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.

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 – $140,000 for PhDs and $174,000 for MDs.  Your support allows us to fund the cancer research projects of approximately 30 new Fellows each year.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

Meet our Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovators:

2008
Nathanael S. Gray, PhD  video | profile
David G. Kirsch, MD, PhD  video | profile
Sarkis K. Mazmanian, PhD  video | profile

2009
Ivan Maillard, MD, PhD  profile
John L. Rinn, PhD  profile
Muneesh Tewari, MD, PhD  profile
Yi Zhang, MD, PhD  profile

2010
Heather R. Christofk, PhD  profile
Joshua C. Munger, PhD  profile
Raffaella Sordella, PhD  profile

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