Due to the lack of funding opportunities in pediatric oncology research, fewer scientists are focusing their efforts on prevention and new treatments for childhood cancer. The goal of this Award, a partnership between the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, is to address the critical shortage of scientists focusing on pediatric cancer by recruiting outstanding young minds committed to tackling these issues.

Damon Runyon encourages all theoretical and experimental research relevant to the study of pediatric cancer and the search for pediatric cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies, and prevention. The goal is to fund individuals who propose innovative approaches in either basic or clinical research with the potential to significantly impact the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of one or more pediatric cancers.

Candidates must apply for the Damon Runyon-St. Jude Pediatric Cancer Research Fellowship under the guidance of a Sponsor, a scientist (tenured, tenure-track, or equivalent position) capable of providing mentorship to the Fellow. In addition to aiding in the planning, execution, and supervision of the proposed research, the Sponsor’s role is to foster the development of the Fellow’s overall knowledge, technical and analytical skills, and capacity for scientific inquiry. The Sponsor is also expected to assist the Fellow in attaining career goals. 

Awards are made to institutions for the support of the Fellow under direct supervision of the Sponsor. Candidates who have already accepted a postdoctoral research fellowship award are not eligible. (Candidates may hold a T32 at the time of application, but not concurrently with the Damon Runyon-St. Jude Pediatric Cancer Research Fellowship Award.) 

Selection and Review

The Damon Runyon-St. Jude Pediatric Cancer Research Award Committee will review applications and select awardees for approval by the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation’s Board of Directors.

The primary criteria used to evaluate applicants are:

• the quality of the pediatric cancer research proposal (importance of the problem, originality of approach, appropriateness of techniques, and clarity of presentation)
• the qualifications, experience, and productivity of both the candidate and the Sponsor
• the quality of the research training environment in which the proposed research is to be conducted and its potential for broadening and strengthening the candidate's ability to independently conduct innovative and substantive research. The proposed research and training environment should represent a new opportunity for the candidate to expand their scientific skill set. Direct extensions of the candidate's graduate work (in approach, technique, or exact area of study) will not be funded.
• Please note that it is the policy of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation not to share reviewers' written comments.