Congress passed, and on May 5, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations ACT for Fiscal Year 2017, which includes a $10 million line item for kidney cancer research under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). This represents the largest increase ever in the federal budget for kidney cancer research.

Kidney cancer strikes 64,000 Americans each year, and over 14,400 succumb to the disease. The $10 million will provide a shot in the arm to find a cure for this disease, research for which has been perennially underfunded as compared to other cancers.

Dr. James Brugarolas, head of the Kidney Cancer Program at the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) said; “This $10 million appropriation represents a landmark commitment by the federal government to invest in kidney cancer research and seek a cure for this disease.”

ACKC has been advocating for 13 years for increased funding for kidney cancer research, and we want to thank everyone who helped us with our campaigns to urge Congress to pass this legislation, which we expect will lead to a major boost in research leading to early detection and a cure for this disease.

We also want to thank our Congressional supporters: Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), former Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY), and especially Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) who was instrumental in getting the $10 million in the bill for this year.

Kidney cancer survivors and caregivers who want to help us with secure $10 million for the next fiscal year and help us get the word out to cancer researchers about the availability of this new funding source, please sign up as an advocate at http://www.ackc.org/advocacy/become-an-advocate.

ACKC meets with Congresswoman Nita Lowey in her local office.