Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award
This grant funds early career scientists pursuing bold, high-risk cancer research with the potential to transform cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or understanding.
Funder: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
Due Dates: July 1, 2026 (Full application, 4:00 PM ET via Proposal Central)
Funding Amounts: $200,000/year for 2 years (Stage 1; $400,000 total), with potential for 2 more years (total up to $800,000 over 4 years)
Summary: Supports early career scientists conducting bold, high-risk/high-reward cancer research with transformative potential.
Key Information: No indirect costs allowed; applicants must commit at least 80% effort to research.
Description
The Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award provides substantial support to early career investigators pursuing innovative, high-risk/high-reward research projects in cancer. The award specifically targets researchers with bold ideas that challenge conventional paradigms and have the potential to significantly advance prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or the basic understanding of cancer. The program is designed for those who lack sufficient preliminary data to secure traditional funding, emphasizing creativity, independence, and transformative impact in the cancer field.
