When Dominika Michalíková searched for information about Fanconi anemia in Czech, she found very little. She decided to help change that, creating resources and connections so that others living with FA in the Czech Republic could find reliable information and support.
The Fanconi Cancer Foundation is pleased to recognize Dominika as the first-place recipient of the 2026 Winn/Byrd Award for Adults with FA. Dexter Sherrell received the second-place award for his work connecting people affected by rare diseases with researchers, health care professionals and advocates.
Making information and support more accessible
Dominika’s connection to FA began before she was born. Her older sister, Michaela, died from complications of FA in 1989 at just 8 years old. Although Dominika never had the chance to meet her, she knows her sister’s story and the grief her family continues to carry.
That experience, along with her own life with FA, informs her commitment to helping other families. She founded the first Czech Facebook group for people with FA and created a website sharing information and her family’s experiences. She also serves as the Czech Republic’s contact person on the European FA website, helping connect people with the wider FA community.
One of her central projects is translating the Fanconi Anemia Clinical Care Guidelines into Czech. A public fundraising campaign helped get the work started. In her acceptance video, Dominika shared that the first five chapters have now been professionally translated.
She plans to use the award to help fund the remaining chapters, support her website and connect with doctors and others who can help advance the project. Her goal is to make reliable information available in Czech to people with FA, their families and the health care professionals who care for them.
“I hope that one day, when a child is diagnosed with FA in the Czech Republic, their parents won’t have to search for information themselves,” Dominika said in her acceptance video. “They will know who to turn to and that they are not alone.”
Outside her advocacy work, Dominika runs her own business and shares a love of cars and drifting with a motorsport community. A documentary in production about that community also includes her experiences with FA, offering another way to introduce people to the condition.
Dominika recorded her acceptance message while recovering from brain tumor surgery and was unable to attend in person. She thanked her family, friends, doctors, FA Europe and FCF for supporting her work.
“This award means more to me than just first place,” she said.
Recognizing Dexter Sherrell
Second-place recipient Dexter Sherrell draws on his experiences with FA, leukemia, liver cancer and transplantation to support others navigating complex health conditions. Through advocacy and advisory groups, research collaborations and mentoring, he helps bring the perspectives of individuals and families into conversations about research, care and policy. Dexter recently completed a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity while navigating cancer treatment and organ transplantation. He plans to pursue graduate studies in ethics, leadership and health care policy, and will use the award to support his education, professional development and participation in advocacy meetings and research conferences. As he wrote in his application, “My hope is that every opportunity I receive ultimately creates opportunities for others.”
About the Award
The Amy (Frohnmayer) Winn and Christopher T. Byrd Award for Adults with Fanconi Anemia honors two former FCF board members who set high goals and devoted themselves to making a difference. The award recognizes adults with FA who are pursuing their own goals and demonstrating leadership in ways that matter to their communities.
