Damon Runyon Fellowship Award

The Damon Runyon Fellowship Award sits under the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and backs postdoctoral researchers at U.S. universities, hospitals, and research institutions. It is part of the foundation's early-career cancer program set and is aimed at scientists who are still establishing their research identity rather than leading independent labs. The award runs on an annual cycle and provides four years of full-time support, with an annual stipend in the $70,000 to $76,000 range plus $2,000 a year for research expenses. No indirect costs are allowed. It is open to basic scientists within 18 months of the doctorate and to physician-scientists who have not yet reached a first assistant professorship, so the eligible pool is deliberately early. The program is built for applicants who can commit fully to cancer research at a U.S. institution and who need a foundation-backed runway before independence. Its structure favors people with strong training and a clear scientific direction, but without the expectation of a large preliminary package. That balance makes the fellowship one of the foundation's main entry points for new cancer researchers.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.