The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology
Funding Amount
$30,000
Deadline
April 3, 2027
359 days left
Grant Type
foundation
Overview
The Tullie and Rickey Families SPARK Awards for Innovations in Immunology
Funder: La Jolla Institute for Immunology
Status: Active, ongoing annual program
Overview: A structured, multi-year program designed to support early-career scientists and catalyze bold new ideas at LJI. Starting with the 2026 cohort, the SPARK Awards offer $30,000 in flexible start-up funding (increased from $25,000 awarded since the program's inception in 2017) to support LJI's emerging researchers in pursuing bold, high-impact projects.
Geographic Scope: La Jolla Institute for Immunology, California, US
Focus Areas: Innovation in immunology, high-risk, high-reward research projects across all disease areas
- Applicant Types: Early-career scientists and emerging investigators including: - Instructors - Postdoctoral fellows - Graduate students - Research technicians - LJI laboratory and core facilities researchers
Eligibility
Program Structure
Application Phase: Annual wide range of proposals from emerging investigators across LJI labs and core facilities
Project Execution Phase: 8-month period for SPARK awardees to lead independent research projects and generate preliminary data
- Rigorous review by panel composed of: - LJI leadership - LJI faculty members - Members of the Tullie and Rickey families
- Proposals evaluated for: - Scientific rigor - Innovation - Potential impact
Selection Process
- Seed funding for high-risk, high-reward projects
- Professional development: Specialized training on communicating research to various audiences
- Real-world experience: Hyper-competitive format that simulates actual research grant and biotech investment challenges
- Career support: Practical tools for career success in academic and biotech fields
Program Benefits
- Bold new approaches to diagnosing diseases
- Novel treatment development
- Potentially curative approaches
- Preliminary data generation for larger grants
What Funding Supports
- Email: contact@lji.org
- Phone: +1 (858) 752-6500
- Address: 9420 Athena Circle, La Jolla, CA 92037
Contact
How to Apply
Application Process
Timing: Annual application cycle
Key Phases:
1. Application Phase: LJI receives proposals from emerging investigators across laboratories and core facilities
2. Selection Phase: Rigorous review by LJI leadership, faculty, and Tullie/Rickey family members
3. Finalist Announcement: Finalists are selected as SPARK awardees
4. Professional Development: Finalists receive specialized training on communicating research
5. Project Execution Phase: 8-month period to conduct independent research and generate preliminary data
What is Reviewed:
Required Elements (implied from program structure):
Note: Specific application materials, narrative questions, and submission procedures are not detailed in the provided content. Applicants should contact LJI directly for detailed application requirements and deadlines.
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
Categories
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