The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has announced the latest cohort of the Damon Runyon Scholars Program for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK), an innovative one-year internship designed specifically for post-baccalaureate researchers embarking on careers in cancer biology. Established in 2023, this program aims to bridge the critical gap between undergraduate education and graduate-level training by immersing early-career scientists in rigorous laboratory research environments under the mentorship of seasoned Damon Runyon Fellows and Clinical Investigators.
SPARK Scholars are embedded in research laboratories at leading institutions nationwide, collaborating closely with highly accomplished cancer researchers who have received Damon Runyon support in various capacities. Each scholar is awarded a stipend of up to $50,000, which includes a living allowance and travel funds to facilitate their engagement with the broader cancer research community. Over the course of the year, scholars participate in specialized programming aimed at fostering a sense of cohort identity and equipping them with essential skills to navigate the complex trajectory of a scientific career.
The program’s emphasis on mentorship is underscored by testimonials from inaugural scholars like Katelyn King, a current PhD candidate affiliated with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, who highlights the transformative power of guidance during formative stages of research training. King expresses her aspiration to emulate the mentorship she received when she establishes her own laboratory, emphasizing the critical role that early encouragement and professional network building play in shaping successful scientists.
Among the 2025 cohort, Isabella Alves distinguishes herself with a background rooted in biological sciences and chemistry at Pacific Lutheran University. Alves’s research focuses on the molecular interplay of isoprenoid biosynthesis and its dissociation impacts on hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance, proliferation, and survival—a vital area given the fundamental role of HSCs in blood formation and their vulnerabilities during oncological disruption. Her investigations in Professor Christina Termini’s laboratory at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center are elucidating potential molecular targets for therapeutic interventions aimed at enhancing hematopoietic resilience.
Another notable scholar, Subyeta Chowdhury, representing the intersection of biological sciences with public health, has engaged deeply in projects investigating acute myeloid leukemia (AML) within the rigorous environment of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Under the mentorship of Dr. Ross Levine, a prominent figure in clinical cancer research, Chowdhury has contributed to dissecting the oncogenic mechanisms driving leukemogenesis. Her additional summer tenure as a Harvard-Amgen Scholar at Boston Children’s Hospital enabled her to examine clonal hematopoiesis, a process intimately connected with the emergence of AML through somatic mutations in hematopoietic progenitors.
Milen Negasi’s trajectory exemplifies convergence between neuroscience and oncology. Initially probing the regulatory dynamics of proteins such as midnolin in neuronal contexts at Harvard Medical School, her research expanded into broader cellular biological questions involving growth, differentiation, and apoptosis at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Working alongside Dr. Xin Gu, Negasi applies sophisticated molecular biology techniques to explore cellular signaling pathways that may underlie both neural plasticity and tumorigenesis, thus highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of contemporary cancer biology.
Imani Williams, a first-generation college graduate from Howard University, has channelled her passion into studying triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive and heterogeneous subtype lacking targeted therapies. Mentored by Dr. Jill Bargonetti at Hunter College, Williams’s work melds molecular genetics with translational oncology to uncover vulnerabilities within TNBC cells. Her commitment to advocacy and empowerment of marginalized communities resonates within the inclusive ethos of the SPARK program and represents the growing emphasis on diversity within the scientific workforce.
The SPARK program, by directly addressing the challenges faced by early career investigators—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—aims to enhance both the quality and diversity of the future lines of cancer researchers. The combination of financial support, mentorship, and peer interaction is designed to reduce attrition rates commonly observed at this critical juncture and to bolster innovation that arises from diverse perspectives.
In a broader context, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation’s sustained investment of over $491 million since 1946 has supported nearly 4,100 scientists, fostering a research environment conducive to groundbreaking discoveries. This enduring commitment has been vindicated by the fact that thirteen Damon Runyon-supported scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize, underscoring the foundational impact of early-stage funding and mentorship on the trajectory of cancer research.
The scientific questions pursued by the 2025 SPARK Scholars exemplify the multifaceted nature of cancer biology today, spanning molecular oncology, hematopoiesis, neuro-oncology, and cancer metabolism. By underpinning these investigations with mentorship from established Damon Runyon Fellows and Clinical Investigators, the program integrates rigorous experimental design, critical thinking, and clinically relevant inquiry.
As cancer research continues to evolve, programs like SPARK serve not only to train the next generation of scientists but also to catalyze the translation of fundamental discoveries into therapeutic strategies. The integrative structure of the program, which includes data presentation at the annual Damon Runyon Fellows’ Retreat, enriches the scholars’ experience by immersing them in a vibrant network of thought leaders and innovators, fostering collaborations that may ultimately expedite developments in cancer treatment.
The commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive research culture is evidenced by the diverse personal backgrounds and research focuses of the SPARK Scholars, reflecting a microcosm of contemporary scientific enterprise. The connection between personal narratives and scientific motivation, as seen in the scholars’ profiles, underscores the human element driving cancer research forward.
Altogether, the Damon Runyon Scholars Program for Advancing Research and Knowledge represents a pivotal initiative dedicated to empowering young scientists to address one of the most pressing health challenges of our time. By investing in talent early and nurturing intellectual curiosity with robust scientific training and mentorship, the Foundation is helping to shape a future in which cancer’s complexities continue to be unraveled, and innovative treatments realized.
Subject of Research: Cancer biology, hematopoietic stem cell biology, molecular oncology, neuro-oncology, cancer metabolism, acute myeloid leukemia, triple-negative breast cancer.
Article Title: Damon Runyon Scholars Program Ignites Next Generation of Cancer Researchers with Mentorship and Cutting-Edge Investigations
News Publication Date: 2025
Web References: http://damonrunyon.org/
Keywords: Science education, Students, Minority students, Undergraduate education, Career advice, Scientific workforce, Minorities in science, Women in science, Young scientists
