Damon Runyon identifies today’s most brilliant early career scientists and funds their innovative cancer research.
- Today’s Promising Areas of Cancer Research
- What is Cancer?
- A Broken Pipeline?
A Generation of Science at Risk
- ARISE Report
Early Career Scientists and High-Risk, High Reward Research - American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- Why We’re Losing the War on Cancer (And How To Win It)
Clifton Leaf - Fortune Magazine
Our Cancer Research Projects and Results
Over the last 60+ years, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has built a reputation for funding those who go on to make extraordinary discoveries. Our scientists were the first to scientifically link lung cancer and cigarette smoking, cure a solid tumor with chemotherapy and successfully treat melanoma with immunotherapy. They have contributed extensively to the development of leading therapies including Erbitux and Bexxar.
Award Programs
We offer three programs aimed at encouraging and advancing the work of early career cancer researchers with high promise. Each program is designed to address a need or fill a gap in cancer research funding.
Our grant-making process is rigorous and highly competitive. Each program is overseen by a separate committee of renowned scientists who select our award recipients.
> Learn more about Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation award programs.
Scientists and Projects
> Find out details about the scientists and research we are funding with our sortable chart of current projects.
> View videos of our scientists to hear about their research on the cures and treatments for cancer in their own voices.
> See if Damon Runyon scientists are working in your region on our Google map of currently funded cancer research projects across the country.
New Discoveries and Honors
Learn about new cancer research from Damon Runyon awardees and recent honors bestowed upon members of Damon Runyon’s elite scientific circle.
A Timeline of Our Results in Cancer Research
Your donations fund real breakthroughs. Since 1946, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation scientists, including 11 Nobel Laureates, have made some of the most important discoveries in cancer research, including:
- Curing a solid tumor with chemotherapy (1956)
- Successfully transplanting bone marrow between family members (1970)
- Using immunotherapy to cure advanced melanoma (2008)
The following timeline highlights some of our scientists’ most important accomplishments.
> See a timeline of our achievements in
cancer research.
Research by Cancer Type
Decades of research have shown that cancers are defined by genetic makeup, not strictly by the organs that they affect. In fact, many cellular processes are proving to be useful therapeutic targets for a variety of cancers.
That’s why for more than 60 years the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has funded brilliant scientists asking questions common to all cancers, as well as those related to specific types of the disease.
> Learn more about our breakthrough research on specific cancers.