Five young scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, whose research spans metabolic disease, cancer, aging and muscle-wasting disorders, were honored on September 17 at the 25th annual Fishman Fund awards ceremony.
The Fishman Fund was created in 2001 by Sanford Burnham Prebys supporters Mary Bradley and Reena Horowitz to honor Dr. William and Mrs. Lillian Fishman, who founded the Institute in 1976. In 2010, Jeanne Jones became a co-founder designee.
The awards are intended to support and promote early career scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Four career development awards provide $10,000 stipends that can be used to attend workshops, network and travel to national and international conferences to learn about the latest developments in their research fields. In addition, the prizes include a two-year fellowship award, and an honor focused on rewarding research excellence. The fund is made possible through the generosity of many donors.
The ceremony, which included poster presentations, was held at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine. The 2026 recipients are:
Don Barach Memorial Fishman Fund Award
Lucía Alcober Boquet, PhD, works with Michael Karin, PhD, to study how specialized protein modifications help the body respond to metabolic stress, such as changes in nutrition, energy use, and liver function.
By uncovering how liver metabolism normally works and goes awry in metabolic diseases, she hopes to reveal new opportunities for developing novel targeted treatments.
Alcober Boquet’s goal is to build a scientific career where she can help translate scientific discoveries into new therapies while fostering a supportive environment for future researchers.
Jeanne Jones and Kathryn Fishback Fishman Fund Award
Dominic Denk, MD, MHBA, works with Michael Karin, PhD, to study to study how inflammation and metabolism shape the immune system’s ability to control cancers of the digestive system.
Denk has linked liver metabolism to the spread of cancer, opening the possibility of strengthening anti-cancer immunity using existing medications.
His long-term goal is to lead an independent, clinically focused research program that translates laboratory discoveries into new treatments.
Reena and Sam Horowitz Founders Fishman Career Award
Amador Gallardo de los Reyes, PhD, works with Xiao Tian, PhD, to study how the brain ages. His research builds on the discovery that aging brain cells can regain more youthful characteristics.
By investigating how these rejuvenation strategies restore brain function, Gallardo hopes to uncover new approaches for preventing or treating dementia and other increasingly common neurodegenerative diseases.
His long-term goal is to establish an independent research program dedicated to understanding brain aging and developing new therapies.
Fishman Fund Fellowship Award
Jimmy Massenet, PhD, works with Pier Lorenzo Puri, MD, to study changes in the way DNA is organized inside muscle cells that contribute to muscle-wasting diseases. He focuses on problematic proteins in diseased cells that no longer properly organize and regulate genetic information.
Massenet has identified early disease-related changes that may provide opportunities for intervention before significant muscle loss occurs.
He is now investigating new biomarkers and treatment strategies aimed at maintaining muscle mass and function to improve patients’ quality of life.
Lenka Finci and Erna Viterbi Fishman Fund Award
Robert Wiesheu, PhD, works with Kelly Kersten, PhD, to study immune cells called myeloid cells that influence the growth and spread of melanoma. His research explores how these cells shape the tumor environment, influence the effectiveness of immunotherapy and contribute to metastasis.
Wiesheu plans to enter the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry to help guide the development of new cancer therapies. His goal is to accelerate immunotherapy research so that more patients can be treated and live longer, healthier lives.
For more information on the Fishman Fund or to learn more about our philanthropy program, please contact giving@sbpdiscovery.org.