 241 donor families who have collectively helped fund 53 innovative SPARK projects.
Learn more in this 60-second video.