What Sets Us Apart

Unlike more traditional funding, Damon Runyon awards are not restricted to certain cancer types or treatment approaches. Our awards are specifically designed to allow scientists to embrace serendipity in response to an unexpected finding, prioritizing the possibility of massive breakthroughs over safer, more incremental progress.

Scientists need freedom to follow where their data leads.
When Yajing Gao, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ’21-’24), set out to study a molecule called Aster-A, she hypothesized that blocking it could reinvigorate T cells’ anti-tumor activity. She did not expect that inactivating Aster-A would also reduce fat absorption in the gut—an entirely different means of combating cancer.

“It was a sharp transition with a lot of uncertainty about where the project would lead us,” she recalled. “But with the support of Damon Runyon, I felt that I had the freedom to take these less certain and bolder directions.”
The riskiest questions are often the ones that most need asking.
In 2021, Ryan A. Flynn, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ’17-’20, Innovator ’23-’25), sent shock waves across the field of cell biology with his team’s discovery of sugar-bound RNA strands protruding from the cell surface.

As sugars on the cell surface bind to receptors on immune cells to inhibit autoimmune attacks, and cancer cells often exploit such signaling mechanisms to evade the immune system, this finding may aid the search for immunotherapy targets.

“The generous and flexible support of Damon Runyon enabled me to ask a very risky question,” said Ryan, who now runs his own lab at Harvard. “It turned out to be a successful project, one that I will launch my independent career on.”
Disproving a hypothesis is an opportunity to embrace serendipity.
Soon after Lydia Finley, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ’13-’17, Dale F. Frey Breakthrough Scientist ’17-’19), started her Fellowship, she disproved her hypothesis about colon cancer cell metabolism.

“Frankly, I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t been supported by Damon Runyon at this vulnerable time,” she said. “Fortunately, I was. So I tackled a side project I’d been working on.”

Lydia shifted from cancer cells to stem cells, which also change their metabolism as they differentiate—a risky pivot, given that this was a “scientific black box” at the time. But pursuing this path led Lydia to discover a metabolite that, when added to a stem cell, causes it to differentiate in a certain way. Now in her own lab, Lydia is figuring out how metabolites can be deployed to “return” cancerous cells to a healthy state.

WE INVEST IN RISING STARS, NOT ESTABLISHED ONES

While many other organizations fund senior scientists who already have multiple sources of support, we identify emerging new talent. The vast majority of breakthroughs are made in the early stages of a scientific career. This is when scientists most need funding, encouragement, and the freedom to break out of existing paradigms.

OUR APPROACH INCLUDES ALL CANCERS

Instead of limiting our resources to one type of cancer, we fund cutting-edge ideas across the entire spectrum of cancer research, including basic science. Cancer is a complex family of diseases that does not adhere to clearly defined boundaries, and siloing research off into arbitrary categories can slow progress.

A DAMON RUNYON AWARD OFFERS MORE THAN JUST MONEY

Our awards offer Damon Runyon scientists the freedom to follow their own ideas, change paths in response to unexpected results, and take risks unlikely to be supported by other grants or awards. Our prestigious endorsement attracts further funding, advances their careers, and accelerates their research.

WE ARE ON THE VANGUARD OF WHAT’S NEEDED IN THE FIELD

Our nimble, efficient structure allows us to move quickly to fill gaps in cancer research. In recent years, we’ve launched programs to train quantitative scientists to apply their computational skills to cancer research, dedicate funding to pediatric cancer research in partnership with St. Jude, and provide Damon Runyon alumni with critical early seed funding to launch new biotech companies.

YOUR DONATION HAS AN OUTSIZE IMPACT

Our low administrative costs are supported by Damon Runyon Broadway Tickets and our endowment, so 100% of each donation goes directly to our scientists.

Nobel Prize Winners

Lasker Award Winners

$491M

Invested

4,070

Scientists funded

Clinical trials currently ongoing

What Sets Us Apart

Scientists need freedom to follow where their data leads.

The riskiest questions are often the ones that most need asking.

Disproving a hypothesis is an opportunity to embrace serendipity.

WE INVEST IN RISING STARS, NOT ESTABLISHED ONES

OUR APPROACH INCLUDES ALL CANCERS

A DAMON RUNYON AWARD OFFERS MORE THAN JUST MONEY

WE ARE ON THE VANGUARD OF WHAT’S NEEDED IN THE FIELD

YOUR DONATION HAS AN OUTSIZE IMPACT