Damon Runyon Fellowship Award Grant

Damon Runyon Fellowship Award Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
Amount: Up to US $300,000
Last Updated: January 25, 2026

Summary

The Damon Runyon Fellowship Award supports innovative cancer research through mentorship from established scientists. Open to Level 1 and Level 2 candidates, it emphasizes the importance of original research proposals and a conducive training environment. Eligible candidates must conduct their research at recognized institutions and cannot extend previous training in the same lab. The fellowship is awarded for four years, with subsequent funding contingent on progress, fostering the next generation of cancer researchers.

Overview

Note: The March deadline applies to Level 1 candidates and the August deadline applies to Level 2 candidates. Damon Runyon Fellowship Award The Foundation encourages all theoretical and experimental research relevant to the study of cancer and the search for cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies, and prevention. Candidates must apply for the fellowship under the guidance of a Sponsor—a scientist (tenured, tenure-track, or equivalent position) capable of providing mentorship to the Fellow. In addition to aiding in the planning, execution, and supervision of the proposed research, the Sponsor’s role is to foster the development of the Fellow’s overall knowledge, technical and analytical skills, and capacity for scientific inquiry. The Sponsor is also expected to assist the Fellow in attaining his/her career goals. Awards are made to institutions for the support of the Fellow under direct supervision of the Sponsor. Selection and Review The Fellowship Award Committee will review applications and select awardees for approval by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation’s Board of Directors. The primary criteria used to evaluate applicants are: the quality of the research proposal (importance of the problem, originality of approach, appropriateness of techniques, and clarity of presentation)     the qualifications, experience, and productivity of both the candidate and the Sponsor     the quality of the research training environment in which the proposed research is to be conducted and its potential for broadening and strengthening the candidate's ability to independently conduct innovative and substantive research. The proposed research and training environment should represent a new opportunity for the candidate to expand his/her scientific skill set. Direct extensions of the candidate's graduate work (in approach, technique, or exact area of study) will not be funded. Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are granted for a four-year term with second-, third- and fourth-year funding contingent upon satisfactory progress reports.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The proposed research must be conducted at a university, hospital or research institution. Candidates working in a structured postdoctoral research program at a for-profit institution may apply. No more than two Damon Runyon Fellows will be funded to work with the same Sponsor at any given time (including Co-Sponsors).Only one fellowship application will be accepted from a Sponsor, co-Sponsor or Fellow per review session; there is no limit, however, to the number of applications from an institution.Candidates applying to work in foreign-based or United States government laboratories may be awarded a fellowship if the program represents an unusual opportunity for postdoctoral training.Foreign candidates may apply to do their research only in the United States.Eligibility Levels:Level 1: Basic and physician-scientists must have received their degrees no more than 18 months prior to the application deadline date. Applicants must not have been in their Sponsors' labs for more than one year prior to the application deadline date and are expected to devote 100% of their time to Damon Runyon-supported research activities.Level 2: Physician-scientist applicants (MD, MD/PhD, DDS, DVM, DO or the equivalent) must have completed their residencies and clinical training, must be board eligible in the United States at the start date of the Damon Runyon Fellowship, and be able to devote at least 80% of their time to Damon Runyon-supported research activities.Applicants may apply at any time prior to their initial assistant professorship appointment (or equivalent); postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows and clinical instructors are eligible to apply. Candidates holding or awarded NIH K awards at the time of application are not eligible to apply. Candidates holding institutional K12 awards may apply, but must turn-back K12 funding if they are awarded a Damon Runyon Fellowship.

Ineligibility

Postdoctoral training in the same institution in which the applicant received his/her degree is discouraged, particularly if it is in the same department. (If either situation applies, the applicant must address the reason(s) in his/her application).Proposals to continue training in the laboratory where the applicant received his/her PhD will not be considered.Proposals that are direct extensions of graduate work will not be funded. Candidates who have already accepted a postdoctoral research fellowship award are not eligible. (Candidates may hold a T32 at the time of application, but not concurrently with the Damon Runyon Fellowship Award).Candidates who are pursuing a degree are not eligible. No part of this grant can be used for indirect costs or institutional overhead.