Damon Runyon Fellowship Award

The Damon Runyon Fellowship Award is a highly competitive and prestigious funding opportunity offered by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation. It is designed to support postdoctoral scientists conducting cancer research, with a strong focus on those demonstrating extraordinary promise in advancing understanding of cancer biology and developing innovative cancer therapies and prevention strategies. The Fellowship Award supports Level 1 candidates—those who recently received their PhD—as well as Level 2 candidates, defined as board-eligible physician-scientists. Applicants must meet specific timing criteria based on their degree conferral date and start date in their sponsor’s lab. The next application deadline is August 15, 2025, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time, with award selections taking place on November 7, 2025. Awardees will begin their fellowships in one of the first four months of 2026 (January through April). Applicants are required to submit their application through Proposal Central and include a comprehensive set of documents such as a research proposal, summary of research, personal and professional statements, biosketches, and letters of recommendation. A total of three reference letters must be submitted by qualified individuals (excluding the sponsor) by the application deadline. At least one letter must come from the candidate’s thesis advisor if they hold a PhD. Sponsors must provide a detailed training plan, a letter of support, their own NIH biosketch, and a mentorship track record. The applicant’s proposal must demonstrate originality, scientific rigor, and alignment with the goals of the Foundation, particularly the understanding and treatment of cancer. Proposals that merely extend the applicant's graduate work or continue in the same lab where they earned their PhD will not be considered. The application process is designed to identify emerging leaders in cancer research who have the potential to make a significant impact. The Foundation provides a robust framework of support to help awardees transition into successful independent research careers. Questions regarding the fellowship can be directed to the award programs team at awards@damonrunyon.org.

The application process requires several components, including a cover sheet, biosketches, reference letters, a sponsor's letter of support, a detailed training plan, and a comprehensive research proposal. Reference letters must be submitted by three qualified individuals, excluding the candidate's sponsor, and should be uploaded to the portal by the application deadline. The research proposal should not exceed five pages and must include a summary, background, objectives, methodology, and significance. Proposals that are direct extensions of graduate work or continue training in the same laboratory where the PhD was received will not be considered.