Kidney Cancer Journal 67
A N N O U N C E M E N T S
Inaugural RCC ‘Think Tank’ Could Refocus
Kidney Cancer Research
The Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) is launching “Think Tank:
Coalition for a Cure” at this year’s International Kidney Cancer
Symposium (IKCS). This first-of-its-kind event will be a unique
opportunity for the experts and advocates who gather from
across the globe to learn from one another and discuss the
complexities of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Two of the KCA’s Medical Steering Committee members,
Bradley Leibovich, MD, and Brian I. Rini, MD, will moderate the
Think Tank, which takes place on November 14, the evening
before the IKCS begins.
Key goals for the discussion include:
• Identification of the most current and important questions
regarding advances and new approaches that could potentially
change the treatments and outcomes for current RCC
patients.
• Identification of the greatest unmet needs in kidney cancer
research to help all within the RCC space eliminate overlaps
in funding efforts.
Participants represent prominent experts from a range
of RCC-related (and unrelated) disciplines including clinical,
computational sciences, patient advocacy, pharmaceutical
research and development, cancer research, and genetics.
They will share their knowledge, ideas, and vision about the
realities and possibilities of the next big breakthroughs in
kidney cancer care and research.
The KCA has consistently brought important stakeholders
together to share information about kidney cancer, define
goals, and set the research agenda for the field through collaborative
discussions like the IKCS as well as the 2011 Kidney
Cancer Research Summit: a Symposium for Young Investigators.
Think Tank participants were notified several months
in advance of the meeting and provided with questions to
create a framework for guiding the conversation and initiating
momentum for the exercise.
“At the conclusion of the session, we envision being able
to formulate key takeaways to be shared with the entire renal
cancer community,” said Dr Rini. “This inaugural Think Tank is
poised to be just the first highlight of another successful and
purposeful IKCS experience.”
Kidney Cancer Association Announces
Recipients of $1.3 Million in Research Grants
Earlier this year, the Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) announced
a meaningful increase in funding of their Young Investigator
Award, alongside the news of a new grant opportunity,
the Advanced Discovery Award (ADA). Following an in-depth
application and review process, the KCA is pleased to reveal
the recipients of these grants.
“The KCA was delighted by the high caliber of proposals
received for both awards and are hopeful that this research
will advance the medical community’s understanding of
kidney cancer,” said Christopher Wood, MD, Chair of the KCA’s
Board of Directors. “We are committed to making a substantive
impact in the lives of patients with kidney cancer and look
forward to seeing the groundbreaking proposals for the YIA
and ADA each year.”
The YIA seeks to encourage promising researchers in
urology and clinical oncology who are planning to pursue an
investigative career in kidney cancer. The ADA is structured
to promote collaboration between a clinician including a urologic
oncologist, medical oncologist or radiation oncologist
and a Ph.D. to propose new research that will make an
immediate impact in the field of kidney cancer.This year,
two $500,000 ADA grants were awarded in the ADAs, while
YIA funding increased from two grants worth $50,000 to
four grants worth $75,000.
“It is exciting that we are simultaneously announcing our
YIA recipients, a program which has long been a part of the
KCA’s efforts, while at the same time introducing our inaugural
class of ADA recipients,” said Gretchen Vaughan, CEO of the
KCA. “We are proud of all our recipients and eager to see
where their research may lead in our mission to
conquer kidney cancer.”
Advanced Discovery Award (ADA) Recipients:
Research Team:
Kathleen M. Mahoney, MD, PhD -
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,
Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center
Gordon J. Freeman, PhD - Dana-Farber
Cancer Institute
Rupal S. Bhatt, MD, PhD - Beth Israel-Deaconess
Medical Center
HHLA2/KIR3DL3 as a novel therapeutic immune
checkpoint pathway in renal cancer
This research team will explore a novel immune
checkpoint pathway that is similar to, but non-overlapping
with, the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, which has
been the key driver of advances in immunotherapy
that led to much improved outcomes for many
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Kidney Cancer Advocacy Days in Washington DC
The Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) will partner with
KidneyCAN and other kidney cancer advocacy groups for
Kidney Cancer Community Advocacy Days in Washington
DC on October 21-22, 2019.
Uniting under the theme “One Voice, One Message for
One Disease,” advocates representing the KCA will attend
training sessions, Advocacy Days events, and discuss what
is needed for advancements in diagnostic capabilities,
prevention efforts, treatments, patient care and, ultimately,
a cure. The KCA invites interested individuals to join the
event. Please contact Debra Beyhan at abeyhan@comcast.
net or 440-663-4456 for schedule details and information
on how to register. Participants who register through
the KCA will receive up to $500 reimbursement for travel
expenses.