Let's Get Loud:
Spring Advocacy Days
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On March 7-8, we will "head to the hill" to ask Congress to fund kidney cancer research. For our Spring Advocacy Days event, we have over 170 advocates representing more than 35 states. We're so proud of the patients, caregivers, doctors, researchers, family members, and friends who've stepped up to help our representatives understand the need for robust research funding.
What are we asking for? Here's our list:
- $60 million appropriation for KCRP for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) *
- $46.1 billion appropriation for the NIH or maintain FY22 levels **
- $3 billion appropriation for ARPA-H (the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Health) to support creation and/or standup
- Incorporate the patient perspective on legislative policy matters, particularly those that promote clinical trial development, including diversity in enrollment, and accelerate cures
- Support legislative initiatives that contribute to robust, sustainable funding for medical research
*In FY21, the Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) is designated currently under the CDMRP at $50 million.
**Subject to final FY22 levels, increase the NIH budget by $3.5 billion for FY23
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This event is a virtual event, and all meetings are conducted on Zoom. It's not too late to join us and speak up, too! |
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Inspiration and Education:
March Is Kidney Cancer Awareness Month
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During the month of March, we share information and stories to raise awareness of the impact of kidney cancer on our lives. It's an opportunity to educate others about kidney health and share resources to those currently living with kidney cancer. Be sure to check out our social media channels to catch these educational posts and hopeful stories. |
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Are you following us online? Tag @KidneyCAN
in your #kidneycancerawareness posts!
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Save the Date:
"Shared Decision Making:
Understanding your Immunotherapy Choices"
KidneyCAN Town Hall
April 26, 2022
Webinar via Zoom
5:00-6:00 pm EST
Plan to join us for the next Town Hall event in our 2022 series. This conversation will focus on immunotherapy for kidney cancer patients.
Our lineup of experts includes Dr. Hans Hammers from UTSW, Dr. Sumanta Pal from City of Hope, and Dr. Naomi Haas of UPenn discussing how they share the immunotherapy treatment decision with their patients.
How do these experts take your health, your kidney cancer subtype, and your preferences into account when they suggest options for your immunotherapy treatments? We also invited our panel to share new immunotherapy treatments in development and now being offered in clinical trials.
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Dr. Sumanta Pal
City of Hope
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Note: Registration for this event will open mid-March on the KidneyCAN website. |
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KidneyCAN Community Spotlight:
Tracy's Story: A Caregiver's Perspective
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For this month’s Community Spotlight, KidneyCAN spoke to Tracy, whose wife Julie is living with stage four kidney cancer. Tracy shares their experiences from a caregiver perspective, emphasizing the importance of patient advocacy, a second set of ears, and caregiver mental health.
Tracy's experiences will provide insights and hope for those of you caring for someone with kidney cancer. Be sure to check out her story, which includes helpful tips for caregivers, her reflections on moving to be closer to world-class care, and the things that keep her positive on hard days.
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CURE Magazine: The Educated Patient
Kidney Cancer Summit
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CURE invites patients, survivors and their caregivers to connect with kidney cancer experts and advocacy group speakers during the Educated Patient Kidney Cancer Summit, to be held on April 9, 2022.
Attendees will hear from chair Thomas Hutson, D.O., Pharm.D., F.A.C.P. of Texas Oncology, and other experts who will empower their journeys. The program begins at 11 AM ET, 8 AM PT. Participants will be able to interact online with fellow patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates and health care professionals. Learn more about the topics for discussion & register today!
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Research Update:
Progress on Biomarkers for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
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We are all waiting for kidney cancer biomarkers that can be integrated successfully into clinical practice.
Dr. Voss from MSKCC and Dr. Ged from Johns Hopkins discuss some of the novel emerging predictive biomarkers to immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Industry and academic trial centers are pooling data and working together to find ways to bring personalized medicine to kidney cancer.
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Research Update:
ASCO #GU22 Conference
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Your doctor may have attended the American Society of Clinical Oncologists' Genitourinary conference last week. At ASCO GU, a variety of research was shared that will be of interest to patients with kidney cancer.
For a patient-friendly summary of the research presented at ASCO GU, check out this writeup published by the International Kidney Cancer Coalition:
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Research Update:
Can a healthy and diverse gut biome improve responses to immunotherapy?
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The encouraging results from this small trial indicate this is an area worth pursuing with more research. |
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Kidney CAN is gearing up to promote kidney cancer awareness and advocate for research funding in March, which is nationally recognized as Kidney Cancer Awareness Month. Our grassroots army is responsible for increasing federal dollars appropriated to kidney cancer research by more than $135 million in the last six years.
Our mission is to accelerate cures for kidney cancer. We engage in patient advocacy and power research by supporting government and industry research funding, facilitating research collaborations, and offering direct financial support for clinical and laboratory researchers with promising ideas. Together, we can find the cure.
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Thank you for being part of our grassroots army! |
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KidneyCAN is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not receive any funding through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) or KCRP (Kidney Cancer Research Program). KidneyCAN's work is funded entirely through donations. |
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