The Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator Award supports young physician-scientists conducting patient-oriented cancer research. The goal is to increase the number of physicians capable of moving seamlessly between the laboratory and the patient’s bedside in search of breakthrough treatments. Preference will be given to research that adheres to the “Handshake Rule,” meaning that the physician will conduct research studies that directly involve patients.

Eligibility Requirements

• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.
• Each applicant must be nominated by his/her institution. Applications will only be accepted from institutions that have been invited to submit them by the Foundation. Only three (3) nominations per institution, including its affiliated schools, will be accepted.
• The applicant must have received an MD or MD/PhD degree(s) from an accredited institution, completed his/her subspecialty training, and be board-eligible.
• The applicant must apply within the first four years of his/her initial full faculty appointment (cut-off July 1, 2009). Adjunct or acting positions are not eligible.
• The applicant must hold or be in the process of securing a tenure-track position at his/her institution.
• Candidates may apply up to three times during this eligibility period.  Candidates holding or awarded R01s at the time of application are not eligible to apply.
• The applicant must commit to spending 80% of their time conducting research.
• The applicant is required to apply in conjunction with a Mentor who is established in the field of clinical translational cancer research, cancer prevention and/or epidemiology and can provide the critical guidance needed during the period of the award.  No more than two Damon Runyon Clinical Investigators will be funded to work with the same Mentor at any given time.

Scientific or budgetary overlap with other funded projects is not allowed. For more information on budgetary overlap, please read the following information: http://www.damonrunyon.org/for_scientists/more/clinical_investigator_award_overview#funding

Application Instructions

As the University of Washington may only submit THREE proposals for this opportunity, the School of Medicine has established an internal review process to determine which proposals will move forward to the funding agency.

To apply, please email the following to rgeopps@uw.edu by December 20, 2012:

-          Applicant biosketch, including current and pending funding sources

-          Max. 3 page description of the research project that identifies: (1) specific aims; (2) significance of research goals; (3) research methods; and (4) a brief explanation of mentor support (i.e. ways in which mentor will support applicant and his/her project)

Applicants will be notified as soon as a decision is reached. The selected applicants must adhere to OSP’s deadlines outlined in GIM-19: http://www.washington.edu/research/osp/gim/gim19.html

Please contact Maren McDaniel  at rgeopps@uw.edu, or (206)-543-6116 with any questions about the internal review process.