Rising Tide and Kidney Cancer Association Award for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Kidney Cancer to Dr. Daniel Shapiro
The Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research (RTFCCR) and the Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) are proud to announce the awardee of the joint call for proposals for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Kidney Cancer.
Early detection is one of the greatest areas of unmet need in kidney cancer. As one of the leading cancers globally, over 400,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. However, unless it is caught incidentally, the disease is often in advanced stages when symptoms appear, leaving patients and doctors with fewer treatment options and significantly lower chances of survival. RTFCCR and KCA joined forces to support the development of better diagnostic and prognostic tools for kidney cancer.
Awarded project: Integrated Biomarker and Tumor Microenvironment Profiling to Improve Prognostication in Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma
Led by Dr. Daniel Shapiro, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, this validation study will be integrating blood-based biomarkers with clinical information into a multimodal risk model, to provide more precise, individualized estimates of recurrence risk after kidney surgery.
“Our goal is to study blood-based biomarkers together with features of the tumor immune microenvironment, to determine whether we can more accurately detect minimal residual disease and personalize treatment decisions after surgery. Ultimately, we hope this work will help move the field toward a more individualized approach: intensifying therapy for patients who need it most, while sparing lower-risk patients from unnecessary treatment and side effects. Support from RTFCCR and KCA allows us to pursue research directly focused on answering these questions. It provides critical resources to generate the kind of translational data needed to bring promising biomarkers closer to clinical use. I am deeply grateful for the confidence placed in our team, and I view this award as both an honor and a responsibility to conduct work that can ultimately improve the lives of patients with kidney cancer.”
Supporting Change Through Collaboration
“RTFCCR’s collaboration with KCA is a natural extension of the strong alignment between our foundations. Our shared commitment to patient-centered care, accelerating the next breakthrough, and addressing unmet clinical needs has brought us here. We are especially proud to support Dr. Shapiro’s project together” says Zoraide Granchi, PhD, senior scientific program manager of the Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research.
“Treatment options, survival rates, and quality of life are significantly better when kidney cancer is diagnosed early and treated appropriately,” said Dr. Salvo La Rosa, the KCA’s Chief Scientific Officer. “We’re thrilled to support Dr. Shapiro in this endeavor to uncover new methods and molecules for clinical use. This research could not only advance kidney cancer prevention but also help identify patients who may not need treatment, sparing them unnecessary side effects and improving their quality of life. RTFCCR is the perfect partner to share in this discovery process in the hope of improving lives for kidney cancer patients and families.”
About Rising Tide for Clinical Cancer Research
Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, the Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research (RTFCCR) is a charitable, non‑profit organization dedicated to advancing patient‑centered clinical cancer research. Its mission is to support innovative clinical trials that lead to less toxic therapies, earlier detection, and improved quality of life for cancer patients, with a strong focus on projects that address real patient needs and deliver meaningful impact on survival and well‑being.
Learn more at: https://www.risingtide-foundation.org
About the Kidney Cancer Association
The Kidney Cancer Association was founded in 1990 by Eugene P. Schonfeld and a small group of patients and doctors in Chicago, Illinois and has grown into an international non-profit organization. The KCA promotes scientific advances through two annual research symposiums and a robust grant program, participates in legislative advocacy, and seeks to be a source of education and resources for patients, caregivers, and anyone impacted by kidney cancer.
Learn more at www.kidneycancer.org.