Michelson Prizes laureates are distinguished scientists that have been recognized for their research and work to chart the future of human health.
Omar Abudayyeh, PhD
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2024 Winner
His proposal, “Development of Programmable RNA Sensors for Next-Generation Cancer Immunotherapies,” will leverage mRNA therapies and cell state targeting technologies (RADARS) to achieve mRNA tumor-specific therapies
Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School; Investigator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Mass General Brigham’s Gene and Cell Therapy Institute
Yuzhong Liu, PhD
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2024 Winner
Her proposal, “Improved Saponin-based Adjuvants for Cancer Vaccines,” seeks to use synthetic biology to elucidate the structure-immunoactivity relationship of natural and new-to-nature glycosides to guide the design of more potent and safer vaccine adjuvant candidates for cancer vaccines.
Rockefeller University - Clinical Scholar, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology
Dennis Schaefer-Babajew, M.D., Ph.D.
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2023 Winner
As a Clinical Scholar, Dr. Schaefer-Babajew will study the effects of passively administered neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on subsequent adaptive immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in healthy adult volunteers.
Rockefeller University - Clinical Scholar, Laboratory of Molecular Immunology
Siyuan Ding, Ph.D.
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2023 Winner
Dr. Ding’s proposed research seeks to develop a combined vaccine for the leading viral and bacterial agents that cause infant diarrhea.
Washington University - Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Microbiology
Claire Otero, Ph.D.
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2023 Winner
Dr. Otero’s research involves creating an effective vaccine for cytomegalovirus or CMV. CMV is related to viruses that cause chickenpox, herpes simplex, and mononucleosis.
Weill Cornell Medical College, Postdoctoral Associate in Pediatrics
Noam Auslander, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2022 Winner
Dr. Noam Auslander is developing an artificial intelligence-based approach to efficiently detects microbial expression in cancer and immune diseases.
Assistant Professor, Molecular & Cellular Oncogenesis Program | The Wistar Institute
