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Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award

Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

Application Open in Proposal Central: May 2026
Application Deadline: July 1, 2026
Notification of Finalists: October 2026
Finalist Interviews: November 12, 2026
Funding Begins: January 1, 2027

Application Requirements (Forms are on Proposal Central)

Application cover sheet (co-applicant cover sheet) with all required signatures.
The Applicant's Appointment Letter (and Re-Appointment Letter, if applicable) stating position title, description of start-up package, and term of appointment.

Applicant's Personal Statement, a one-page narrative including:

What they anticipate gaining from this award with respect to its impact and their career development
Optional: personal background. (Applicants may choose to describe experiences that have influenced their current educational and career goals. Applicants may discuss challenges that they have faced while pursuing careers in research.)

Applicant’s NIH Biosketch.
A full bibliography of all published works with hyperlinks. Bold three peer-reviewed publications (published or in press) that demonstrate the applicant’s capacity for innovation and ability to achieve the goals set forth in the proposed research.
A complete list of other sources of research support with dollar amounts and confirmation that there is no scientific overlap with the proposed research for each grant/award (including start-up package, if applicable). A list of pending support with dollar amounts and confirmation that there is no scientific overlap with the proposed research.
The research proposal, including figures, tables, and legends, is limited to four pages of single-spaced, 12-point type with at least 0.5-inch margins. No preliminary data are expected; any description of such data (including figures) should be included in the four-page proposal. A list of references is not included in the 4-page limit.
- In the proposal, the applicant should include:
  1. the aim(s) of the proposed research project(s)
  2. the significance and potential impact of the research on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or basic understanding of cancer
  3. the experimental designs, strategies, and methods to be used in the conduct of the research
  4. an explanation of how the proposed idea and/or approach is innovative and bold yet achievable.
A one-paragraph description of resources and core facilities available to the applicant for the proposed research. Please complete the form in Proposal Central.
Organization Assurances - Human Subjects (IRB) and Vertebrate Animals (IACUC). Please complete the form in Proposal Central.
The Summary of Research Form, not to exceed one page. This should match the Abstracts tab in Proposal Central.
Applicants must have two reference letters submitted through Proposal Central by senior scientists using their own letterhead. One of the two required letters of recommendation should come from a senior scientist, external to the candidate's institution. (The referee may not be a collaborator, coauthor, or current/former mentor of the applicant.) For candidates with a PhD, it is recommended that the second letter come from either the candidate's postdoctoral or thesis advisor.
- The letters should address:
- the applicant’s research and academic accomplishments
- the level of innovation and importance of the proposed research
- the applicant’s characteristics that make them uniquely suited to carry out and achieve the goals of the proposed research
- the applicant’s potential to be a true innovator.

For applications with co-applicants, please contact the Award Programs for further directions on submitting reference letters.

All reference letters must be submitted on or before the application deadline. Applicants will NOT be able to submit their application unless all reference letters are uploaded to the portal.

In addition to the 2 required reference letters, only Clinical Instructors and Senior Clinical Fellows (in the final year of their sub-specialty training) holding an MD/DO, as well as Distinguished Fellows, are required to submit a letter from their mentor or institutional equivalent, guaranteeing that the applicant is conducting the proposed research independently and addressing their exceptional level of research accomplishment and potential to manage a successful, independent research program. Please use our Mentor Reference Letter Form.
If applicable, up to two collaboration letters, not to exceed one page. These letters should be a brief description of the collaboration, not an evaluation of the candidate (NOT REFERENCE LETTERS).

If applicable, candidates resubmitting an application must upload a Resubmission Summary of Changes, a brief paragraph outlining the changes or updates made to the current proposal compared to the previous proposal. This paragraph should be attached as a preface to the Research Proposal. This summary should not exceed half a page. Applicants may apply no more than two times.

No budget required at the time of application. (If awarded, budget will be required as part of the acceptance materials.)

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Exceptional applicant quality / scientific promise (highest predictor)

This is probably the single strongest predictor across all Damon Runyon programs.

The Foundation repeatedly states that it funds the “best and brightest early-career scientists” and prioritizes identifying researchers very early who are likely to become future leaders in cancer research.

Successful applicants usually show:

outstanding PhD/MD training pedigree
strong publication record (often first-author papers)
evidence of creativity and independence
exceptional letters of recommendation
clear trajectory toward becoming an independent cancer investigator

2. Bold, innovative, high-risk/high-reward research (very high predictor)

This is a defining Damon Runyon feature.

The Foundation explicitly emphasizes support for “brave and bold” projects, particularly research that may be too early-stage or unconventional for traditional funders like NIH.

Competitive projects often include:

novel biological mechanisms in cancer
breakthrough therapeutic strategies
cutting-edge immunotherapy or cell therapy
computational or quantitative oncology innovation
translational work with strong disruptive potential

For the Rachleff Innovation Award, projects with limited preliminary data but very strong conceptual originality are especially competitive.

3. Cancer relevance with strong biological significance

Projects must be clearly connected to:

cancer biology
cancer causes/mechanisms
cancer prevention
diagnosis
treatment/therapy development

The Foundation funds theoretical and experimental cancer research broadly—but the cancer relevance must be direct and compelling.

4. Outstanding mentorship and research environment

Mentorship is a major predictor, especially for fellowships.

Reviewers place strong weight on:

reputation of the sponsor/mentor
mentor’s track record training fellows
quality of host laboratory/institution
availability of scientific resources
training environment that accelerates independence

For the Quantitative Biology Fellowship, Damon Runyon explicitly evaluates mentor quality and prior training success.

5. Research proposal quality and feasibility

Even very innovative projects must still be executable.

Reviewers consistently look for:

important scientific question
originality
methodological rigor
appropriate techniques
clarity of presentation
achievable scope within the award period

The Quantitative Biology guidelines explicitly list:

“importance of the problem, originality of approach, appropriateness of techniques and clarity of presentation.”

6. Potential for future leadership and long-term impact

Damon Runyon invests in people expected to become field leaders.

Strong applications often signal future potential through:

emerging scientific independence
long-term cancer research commitment
capacity to open a new research direction
potential for future major awards (NIH, HHMI, faculty positions)

Many alumni later become senior faculty and major scientific leaders, and the Foundation highlights this pipeline as part of its mission.

Specialties

Cancer

Eligibility Requirements

holding an MD/DO, as well as Distinguished Fellows, are required to submit a letter from their mentor or institutional equivalent, guaranteeing that the applicant is conducting the proposed research independently and addressing their exceptional level of research accomplishment and potential to manage a successful, independent research program.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: One Exchange Plaza 55 Broadway, Suite 302 New York, NY 10006

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