The mission of the Medical Research Program is to advance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human disease by strengthening and supporting clinical research.
Doris Duke was a significant supporter of medical research, making contributions to hospitals and research centers throughout her life. In her will, which guides our focus areas, she expressed her interest in supporting “medical research designed to effectuate cures of major diseases.”
Clinical research intersects patient care and science, allowing it to advantage basic and translational research to enhance human health and potentially reduce the burdens of illness for many. Strengthening the clinical research enterprise, including its workforce, will maximize innovations in medicine and ensure that the benefits of new insights into human health are shared equitably.
The Medical Research Program supports efforts that advance the translation of biomedical discoveries into applications that improve human health through the support of clinical research through the following awards.
The Medical Research Program primarily makes grants through peer-reviewed award programs and competitions, which are managed internally by DDCF and focus their support on the field of clinical research. The process starts with a request for applications (RFA) issued by the foundation. Applications received in response to an RFA undergo rigorous peer review by independent experts. While these grants often fund research conducted by individuals, the direct grant recipient is the associated institution or university.
View our latest funding opportunities and open competitions
