This month’s newsletter is packed with updates from the KidneyCAN community. We’re sharing highlights from KCRS25 in Boston, details on how to join Fall Advocacy Days, the latest on the fight to restore federal research funding, and more. Together, we are building momentum for research, advocacy, and cures.

On Tuesday, September 23rd, KidneyCAN advocates will join virtually to meet with lawmakers and urge Congress to restore kidney cancer research funding. This year’s advocacy is especially urgent after Congress eliminated the Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) from the FY25 budget, leaving patients without vital resources for progress.

Whether you are a patient, survivor, caregiver, or researcher, your voice matters.

KidneyCAN provides Advocacy 101 training, schedules your meetings, and equips you with talking points and leave-behind materials so you feel confident sharing your story with legislators.

Register today for the virtual event and make sure your voice is heard!

Please note: The in-person day on September 22nd is at capacity, and registration is now closed.

On July 17–18, more than 300 attendees gathered in Boston for the 7th Annual Kidney Cancer Research Summit. Over two days, researchers, clinicians, industry partners, patients, and advocates shared discoveries, debated new ideas, and built collaborations to accelerate cures.

KCRS25 was our largest summit yet, with more than 65 speakers and presenters covering everything from rare subtypes and immunotherapy to early detection and quality of life research. The energy in the room made it clear: progress in kidney cancer research is only possible when the entire community comes together.

Couldn’t be there in person? All KCRS25 session videos and slides are now live on our website. Dive into the latest science, revisit your favorite talks, and explore the ideas shaping the future of kidney cancer research.

As we prepare for Fall Advocacy Days, here’s a quick update on where things stand in Washington:

H.R. 3906 – Medical Research for Our Troops Act

Introduced in June, this bill would amend the FY25 budget to restore Defense Health Agency research funding (including the CDMRP) to FY24 levels. While it currently has 32 Democratic cosponsors, no action has been taken, and it is unlikely to advance in this Congress.

House Appropriations Bill

The House has begun marking up its 12 appropriations bills, including the defense appropriations bill with $15 million proposed for the Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP). This is a significant step in the right direction. Having a line item gives us a foundation to build on, and it’s always easier to increase funding from a starting point than to restore it from zero.

Senate Strategy

Our goal is to secure a dedicated Senate line item for kidney cancer research in the appropriations bill. The FY25 Continuing Resolution passage removed programs in the CDMRP that did not have a Senate line item, including the KCRP. Securing a Senate line item may help ensure that kidney cancer research funding cannot be reduced to zero in future years.

Our ASKs for FY26

This year, the kidney cancer community is requesting Congress to:

• Appropriate $15 million for the KCRP, or the highest possible funding
• Provide $51.3 billion for the NIH, including $7.9 billion for the NCI
• Restore robust and sustained medical research funding to power innovation, support jobs, protect America’s health, and strengthen national security
• Enact a permanent nationwide solution for telehealth services

This summer, our community came together in incredible ways to raise funds for kidney cancer research.

• Rock the Run 5K: Advocates and researchers hit the streets of Boston and hometowns across the country, raising more than $21,000 to accelerate cures.

• Walk for Jeff: In memory of Jeffrey Sterne, his family and friends rallied once again, bringing in nearly $50,000 over the past 2 years to honor Jeff’s legacy and fuel research progress. You can join their efforts by making a gift to Walk for Jeff and help carry Jeff’s legacy forward.

This fall, we invite you to be part of ongoing fundraising efforts, or create a fundraiser of your own to raise support for kidney cancer research.

• Steps for Phyllis: In 2024, Lenny Chandler and his supporters walked over 4 million steps raising an inspiring $10,682 in honor of Phyllis Chandler. This month, they’re lacing up again with hopes of matching – or surpassing – that incredible goal. If you’d like to be part of this meaningful tribute, we invite you to join Lenny’s team, register today, and add your steps to this annual event.

Thank you to everyone who participates, donates, and shares these events. Each step, each story, and each gift moves us closer to new treatments and cures. Together, we’re making a difference.

Want to get involved? Explore ways to give or start your own fundraiser to support KidneyCAN below.

AVEO Oncology, an LG Chem company, recently launched a Facebook group for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma and their caregivers. Please note this is a product-specific forum for patients to connect and engage with each other, share their experiences, and gain helpful tips and information.

You can learn more about the Facebook group at the link below!

Get ready for Ohio’s largest kidney cancer event! The second annual Climb Cleveland 4 Kidney Cancer will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 9:00 am–1:00 pm at the Wolstein Center.

Participants will climb the stadium stairs in a powerful show of strength and solidarity, honoring patients and families while raising funds for kidney cancer research. Register now and be part of this incredible event!

Are you following KidneyCAN online? Tag @KidneyCAN

in your #kidneycancer posts!

Did you know?

According to the IKCC's 2025 Global Patient Survey, sixty-two percent of kidney cancer patients have never been asked to participate in a clinical trial.

Stay informed! Find information and help at our Patient Resource Center.

Our mission is to accelerate cures for kidney cancer. We engage in patient advocacy and power research by supporting government and industry research funding and facilitating research collaborations. Much of our work is funded by grassroots donors from all over the United States. We can't do this without your support.

KidneyCAN is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not receive any funding through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) or KCRP (Kidney Cancer Research Program). KidneyCAN's work is funded entirely through donations and contributions.