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Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund For Medical Research

Annual Giving
$3.2M
Grant Range
$216K - $0.2M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
8%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $3.2 million
  • Success Rate: Approximately 8% (29 awards from 350+ applications)
  • Decision Time: 15 weeks (notification in mid-May)
  • Grant Range: $70,000 - $76,000 per year (total fellowship value: $216,000-$222,000 over 3 years)
  • Geographic Focus: International (primarily North America, Europe, Japan, Australia)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.jccfund.org/
Email: jccfund@yale.edu
Location: Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT

Applications submitted via Temelio platform (opens October 1 annually)

Overview

The Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research was established in 1937 by the Childs Family to honor Jane Coffin Childs, who died of cancer in 1936. With total assets of $57.2 million and annual giving of $3.2 million, the Fund has evolved from its original focus on cancer research to support fundamental scientific research that advances understanding of the causes, treatments, and cures for human disease. The Fund supports 25-30 new three-year postdoctoral fellowships annually, selected from over 350 applications by a distinguished Board of Scientific Advisors that includes 17 Nobel Prize recipients. Over 1,800 Jane Coffin Childs Fellows have been supported since the fellowship program launched in 1944. Recent cohorts have seen record applicant pools, with 2025 representing the largest in the Fund's history. The JCC Fellowship is regarded as one of the most prestigious postdoctoral fellowships in the US.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Postdoctoral Fellowships: Three-year fellowships supporting fundamental biomedical research

  • Year 1: $72,000 stipend
  • Year 2: $74,000 stipend
  • Year 3: $76,000 stipend
  • Research allowance: $2,000 annually
  • Travel allowance: $1,800 total for three years
  • Dependent support: Additional $1,000 annually per child under 18
  • Relocation costs: Provided at onset of award

Application Method: Annual deadline (February 2) via online Temelio portal

Number of Awards: 25-30 new fellowships annually, funded by the JCC endowment and corporate/nonprofit partners including Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Hope Funds for Cancer Research, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Johnson & Johnson, Select Equity Group Foundation, and Merck Research Laboratories

Priority Areas

  • Cancer biology and treatment research
  • Fundamental biomedical research addressing human disease
  • Research on neurodegeneration
  • Autoimmune disease research
  • Innovative approaches across all areas of biology

The Fund's mission has broadened from its original cancer focus to embrace "fundamental scientific research that advances understanding of the causes, treatments, and cures for human disease."

What They Don't Fund

  • Proposals in the same laboratory where the applicant received their Ph.D. (explicitly prohibited)
  • Applicants with more than 12 months of postdoctoral experience
  • Applicants who have accepted another postdoctoral fellowship award
  • Non-U.S. citizens working outside the United States
  • Research grants to institutions (fellowships only)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Scientific Advisors

Chair: Sue Biggins, Ph.D., HHMI Investigator and Director of the Basic Sciences Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (former JCC Fellow)

The Board of Scientific Advisors has 12 members and includes 17 Nobel Prize recipients among current and former members. The BSA evaluates all applications and selects fellows.

Quote from Sue Biggins (2025): "It is an incredibly difficult time for science in the US and postdoctoral fellows are at a very vulnerable career stage. This support from the Jane Coffin Childs Fund comes at a critical moment for these researchers who have already demonstrated that they are outstanding scientists. Our experience has demonstrated that support from the JCC Fund will catalyze the careers of our fellows and lead to major scientific breakthroughs."

Board of Managers

Primarily composed of Childs family members, the self-perpetuating Board of Managers is responsible for administration and management of the Fund. The President of Yale University serves as an ex-officio member.

Executive Leadership

Executive Director: Anita Pepper, Ph.D.

Quote from Dr. Pepper (2025): "Our goal remains laser-focused: to advance science and those working tirelessly to pursue it."

On partnerships (2025): "When visionary organizations come together, the impact is exponential. This partnership exemplifies the power of collaborative philanthropy—amplifying bold ideas, accelerating scientific discovery, and empowering the next generation of leaders to transform cancer research."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Opens: October 1 at 12:00 PM (noon) EST
Application Deadline: February 2 at 3:00 PM EST
Platform: Temelio online application portal (https://application.jccfund.org/)

Required Materials:

  • Completed application form with research proposal
  • Three referee letters from qualified individuals who can evaluate applicant's qualifications and potential for successful independent biomedical research
  • Commitment from sponsoring laboratory and institution
  • Evidence of Ph.D. or M.D. degree (or equivalent training)

Important Notes:

  • Co-advisors/advisors cannot serve as referee writers
  • Applicants may have one primary advisor and one optional co-advisor
  • No feedback is provided on unsuccessful applications

Decision Timeline

Notification: Mid-May via email (approximately 15 weeks after deadline)
Total Timeline: Application opens October 1 → Deadline February 2 → Decisions announced mid-May

Success Rates

Based on recent data:

  • Applications received annually: Over 350
  • Awards made: 25-30 fellowships
  • Estimated success rate: ~8% (29 awards from 350+ applications in 2025)
  • 2024 cohort: 26 fellows selected from "one of the largest applicant pools in history"
  • 2025 cohort: 29 fellows selected from "the largest applicant pool in the fund's history"

Reapplication Policy

The Fund does not explicitly state reapplication restrictions in public materials. Applicants seeking clarification should contact jccfund@yale.edu.

Application Success Factors

Eligibility Requirements (Critical)

Degree Timeline Restrictions:

  • Ph.D. degree must not have been conferred more than 24 months prior to application deadline
  • M.D. degree must not have been conferred more than three years prior to application deadline
  • Postdoctoral experience must not exceed 12 months at application deadline
  • Cannot have accepted another postdoctoral fellowship award

Institution/Laboratory Restrictions:

  • CANNOT propose research in the same laboratory where Ph.D. was earned (automatic disqualification)
  • Postdoctoral training in the same institution as Ph.D. "is not preferred, particularly if it is in the same department"

Citizenship/Location:

  • Foreign nationals must work in U.S. institutions
  • U.S. citizens may work domestically or internationally

Selection Criteria

According to the Fund, fellows are selected based on:

  1. Doctoral research accomplishments
  2. Innovative research plans
  3. Quality of chosen scientific mentors

Competitive Factors

The BSA evaluates applications looking for researchers who demonstrate:

  • Outstanding scientific potential
  • Important contributions during graduate school
  • Exciting new research directions for postdoctoral work
  • Innovative approaches spanning all areas of biology

Advice for Applicants

From a successful fellow: "Sometimes we decide not to compete for grants because we know that so many other people are applying. For beginning researchers, it's important to try."

Strategic Considerations:

  • Only one fellow per sponsor per year is permitted
  • Maximum of two JCC Fellows in a laboratory at any time
  • Strong letters of recommendation from qualified evaluators are critical
  • The research proposal should represent a new direction from doctoral work

Post-Award Requirements

  • Attendance at annual JCC symposium is mandatory for all three years (expenses covered)
  • Annual fiscal and narrative reports required for continued funding
  • The $2,000 research allowance cannot be used for travel but may cover health insurance
  • No indirect costs paid to sponsoring institutions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Timing is everything: Strict eligibility windows based on degree conferral date and postdoctoral experience make this a narrow opportunity window for early-career researchers
  • Change laboratories: Proposing research in the same lab as your Ph.D. results in automatic rejection; institutional change is strongly preferred
  • Highly competitive: With ~8% success rate and the most prestigious postdoctoral fellowship in biomedical research, applications must be exceptional
  • Mentorship matters: Quality of chosen scientific mentor is one of three primary selection criteria—choose and justify carefully
  • Innovation required: The BSA values "exciting new directions" and "innovative approaches," not incremental extensions of doctoral work
  • Apply despite long odds: As one successful fellow noted, it's important for beginning researchers to try even when competition is fierce
  • Network of excellence: Joining over 1,800 former fellows, including 17 Nobel Prize recipients among BSA members, represents extraordinary career value beyond funding

References

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