2025 Grant Recipients

Enrico Drago, MD

Boston Children's Hospital

The I-CIS Innovation Grant – Vicki Modell Award offers an award to an individual in the third or fourth year fellow (at the time of the award start) with a concentration or focus on primary immunodeficiency and inborn errors of immunity. The 2025 Fellowship Award will provide one individual with a one-year grant in the amount of $50,000. This award is made possible by a generous unrestricted grant from the Jeffrey Modell Foundation.

"I am a pediatrician focused on translational research, applying cutting-edge genome editing strategies to study and treat rare diseases and inborn errors of immunity. This award will be fundamental to explore innovative therapeutic strategies and expand the potential of gene editing for these conditions. I am honored to receive this support from the CIS in memory of Vicki Modell, whose legacy continues to inspire and support the global effort to improve the lives of patients affected by primary immunodeficiencies."

Dr. Teona Iremadze

Tbilisi, Georgia

"I am a pediatrician and Assistant Professor at East European University in Georgia, working in the pediatric pulmonology department of one of the country's leading referral hospitals. My clinical focus lies in identifying and managing primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs), an area that is critically underserved in the Caucasus region. After diagnosing my first case of Bruton's disease through independent study, I recognized the critical need for expertise in PID in the Caucasus region, where such conditions often go undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness and specialized care. My dual role as a clinician and educator enables me to train the next generation of physicians while advocating for improved diagnostic and treatment protocols for patients with PID. This award will support my advanced training at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) under the mentorship of Dr. Kathleen Sullivan, a globally recognized expert in primary immunodeficiencies. I will gain hands-on experience with modern diagnostic techniques, such as flow cytometry, and deepen my understanding of comprehensive PID management. Upon returning, I will utilize this knowledge to establish Georgia's first specialized PID team within our hospital and develop clinical guidelines, develop and deliver targeted training workshops for pediatricians and primary-care physicians throughout Georgia, equipping them to recognize early warning signs of PID. Additionally, I plan to collaborate with colleagues around the world to build a research and support network for these rare but life-threatening conditions. Improving knowledge, diagnosis, treatment, and care for patients will significantly decrease mortality rates and reduce the number of refugees. Many families are forced to leave their home countries and seek asylum in Europe because local healthcare systems lack the capacity, experience, and resources to manage these complex cases.

We face serious challenges, including a shortage of diagnostic tools and limited medical expertise. By investing in better medical education, access to modern diagnostic equipment, and specialized training, we can improve outcomes for patients and help families stay together in their home countries."

Dr. Estefanía Vásquez

Medellín, Colombia

"My name is Estefanía Vásquez Echeverri, I am Pediatrician Allergist Immunologist, and I am from Medellín, Colombia. I completed a Fellowship in Primary Immunodeficiency in Mexico City. Currently, I am an Assistant Professor of Faculty Medicine EIA (Immunology basic and clinical area) and I provide outpatient care in two cities: Bogotá and Medellin. I work in the Group of Primary Immunodeficiencies in Medellín-Colombia. In addition, I am pursuing two lines of research: Telehealth Immunology Service and Medical Education topics about Inborn Errors of Immunity. I believe that the CIS Foundation Grant 2025 will be a wonderful investment in my future that will allow me to become a Pediatric Allergist Immunologist leader in Colombia both in terms of the clinical and research areas. My mentor is Dr. Kathleen Sullivan and the knowledge gained with Immunodeficiency-related vaccine-derived rubella viruses project will help to deepen the knowledge about immune mechanisms particularly in the adaptive immune system in this disease. For me, it will be a great opportunity to share the knowledge and clinical experiences of the most expert mentors in Inborn Errors of Immunity. Thank you."

Dr. Andrew Wong-Pack

Ontario, Canada

Dr. Andrew Wong-Pack is a second year clinical immunology and allergy fellow at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. He completed his medical degree at the University of Western Ontario followed by a residency in internal medicine at the University of Toronto. He is an incoming clinical scholar at McMaster University with a focus on adult immunodeficiency and drug allergy. Through this award, he will be completing a visiting mentorship with Dr. Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, where he will gain additional experience in adult immunology. His research will focus on factors relating to Haemophilus Influenzae in patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) and X-linked Agammaglobulinemia (XLA).