The National Institutes of Health’s High-Risk, High-Reward Research program, funded 86 awards to exceptionally creative scientists proposing to use highly innovative approaches to tackle major challenges in biomedical research. The program is designed to accelerate scientific discovery by supporting high-risk research proposals. Applicants of the program are encouraged to think outside-the-box and to pursue exciting, trailblazing ideas. Four Damon Runyon scientists are recipients of this year’s awards:

Pioneer Award

Feng Zhang, PhD (Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovator ‘12-‘14), the Broad Institute, Cambridge

New Innovator Award

Jaehyuk Choi, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator ’16-’19), Northwestern University, Chicago

Raymond E. Moellering, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ’11-‘13, Dale F. Frey Breakthrough Scientist ’13-‘15), University of Chicago, Chicago

Jakob von Moltke, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ’13-’16, Dale F. Frey Breakthrough Scientist ’17-‘18), University of Washington, Seattle