The Helen Hay Whitney Foundation is a New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 based charitable foundation which supports early postdoctoral research

Postdoctoral researcher

Postdoctoral research is scholarly research conducted by a person who has recently completed doctoral studies, normally within the previous five years. It is intended to further deepen expertise in a specialist subject, including acquiring novel skills and methods...

 training in all basic biomedical sciences

Biomedical scientist

A biomedical scientist is a scientist trained in biology, particularly in the context of medicine...

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The foundation was established in 1943 by Joan Whitney Payson

Joan Whitney Payson

Joan Whitney Payson was an American heiress, businesswoman, philanthropist, patron of the arts and art collector, and a member of the prominent Whitney family...

 in cooperation with the estate planning of her mother, Helen Hay Whitney

Helen Hay Whitney

Helen Julia Hay Whitney was an American poet, writer, racehorse owner/breeder, socialite, and philanthropist. She was a member by marriage of the prominent Whitney family of New York.-Biography:...

(1875-1944). Many of North America's leading scientists and medical researchers were supported in the early stages of their career by the Whitney Foundation.