Some of the most cutting-edge and potentially life-saving immunology research never sees the light of day because it lies only in the imaginations of young scientists who have no path to develop their novel ideas.

The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology were designed to give emerging investigators something that can be close to impossible to secure at the beginning of a research career: flexible seed funding to pursue bold new approaches to diagnoses, treatments, and possibly even cures for diseases that afflict us today.

Since the program’s inception in 2017, SPARK has become far more than a funding mechanism. It has evolved into a statement of confidence in the next generation of scientific leaders, and one of La Jolla Institute’s most important engines for innovation.

Each philanthropically funded SPARK Award provides $30,000 over an eight-month grant period, empowering scientists to generate the preliminary data needed to unlock larger grants, publish influential findings, and step into leadership roles shaping the future of immunology. The funding also helps advance discoveries with the potential to transform the treatment of cancer, autoimmune, infectious, and neurodegenerative diseases, among many other conditions.

Philanthropic support gives researchers the freedom to move faster, pursue more ambitious questions, and build the scientific infrastructure that enables innovation beyond the scope of traditional funding. In many ways, the discoveries featured throughout these pages are not only the product of scientific ingenuity, but also of donors like you—individuals who recognize our shared responsibility to one another, understand the central role immunology plays in disease prevention, and choose to invest in a healthier future for all.

As federal research funding becomes increasingly competitive, particularly for emerging scientists, programs like SPARK play a critical role in advancing innovation and sustaining the future of biomedical research. SPARK awardees are also securing follow-on support from disease-focused foundations, private philanthropy, and industry partners seeking bold ideas with translational potential. These evolving funding pathways reflect a changing research landscape and underscore the importance of strategic investment in the next generation of researchers.

Scientific breakthroughs rarely arrive fully formed. More often, they begin as bold, unproven ideas that simply need someone willing to believe in them early.

We are deeply grateful to the donors, reviewers, faculty, volunteers, and alumni whose support makes SPARK possible.

Thank you!

The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards program offers donors a chance to significantly impact the careers of young researchers and help ignite the next big breakthroughs in medical research.

You can donate online at donate.lji.org/SPARK, or contact SPARK Program Manager, Sierra Felt-Morales, at (858) 752-6667 to discuss a range of giving opportunities.