Michelson Prizes laureates are distinguished scientists that have been recognized for their research and work to chart the future of human health.
Mohamad Abedi, Ph.D.
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2026 Recipient
Dr. Abedi’s award-winning proposal, “de novo Designed Cytokines for Context-Specific Immune Modulation,” seeks to engineer immune therapies that activate only where needed, such as within tumors, to minimize off-target toxicity, making treatments safer and more precise.
HHMI Fellow, Baker Lab | University of Washington
Joshua Gray, Ph.D.
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2026 Recipient
Dr. Gray’s research focuses on how infant immune cells interact in tissues such as the lungs and gut, with the goal of informing the design of vaccines that provide stronger, longer-lasting protection from birth.
Associate Research Scientist, Microbiology and Immunology Department | Columbia University
Inta Gribonika, Ph.D.
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2026 Recipient
Dr. Gribonika’s research explores how helpful bacteria living on our skin boost immune protection. This work could lead to new topical treatments and innovative vaccine approaches that improve the skin’s ability to block infections.
Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Molecular Hematology | Lund University, Sweden
Theodore Roth, Ph.D.
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2026 Recipient
Dr. Roth aims to genetically redesign human immune cells in entirely new ways—not mimicking what already exists in nature—to elicit stronger immune responses against cancer.
Assistant Professor, Pathology | Stanford University; Innovation Investigator | Arc Institute; Senior Fellow | Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy; Investigator | Weill Cancer Hub West
Benjamin Morehouse, Ph.D.
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2026 Recipient
By uncovering a newly identified human enzyme involved in inflammation, Dr. Morehouse’s research could lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions.
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry & Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences | University of California, Irvine
Caleb Lareau, PhD
Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grants | 2024/25 Winner
His proposal, “ Resolving the virome within the human immunome, “ will study the blood virome—the billions of viruses our immune system interacts with daily. This work will illuminate a basic question: How do humans have vastly different responses to the same infections?
Assistant Member of the Computational and Systems Biology Program | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
