The National Institutes of Health has awarded 85 grants through its High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program that will fund highly innovative and unusually impactful biomedical or behavioral research proposed by extraordinarily creative scientists.

The High-Risk, High-Reward Research program catalyzes scientific discovery by supporting research proposals that, due to their inherent risk, may struggle in the traditional peer-review process despite their transformative potential. Program applicants are encouraged to think “outside the box” and to pursue trailblazing ideas in any area of research relevant to the NIH’s mission to advance knowledge and enhance health.

Seven Damon Runyon scientists are recipients of this year’s awards:

NIH Director’s New Innovator Award

Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovator Michael E. Birnbaum, PhD, The Koch Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Damon Runyon-Dale F. Frey Breakthrough Scientist Shruti Naik, PhD, New York University Grossman School of Medicine

Damon Runyon-Dale F. Frey Breakthrough Scientist Thomas M. Norman, PhD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Former Fellow Lisa R. Racki, PhD, Scripps Research

Damon Runyon-Dale F. Frey Breakthrough Scientist Jens C. Schmidt, PhD, Michigan State University

NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award

Former Fellow Brenda L. Bass, PhD, University of Utah School of Medicine

Former Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovator Jay Hesselberth, PhD, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Read more: National Institutes of Health