The Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award is a highly competitive program that provides $600,000 over 3 yearsto early-career physician-scientists conducting patient-oriented cancer research. Uniquely, it also covers up to $100,000 of the awardee’s medical school debt as a loan repayment incentive. The goal is to enable young clinicians (MDs or MD/PhDs) to spend the majority of their time (80%+) on research rather than clinical duties. This award supports innovative clinical and translational studies by rising stars who bridge the lab and the clinic, helping overcome the financial and time barriers that often deter physicians from research careers.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicants must be MD or MD/PhD scientists who are board-eligible/certified in a cancer-related specialty and are within the first 4–7 years of their initial full faculty appointment (assistant professor or equivalent) at a U.S. research institution. Typically, this corresponds to early-career academic physicians who have recently transitioned from fellowship to faculty.
- They must be scientifically qualified and committed to clinical cancer research that involves direct interaction with patients (e.g. clinical trials, patient-derived samples, outcomes research). Damon Runyon defines clinical research broadly to include patient-oriented studies, epidemiologic and behavioral studies, and health services research, as long as the investigator directly engages with human subjects or tissues. Laboratory studies alone are not sufficient – the work should have a “handshake” with patient care.
- Candidates must devote at least 80% of their professional effort to research**. Their institutions must guarantee this protected time if they receive the award. Minimal clinical duties (≤20% effort) are allowed to maintain skills.
- Mentorship: A mentor (or mentorship committee) is required to provide guidance. Institutional commitment is critical – the department must nominate the candidate (Damon Runyon requires an institutional nomination; each institution may nominate up to 2 candidates per review cycle). A letter from the Cancer Center Director or Department Chair must detail the support (lab space, resources, 80% protected time, etc.) for the applicant.
- Must not already be a PI on an R01 or equivalent major grant. However, they may have career development awards (NIH K awards, etc.). The idea is to support those who still need this bridge to full independence. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible; foreign applicants must have a valid work visa and be at a U.S. institution.
Funding Details:
- Award: $600,000 total over 3 years (paid in $200K installments each year). This can be used toward any research-related costs, including the investigator’s salary, support for a study nurse or data manager, laboratory supplies, and equipment. Indirect costs are not provided – the full amount is for direct costs.
- Loan Repayment: Up to $100,000 of outstanding medical school loans will be reimbursed by the foundation (tax-free) over the fellowship term. This is a significant incentive to ease financial burden. Documentation of loan balances is required, and payments are made annually concurrent with progress reports.
- Protected Time: The grant’s salary support and institutional agreement ensure 80% of the investigator’s time is committed to research. Damon Runyon will monitor that this commitment is kept.
- The award is non-renewable. At the end of 3 years, awardees may apply for a Damon Runyon Dale F. Frey Breakthrough Award (extension funding) if they have exceptional progress and need a bit more funding to reach an R01.
- Awardees become part of the Damon Runyon alumni network – they attend annual meetings and can access advising from the selection committee. The prestige of this award is high; it often propels recipients to secure NIH grants and leadership roles.
Deadline:
- Applications are due by January 20, 2026 (annual deadline, usually mid-January). The application must be submitted via the Damon Runyon portal and requires several components: research proposal, mentor & reference letters, institutional nomination letter, budget, and loan documentation.
- Selection process: After submission, a committee of distinguished cancer researchers reviews applications. Finalists are typically interviewed (often via Zoom or in New York) in May. Up to 6 awardees are selected each cycle.
- Start date: Funding begins July 1, 2026 for the new class of Clinical Investigators. Those not selected are allowed to reapply if still eligible. Remember, an institutional nomination is required, so internal deadlines to be nominated (often in fall) will precede the January deadline.
Where to go for further information: