The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology 2025 Annual Report Introduction
How do you keep a program that uplifts the next generation of researchers dynamic and aligned with the ever-evolving scientific landscape? You listen—to its stakeholders, its supporters, and its scientists. You imagine the possibilities that arise from a catalytic initiative like the Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology: a program that seeds early-career immunologists with the resources they need to take risks, pursue bold ideas, and build careers in a rapidly changing research ecosystem.
Since its launch in 2017, SPARK has been more than a funding mechanism. It has been a statement of belief in the power of new voices in science. As federal research dollars become increasingly competitive, especially for emerging scientists, it is more critical than ever to invest in early-career researchers.
After eight years of success, and careful reflection with our donors, alumni, and Institute leadership, SPARK is evolving to meet this moment. Beginning in 2026, each SPARK Award will be $30,000, marking the program’s first funding boost since its inception. This increase ensures that selected projects remain ambitious and feasible, while preserving the program’s grassroots spirit and accessibility for a wide range of donors.
This evolution strengthens SPARK’s ability to attract diverse, high-potential applicants and empowers LJI’s early-career scientists to generate the preliminary data necessary to unlock larger grants. While the federal government has historically been a major source of medical research funding, many SPARK winners are now also finding their next stage of funding through additional sources—including disease-focused foundations, private donors, and companies seeking out bold, high-risk projects with translational potential.
These diverse funding avenues reflect an important shift in the research landscape. It is vital that LJI, as an institution, continues to support this change by being intentional in how we nurture young scientists. SPARK is more than seed funding. It is a signal that the ideas of young scientists matter, that there are multiple paths forward, and that their work deserves support from a wide range of partners.
To further align with institutional priorities and federal funding cycles, the SPARK program timeline will also shift to an earlier point in the year beginning in 2026. This adjustment will enhance both the program’s efficiency and its strategic impact.
The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards continues to be a beacon of support for bold, transformative science. We are deeply grateful to our donors, reviewers, volunteers, and scientists who make this work possible, creating a vital cycle of innovation that can ultimately translate into real-world medical breakthroughs.
Final Reports from the 2024 SPARK Winners
“The SPARK program has provided an invaluable experience
for me. I improved my communication and research skills and
learned to budget for a project, which as a trainee, you often don’t get to do. I will use the communication and research skills I have learned through this program as I prepare for future speaking engagements and apply for funding.”
“This SPARK Award gave me tremendous support to pursue
an original, but risky idea. There are fascinating technologies
emerging everyday in the academic world, which enable novel
discoveries that cannot be made otherwise. SPARK support allowed me to apply one of these technologies to investigate a
hidden side of our immune response to viral infection.”
“SPARK really taught me how to execute my research based on a budget, gave me freedom to choose my line of research, and helped me build overall leadership skills that will be necessary as
an independent faculty member.”
“The SPARK Award has provided me with invaluable public exposure and a deeper understanding of how scientific discoveries can directly impact patient lives. It has given me the confidence to pursue high-risk, high-reward projects."
“The SPARK program was critical for launching this research
direction. And more than that, making connections with SPARK
donors has been an unforgettable experience for me. This was a
very precious opportunity to see our research through the eyes of
donors and the public.”
“I want to sincerely thank all the donors who made this possible. I
am deeply thankful for the opportunity to continue investigating
these important questions and to build on the promising
preliminary data we generated thanks to earlier SPARK support.”2025 SPARK Awards Celebration
On February 4, 2025, LJI welcomed supporters, scientists, and alumni for an evening celebrating eight years of the Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology. The event honored the six newest SPARK awardees and reflected on how far the program has come since its launch. Hosted in the Institute’s seminar room and atrium, the evening celebrated generosity, innovation, and progress. President and CEO Erica Ollmann Saphire, Ph.D., MBA, welcomed guests and set the tone for the evening before introducing 2021 SPARK awardee and LJI Instructor Dr. Annie Elong Ngono, who shared how the award propelled her infectious disease research forward. The event also featured a white coat ceremony for the 2025 SPARK cohort, marking the beginning of their SPARK research journey. The evening concluded with a toast from LJI Board Director and program co-benefactor Tom Tullie, MBA, who shared his vision for the program’s future and the powerful ripple effect of supporting bold, early-stage science.
Thank you, reviewers!
We are deeply grateful to the application and pitch reviewers who generously dedicated their time and expertise to the 2025 Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology:
Kelsey Dale, CFRE, CSPG
Barbara Donnell, MA
Tal Einav, Ph.D.
Brandon Fabritzky, MBA, CRA
David Hall, CSP
Gina Kirchweger, Ph.D.
Ken Magid, J.D.
Robert Mahley, M.D., Ph.D.
Margaret Ng Thow Hing, J.D.
Miguel Reina-Campos, Ph.D.
David M. Rickey
Peter St. Clair
Raydene St. Clair
Tom Tullie, MBA
David Webb, Ph.D.
SPARK STARS
The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards program not only provides seed funding for innovative ideas but also focuses on training and supporting the most promising early-career scientists. Throughout the past year, we celebrated the successes of our “SPARK Stars,” previous SPARK Awards recipients who have achieved remarkable milestones. Their accomplishments show how philanthropic support of the SPARK program fuels discovery and helps develop the next generation of researchers. Here are a few highlights:
Post-award scientific breakthroughs
Daniela Weiskopf, Ph.D. and Rosa Isela Gálvez, Ph.D.
2018 SPARK Awards Winner and 2023 SPARK Awards Winner
In February 2025, Daniela Weiskopf, Ph.D., celebrated a major milestone with the publication of her first paper as sole Principal Investigator in her new lab. Accepted by JCI Insight, the study—titled Frequency of dengue virus–specific T cells is related to infection outcome in endemic setting—examines T cell responses in children who experience repeated dengue virus infections. The paper’s first author, Rosa Isela Gálvez, Ph.D., is also a SPARK alumna, marking a proud moment for two generations of SPARK scientists advancing impactful immunology research.
Gurupreet Sethi, Ph.D.
2022 SPARK Awards Winner and 2023 Progress Pitch Winner
LJI Instructor Gurupreet Sethi, Ph.D., led a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology that investigates a promising new approach to asthma treatment. While current therapies often fall short—leaving some patients vulnerable to severe attacks—Dr. Sethi’s strategy offers potential for long-lasting relief and may also help reduce broader immune inflammation. Read more here.
Felix Nettersheim, M.D.
2023 SPARK Awards Winner and 2024 Progress Pitch Winner
In November 2024, Felix Nettersheim, M.D., published a manuscript in Nature Immunology titled, PD-1 and CD73 on naive CD4+ T cells synergistically limit responses to self. His findings provide key insights that could inform the development of vaccines designed to promote immune tolerance, as well as new approaches in cancer immunotherapy.
Securing prestigious follow-on funding
Isaac López-Moyado, Ph.D.
2024 SPARK Awards Winner
In March 2025, Isaac López-Moyado, Ph.D., received the Edward P. Evans Foundation Young Investigator Award for his project titled, Inhibition of RNase H Enzymes to Increase R-loops: A New Therapeutic Strategy for Myelodysplastic Syndromes. The award provides $150,000 per year for three years, totaling $450,000.
Jingru Fang, Ph.D.
2024 SPARK Award Winner
In July 2025, Jingru Fang, Ph.D., will share her SPARK project at the American Society for Virology annual meeting, backed by a competitive postdoctoral travel award. This honor allows her to highlight her research among top virologists and expand her professional network at a major scientific venue.
Advancing careers and expanding impact
Mehdi Benkahla, Ph.D.
2019 and 2021 SPARK Awards Winner
In March 2025, Mehdi Benkahla, Ph.D., began a new chapter in his career, transitioning from LJI to serve as an Assistant Research Professor at City of Hope, a leading institution that provides patients, families, and communities across the United States with comprehensive cancer care.
Thomas Riffelmacher, Ph.D.
2020 and 2024 SPARK Awards Winner and 2025 Progress Pitch Winner
In June 2025, Thomas Riffelmacher, Ph.D., will begin his new role as the Walter and Maga Boll Professor of Cardio-Oncology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Cologne in Germany, where he will lead his own laboratory.
Rimjhim Agarwal
2024 SPARK Award Winner
Rimjhim Agarwal, a UC San Diego graduate student in the Weiskopf Lab, was invited to speak at a Major Symposium during the American Association of Immunologists’ IMMUNOLOGY2024TM Annual Conference. Her selection as a featured presenter underscores the national recognition of her infectious disease research. Read more here.
Donor Honor Roll
Philanthropy fuels the next generation of research
Thank you to all of the generous donors to the Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology. The donor list below represents all donors to the Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology since the beginning of the program in Fall 2017 through June 2025. Any donor listed in orange denotes they’ve given enough cumulatively to fund at least one whole SPARK Award.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
The Thomas C. Ackerman Foundation
Thomas C. Ackerman Fund at Rancho Santa Fe Foundation
Acre Investment Real Estate Services
Amnon and Claire Altman
David Anderson
Applied Materials
Jessica and Adrian Ayala
Nicholas Backer
Claudia Baird
Edward and Susan Ball Family Foundation at Fidelity Charitable
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation
Daniel Barajas
Rita Baudewijn-Vanryckeghem
Janet Stull Baumgartner
Becton, Dickinson and Company
The Shirley and Harry Beer Charitable Foundation
Philip and Jane Bellomy
John and Mary Benbow
Lynn Berman
Natasha Bobrina
Richard S. and Karna S. Bodman / Richard S. and Karna S. Bodman Donor Advised Fund at Fidelity Charitable
The Mark and Katie Bowles Family Foundation
Catherine and Charles Boyer
David Brenner and Tatiana Kisseleva
Peegan Brosnan
Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation
Thomas Butch
Robert Butterfield
C.R. Bard Foundation
Douglas and Lenore Cameron
Cappetta Family Foundation
Megan Carolan
Anthony R. Carr
Charities Aid Foundation America
The Center for Wealth and Legacy
Check Family Foundation at Fidelity Charitable
Maurits Cheroutre* and Marie-Louise Cheroutre-Vanryckeghem*
David* and Robyn Cohen
Colchamiro Charitable Fund at Fidelity Charitable
Robert* and Lynne Copeland
Kenneth and Adriane Coveney
Ken and Kathleen Croff
Cushman Foundation
Kelsey and Patrick Dale
Suryasarathi Dasgupta
Frank and Elizabeth Deni
Peggy Dinan
Barbara Donnell
Andrew Dremak
Ecke-Meyer Family Foundation
James and Jewel Edson
Marc and Michelle Effron
Robert Eggold and Mary Mills
Matt Ellenbogen
Robert L. and Dominga Enich
Derry and Lois Eynon
Sally Fallon
Thomas and Karen Ferguson
François Ferré and Magda Marquet
L. Michael and Pamela Foley
Craig and Meredith Garner
Amy Geogan
Richard Gibson
Ayumi Gillespie
Mary Anne and Dave Gladyszewski
Andrew and Kathleen Glasebrook
Gleiberman Family Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Daniel P. and Patricia C. Gold
Jessica Gonzalez
Caitlin Gould
Stuart Gross
Clare and James Grotting
Dave and Carol Hall
Erin Hall
Wilson and Jenna Hambrick
Mary Harker
J. and Marla J. Harrigan
Reese Harris
Barbara and James Hartung
Lewis C. Haskell
Katya and James Hazel
Holly Heaton
Rebecca Helbig
David and Nancy Herrington
Nancy and Lynn Higbee
Christopher Himes
Jennifer and Gary Hinds
Breda Hing
Peter and Dawn Holman
Emily Holmes and Bruce Torbett
Gary and Jeri Horton
Ali Houry
James B. Isaacs, Jr.
Niles Johanson
Franklin and Catherine Johnson
Janet Judge
Terry and Linda Kaltenbach
Andrew Kaplan
Carol and Mike Kearney
Gina Kirchweger and Jan Karlseder
Chad Koelling
Kok-Fai Kong
Rosemary Kraemer Raitt Foundation Trust
John and Cim Kraemer
Gale Krause
Mitchell Kronenberg and Hilde Cheroutre
Kevin and Julie Krumdieck
Ralph T. and June K. Kubo
John J. Lamberti
Cecelia Lance
The Samuel Lawrence Foundation
Gene Lay
Christopher A. and Stephanie Elizabeth Lee
Gary & Lisa Levine Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Richard S. and Patricia Levy
Klaus F. Ley and Catherine C. Hedrick Donor-Advised Fund at National Philanthropic Trust
Gene Lin
Shao-Chi and Lily Lin
Craig Linden
Aaron and Andrea Ling
Jaime z”l and Sylvia Liwerant Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation
Shannon London
Michelle Lord
Chelsea and Erik Luedeke
Annette Luetzow
Gary and Diana Macek
Martha P. Mack Foundation
Morag and Kenneth Mackay
Robert and Linda Mahley
Marilynn Mansfield
Maravai LifeSciences
Richard* and Carol Markus
Ashley Marquez
Joel Martin and Pam Reynolds
Stan McCauley
Rodney McClendon
Mark and Tracy McCullers
Dympna McFadden
Christa McReynolds
F. Michael Melewicz
Than and Cindy Merrill
Joseph Meyer
MightyCause Foundation
Zbigniew and Magdalena Mikulski
Miller-Bowes Giving Fund
The Miller Family Fund
Ernest C. Miller* and Tung-Fen Lin Miller
Jeffrey E. Miller
Howard* and Elaine Mitchell
Judith L. Bradley and David L. Mitchell
Cherry Miyake
Kevin and Pingya Moore
Caroline and Marina Morales
Daniel Morgan
Lorraine Moriarty
Eleanor Mosca
Shin Mukai
Lauren Murphy
Gail K. Naughton
Carolyn and Jeffrey Nelson
Joani Nelson*
Margaret Ng Thow Hing and Andrew Carson
Larraine Nobes
Kenneth and Linda Olson
Robert D.* and Mary-Lou M. Orphey
Maria Ortega
Donald Osborne
Renee and Sidney* Parker
Vann and Carol Parker
PartnersFinancial Charitable Foundation
William Passey and Maria Silva
Ramamohan Paturi
Bonnie and Bill Payne
Rachel and Robert Perlmutter
Hunt and Laura Pettit
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP
Liba Placek
Gary and Penny Powell
Precision For Medicine
Patrice Purtzer
Charles Puskas
Amogh Rajanna
Erin Randolph
Ray and Jenifer Raub
The Brenda and Dave Rickey Foundation Charitable Trust
Ira and Kathleen Robb
Paulette Roberts
Dan and Laura Roos
Rotary Club of Del Mar
San Diego Advisor of the Year / Paul and Lori Thiel
Denny Sanford
Sharon Schendel
Herbert Schnall
Justin and Connie Seng
Sandor and Rebecca Shapery
Thomas and Suzanna Sharkey
Jack Shevel
Leslie Smith
Larry Spitcaufsky / Spitcaufsky Memorial Fund
Peter and Raydene St. Clair
Todd Steele
Charles and Stephanie Steinberger
Gail Stevens
John and Diana Stillwagen
Ashley Stratton
Carol Streeter
Ken and Sharon Strong
Studio L
Takahashi Family Charitable Fund at Schwab Charitable
Joseph and Joan Tarnowski
Lolly Tharp
TIGER 21
Eileen and Robert Timken
William and Karen Tincup
John Trifiletti
Tom and Judy Tullie / Tullie Family Foundation
Aaron Tyznik
Craig Urasaki
Cathy Vanous
Claire Van Ryswyk
Nancy L. Vaughan
Mark Veta
Matthias and Natalie von Herrath
Ursula Wagstaff-Kuster
Mark B. Wallner Foundation
J. Mark and Paula Waxman / Waxman Charitable Giving Account at Fidelity Charitable
David and Lila Webb
Larry and Mary Lynn Weitzen
Carolyn Wheeler
Joanna Wilkinson
Loie Williams
Herman Winick
Richard T.* and Lucy F. Wold
Beverly Wolgast
Andrew Yuen and Elisabeth Wolcott-Yuen
The donor list above represents all donors to The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology as of April 30, 2025.
*In Memoriam
Donor Feature: The Power of a Second Chance
When the Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology were launched, they not only provided vital support for early-career scientists but also introduced an innovative model of research funding. This visionary initiative empowered promising immunologists to dream big, take risks, and propel their careers forward. As a result, SPARK has become a program deeply rooted in excellence, credibility, and transformative opportunity. Building on this solid foundation, SPARK is now poised to enter an exciting new chapter with the introduction of the Brown Foundation Reignite Round. Made possible by a generous three-year partnership with the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, this new initiative brings an important addition to the program—a second chance for finalists to pitch their projects for funding.
In previous years, SPARK has received more high-caliber proposals than it could support. Applicants who were not selected in the initial pitch round often had no avenue to re-enter the cycle, despite receiving valuable feedback. The Brown Foundation Reignite Round addresses this gap, offering select applicants who did not receive initial funding the chance to refine their proposals and return for a follow-up pitch session. From this group, one researcher will be chosen as the Brown Foundation SPARK Winner, awarded $30,000 to advance their project, and invited to join the cohort of other SPARK Awards winners.
E.F. Hunter, President of the Brown Foundation, expressed his excitement for the program: “LJI—along with the Tullie and Rickey families—has developed an incredible program to help early-career researchers. We are grateful to be invited to be a part of it.”
The Reignite Round functions as an “accelerator within the accelerator.” It is more than just a second chance; it is an opportunity for young scientists to embrace feedback, refine their ideas, and return with renewed strength. In fields like venture capital, academia, and biotech, breakthroughs are often the result of persistence and iteration, rather than success on the first try.
With this new addition, SPARK continues to evolve in response to the dynamic nature of scientific discovery. The Brown Foundation Reignite Round ensures that SPARK remains a platform where promising research can thrive, while also valuing the critical processes of growth, feedback, and resilience.
In addition to establishing the Brown Foundation Reignite Round, the Brown Foundation also provided three-year supplemental funding for the SPARK Pitch Bonus Award, which introduces an added layer of recognition and motivation by granting an additional $5,000 to the top-ranked winner of the initial SPARK pitch. The Foundation also made a visionary and first-of-its-kind three-year philanthropic investment to support core programmatic SPARK operations, sustaining and strengthening the infrastructure behind the program’s continued growth. We are deeply grateful for the Brown Foundation’s multifaceted partnership and generous philanthropy, which continue to elevate and expand the impact of SPARK.