What is Damon Runyon’s mission?

Damon Runyon’s mission is to identify and support the best early career scientists pursuing innovative research that has the potential to transform cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Our goal is to encourage new generations of outstanding researchers to pursue paradigm-shifting ideas and approaches and have highly productive, successful research careers.

What types of research projects does Damon Runyon fund?

Damon Runyon views cancer research very broadly, including the full spectrum of basic questions important to normal human biology and carcinogenesis, as well as development of new platforms and technologies. We encourage all theoretical and experimental research that has the potential to provide insights into cancer and the search for cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies and prevention for all types of cancer. This includes research in the areas of molecular biology, genetics, genomics, cell biology, immunology, model organisms, microbiology, virology, systems biology, structural biology, neuroscience, aging, chemistry, chemical biology, organic synthesis, physics and quantitative biology – in addition to others.

We seek novel ideas and approaches. We understand that many ideas and experiments do not work, and that science often leads the best minds in unexpected directions. We are willing to take risks on creative new ideas and approaches, even if they may “fail.”

See our current projects to get a sense of the broad spectrum of research we are currently funding.

What types of researchers does Damon Runyon fund?

Damon Runyon’s goal is to identify top emerging talent. We seek individuals who have demonstrated high productivity, creativity, and the ability to identify and successfully tackle important new scientific questions and challenges as demonstrated in their prior research and proposed project. We seek applicants that meet these criteria from any research institutions across the country.

For your mentored awards, what types of mentors do you seek?

Damon Runyon typically looks for mentors who demonstrate their commitment to mentorship through their proposed mentorship plans and have a track record of training scientists who have gone on to have successful scientific careers. We will fund applications where the mentor is a more recently established independent investigator when a compelling case is made in the application.

Who selects your award recipients?

Each Damon Runyon award program has a separate selection committee comprised of highly respected, renowned scientists who are the “phenotype” of the types of researchers that are the focus of the particular award (e.g., our Clinical Investigator Award Committee is comprised of leading translational/clinical researchers). They are leaders in their fields and, more importantly, deeply committed to Damon Runyon’s mission of identifying and enabling top early career scientists. Our committee chairs and members serve for specific terms and then rotate off so that there is sustained diversity of expertise and perspectives.

Does the Foundation share reviewer feedback with applicants?

No. Please note that it is the policy of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation not to share reviewers’ written comments.