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:
At the beginning of each review session, the following statement is read aloud:
As an organization, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has an uncompromising commitment to excellence and values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its Award Programs. The Foundation seeks to promote gender equality and increase diversity, in all of its forms, throughout our programs. Studies have demonstrated that often subtle and unconscious biases can dramatically affect outcomes in review processes and that by simply acknowledging that unconscious biases exist, we can combat their potential negative impact. To that end, please be aware of your potential unconscious biases when reviewing, scoring and discussing candidates and applications throughout the review process.
Application
To apply, please log into Altum | Proposal Central and search for Damon Runyon-St. Jude Pediatric Cancer Research Fellowship Award. Applications are due by 4:00 pm Eastern Time on August 15, 2025. Application instructions are located on the Damon Runyon Applications Guidelines webpage and all application forms are located within Proposal Central.
Applicants must have completed one or more of the following degrees or its equivalent: MD, PhD, MD/PhD, DDS, DVM, DO. The applicant must include a copy of their diploma to confirm date of conferral. If an applicant has not yet received their PhD diploma but has successfully completed all PhD requirements, including PhD defense, they may submit a letter from the graduate school explicitly stating such, with the date of the successful PhD defense and date of degree conferral.
Level 1 applicants: Basic and physician-scientists must have received their degrees no more than 36 months prior to the application deadline date. Applicants must not have been in their Sponsors' labs for more than two years prior to the application deadline date and are expected to devote 100% of their time to Damon Runyon-supported research activities.
Level 2 applicants: Physician-scientist applicants (MD, MD/PhD, DDS, DVM, DO or the equivalent) must have completed their residencies and clinical training, must be board eligible in the United States at the start date of the Damon Runyon-St. Jude Pediatric Cancer Research Fellowship Award, and be able to devote at least 80% of their time to Damon Runyon-supported research activities. Applicants must apply within two years of ending their clinical fellowship and anytime prior to their initial assistant professorship appointment (or equivalent). Postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows, and clinical instructors are eligible to apply. Applicants cannot be in their Sponsor’s lab more than four years prior to the application deadline date.
All applicants must include a copy of their diploma to confirm date of conferral. (See Deadlines chart).
The proposed research must be conducted at a university, hospital, or research institution.
No more than two Fellows will be funded to work with the same Sponsor at any given time (including Co-Sponsors).
Only one application will be accepted from a Sponsor or Fellow per review session (including Co-Sponsors); there is no limit, however, to the number of applications from an institution.
Postdoctoral training in the same institution in which the applicant received their degree is discouraged, particularly if it is in the same department. If either situation applies, the applicant must address the reason(s) in the application. Proposals to continue training in the laboratory where the applicant received their PhD will not be considered. Proposals that are direct extensions of graduate work will not be funded.
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.
Candidates who are pursuing a degree are not eligible.
Candidates applying to work in foreign-based or United States government laboratories may be awarded a fellowship if the program represents an unusual opportunity for postdoctoral training.
Foreign candidates may apply to do their research only in the United States.
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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Aug 15, 2025
$10,000
Affiliation: Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
Address: One Exchange Plaza 55 Broadway, Suite 302 New York, NY 10006
Website URL: https://www.damonrunyon.org/for-scientists/application-guidelines/st-jude-fellowship
Disclaimer:It is mandatory that all applicants carry workplace liability insurance, e.g., https://www.protrip-world-liability.com (Erasmus students use this package and typically costs around 5 € per month - please check) in addition to health insurance when you join any of the onsite Trialect partnered fellowships.