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 about new cancer research from Damon Runyon awardees and recent honors bestowed upon members of Damon Runyon's elite scientific circle.

The new ideas and fresh perspectives of early career scientists often lead to breakthroughs.  Yet the largest funder of biomedical research in this county, the federal government, is notoriously conservative, requiring that successful investigators show extensive preliminary data that essentially proves that their proposed research will succeed.  As a result, bold, risky ideas remain on the shelf.

Recognizing this paradox, venture capitalist Andy Rachleff, with his wife Debbie, combined forces with the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation to create the Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award.  The Award funds cancer research by exceptionally creative thinkers with “high-risk/high-reward” ideas—ideas that have the potential to significantly impact cancer, but lack sufficient preliminary data to obtain traditional funding.

The Innovation Award provides a total of $450,000 over a three-year period for salary and cancer research expenses.  In its first year, the Award attracted more than 400 applicants from top scientists across the US, highlighting the urgent need for this award.

• Videos: Meet some of our Innovators.
• View a listing of all current Damon Runyon Innovators’ projects.
• See an interactive map showing where Innovators conduct their research.
• Scientists: Learn about Innovation Award applications and more in our 'For Scientists' section.

Damon Runyon funds cancer research addressing questions common to all cancers, as well as those related to specific types of the disease.  Our scientists' projects span a variety of topics, from understanding the genetic underpinnings of cancer to developing drugs that more effectively fight the disease.  

> See a list of our currently funded scientists and their cancer research projects.

The Damon Runyon Fellowship Award is the Foundation’s oldest and most well recognized award.  It is one of the highest accolades an early career scientist can receive.  The grant is designed to give the nation's top minds the resources to further hone their cancer research skills and explore their own innovative ideas, while working with mentors in top universities and cancer research centers.

The Damon Runyon Fellowship Award is the scientist’s primary source of funding for three years—$156,000 for PhDs and $186,000 for MDs.  Your support allows us to fund the cancer research projects of approximately 30 new Fellows each year.

Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists **NEW**
At the end of the Fellowship, there are often a select few Damon Runyon Fellows who have greatly exceeded the Foundation’s highest expectations.  To catapult their research careers—and their impact on cancer—the Foundation will make an additional investment in these exceptional individuals by selecting them as recipients of the Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists.

• Videos: Meet some of our Fellows.
• View a listing of all current Damon Runyon Fellows’ projects.
• See an interactive map showing where Fellows conduct their research.
• Scientists: Learn about Fellowship Award applications and more in our 'For Scientists' section.

The Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award was launched in 2000 to help speed the process of moving laboratory discoveries to the patient bedside.  It is designed to support and encourage physicians committed to translating cancer treatment research into cures, helping to address a national shortage of these specially trained scientists.

The Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award provides $450,000 over three years to each recipient for salary, research and staffing expenses.  To address one reason for the decline of physician-scientists, the Foundation will also pay up to $100,000 of recipients’ medical school debt.  Thanks to your support, Damon Runyon is currently funding 23 Clinical Investigators.

Continuation Grants
All third-year Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators are eligible to apply for the Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award Continuation Grant, which is designed to provide two additional years of support to Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators who are approaching the end of their awards and need extra time and funding to complete a promising avenue of research, or initiate/continue a clinical trial.

• Meet some of our Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators.
• View a listing of all current Clinical Investigators’ projects.
• See an interactive map showing where Clinical Investigators conduct their research.
• Scientists: Learn about Clinical Investigator Award applications and more in our 'For Scientists' section.

Our cancer research map shows where we are currently funding projects, which scientists are at each institution and the type of research they are pursuing.

> See where the rising stars of science conduct their cutting-edge cancer research.

Meet current Damon Runyon scientists and hear about their cancer research, their motivations and why funding from Damon Runyon is so important to them.

> Videos: Our scientists share their stories and their cancer research.

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.