Kidney Cancer Program - UT Southwestern, Dallas, Texas

Kidney Cancer Program - UT Southwestern, Dallas, Texas
FDA Approves Belzutifan
FDA approval of Belzutifan for metastatic kidney cancer culminates 30 year journey from gene discovery to the clinic.
Award-Winning
NCI SPORE Award – Specialized Program of Research Excellence
Surgical Prowess
Clinical Trials
Changing patients' lives
Active Patients
Specialists
Collaborating
Physicians
Researchers
>$
Research Funding
(2013–present)
Fact Sheet
Kidney Cancer Report
Award-winning Research
From a first-in-class kidney cancer drug to the development of new surgical and radiation approaches, a uniquely collaborative environment catalyzes transformative research.
SPORE Award...
Recognized by the National Cancer Institute with a prestigious
Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) Award
along with the Harvard Cancer Center.
Innovation Award...
Recognized by
D CEO Magazine
and Dallas Innovates for its innovation and transformational creativity as a finalist for the inaugural
2020 Healthcare Innovation Award
Nobel Prize...
Bruce Beutler, M.D.
One of only two programs in the country developing the next generation of immunotherapies with a
Nobel Prize-winning immunologist
Expertise Improving Survival
Expertise attested by survival rates that exceed national averages stage for stage.
Improving Survival Rates...
Patient survival rates three times higher for stage 4 kidney cancer and
exceeding national benchmarks
across all stages.
Leaders in Clinical Excellence...
Recognized with a
Leaders in Clinical Excellence Program Award
, the Kidney Cancer Program is setting new standards in cancer care.
Belonging
Supportive care and services helping patients navigate the cancer landscape while creating a sense of community.
Advocates...
Dedicating their time and sharing their experiences, our patient and caregiver
volunteers
set the tone.
Community Outreach...
Promoting educational activities to
increase awareness
about kidney cancer.
Mar. 17, 2026
Updated Survival Statistics for Kidney Cancer Patients at UTSW
Updated Survival Statistics for Kidney Cancer Patients at UTSW
March 17, 2026
Research
Patient Care
Research
Announcement
Survival statistics for kidney cancer patients at UTSW determined by
SEER
database.
Survival curves for UTSW patients with kidney cancer, broken down by stage and compared to national outcomes [
SEER database
, 2010-2022].
For a simplified view of these statistics, visit our
Patient Resources
page.
Oct. 30, 2025
Kidney Cancer Program Researchers Receive DOD Awards Totaling More Than $6M
Kidney Cancer Program Researchers Receive DOD Awards Totaling More Than $6M
October 30, 2025
Research
Four faculty and three postdoctoral fellows received awards from the Department of Defense Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP), accounting for about 20 percent of the total amount of 2025 awards.
James Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D.
, a Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology and founding Director of the
Kidney Cancer Program
, received a $1.3 million grant to support his research into using next-generation mouse models that mimic human kidney cancer mutations to develop better treatments. In addition, the KCRP renewed its funding for the
Academy of Kidney Cancer Investigators
, an international academy for early-career faculty, including
Peter Ly, Ph.D.
, an Assistant Professor in the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern, and
Chen Yao, Ph.D.
, an Assistant Professor of Immunology, to develop successful research programs in kidney cancer, where Dr. Brugarolas serves as Deputy Director and Chair of its Advisory Board.
Thomas Carroll, Ph.D.
, a Professor in the Division of Nephrology and Director of Nephrology Basic Research, received a $1.2 million award to support his investigation of sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer, to find specific genes or proteins that affect immune response.
Jae Mo Park, Ph.D.
, an Associate Professor in the Advanced Imaging Research Center, received nearly $1.3 million to support his research using advanced imaging and biological markers to study how two key nutrients, glutamine and aspartate, interact inside kidney cancer cells.
Qing Zhang, Ph.D.
, a Professor in the Department of Pathology, received a $1 million grant to support his research into the NEK5 gene as a driver of kidney cancer growth.
In addition, postdoctoral fellowships were awarded to
Jun Fang, Ph.D.
, and
Tao “Dylan” Wang, Ph.D.
, in the
Zhang Lab
, and
Arijit Mal, Ph.D.
, in the
Brugarolas Lab
. ■
Dr. Brugarolas holds the Sherry Wigley Crow Cancer Research Endowed Chair in Honor of Robert Lewis Kirby, M.D.
Dr. Carroll holds the NCH Corporation Distinguished Chair in Molecular Transport.
Dr. Zhang holds the Komen Distinguished Chair in Basic Breast Cancer Research.
Oct. 13, 2025
UTSW kidney cancer drug shows promise against life-threatening hypercalcemia
UTSW kidney cancer drug shows promise against life-threatening hypercalcemia
October 13, 2025
Research
Discovery
Publications
Researchers at UT Southwestern, including James Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Kidney Cancer Program, report that HIF-2α inhibitors—such as belzutifan, developed at UTSW—may effectively treat hypercalcemia, a dangerous calcium imbalance caused by kidney tumors.
Published in
Cancer Discovery
, the study shows that blocking HIF-2α reduces production of the hormone PTHrP, which drives elevated blood calcium. In preclinical models and a patient case study, treatment with HIF-2α inhibitors rapidly normalized calcium levels without the side effects of standard therapies.
“These findings support testing HIF-2α inhibitors as a targeted approach for kidney cancer patients with hypercalcemia,” said Dr. Brugarolas.
Read the full UTSW press release
here
Sep. 15, 2025
RCC Animal Model Workshop Unites Global Experts in Kidney Cancer Research
RCC Animal Model Workshop Unites Global Experts in Kidney Cancer Research
September 15, 2025
Research
Events
Discovery
From September 11–13, 2025, the UT Southwestern Kidney Cancer Program, in partnership with the
Kidney Cancer Association (KCA)
, hosted the first-ever RCC Animal Model Workshop at UTSW.
The three-day event brought together leading researchers from around the world to share findings, discuss challenges, and collaborate on the future of animal models in kidney cancer—highlighting UTSW’s leadership and long-standing contributions to this field.
Five distinguished keynote speakers headlined the workshop: Nobel Laureates Dr. William Kaelin (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute) and Dr. Bruce Beutler (UTSW); Dr. Andrea Ballabio (TIGEM, Italy), recipient of the 2025 Beth Levine, M.D. Prize in Autophagy Research; Dr. Richard Flavell (Yale University); and Dr. W. Marston Linehan (National Cancer Institute). View the online program
here
Sessions led by experts from Harvard, Johns Hopkins, MD Anderson, and other leading institutions covered topics ranging from genetically engineered mouse models to organoid and humanized systems. Presentations, panel discussions, and a hands-on PDX workshop underscored the event’s goal of standardizing and advancing kidney cancer models through collaboration and innovation.
“This was an inspiring gathering of leaders in the field,” said Dr. James Brugarolas, Director of the UT Southwestern Kidney Cancer Program. “By sharing knowledge and building standards together, we’re moving closer to new therapies for patients.”
To hear more of Dr. Brugarolas’ reflections, visit the Kidney Cancer Association’s Twitter
here
Aug. 24, 2025
Researchers Granted Subawards from SPORE!
Researchers Granted Subawards from SPORE!
August 24, 2025
SPORE: CEP/DRP
Research
Discovery
The KCP has awarded 5 more researchers with subawards from the SPORE grant to advance kidney cancer research. This competitive program is part of the larger Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant and is designed to support innovative studies through two key initiatives: the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) and the Developmental Research Program (DRP). The CEP aims to bolster junior faculty and seasoned investigators transitioning into kidney cancer research, while the DRP funds high-risk, high-reward projects with significant translational potential.
Please join us in congratulating the following awardees and their groundbreaking projects:
Dr. Weibo Luo
DRP
“Screen Novel Therapies Targeting Fumarate Hydratase Mutant Renal Cancer”
Dr. Srinivas Malladi
DRP
“Patient Derived Organoid Models of Metastatic Kidney Cancer”
Dr. Keri Drake
CEP
“Uncovering Defects in Nephron Progenitor Differentiation Underlying Wilms Tumorigenesis”
Dr. Erdal
Toprak
CEP
“A Novel Non Invasive Platelet-Based Assay for Early Detection of Kidney Cancer”
Dr. Bingqing Xie
– CEP
“Characterization of the Intratumor Microbiome in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma”
We are excited to see the impact of these research efforts and the advancements they will bring in improving patient outcomes.
Jul. 28, 2025
UTSW develops AI-driven system to streamline research data collection
UTSW develops AI-driven system to streamline research data collection
July 28, 2025
Research
Discovery
AI-Data Science
Publications
UT Southwestern researchers, including members of the Kidney Cancer Program, have developed a powerful new artificial intelligence (AI) system that can extract information from complex medical records with near-perfect accuracy.
Published in
npj Digital Medicine
, the study—co-led by Payal Kapur, M.D., Professor of Pathology and Urology and Kidney Cancer Program Co-Leader, and James Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Kidney Cancer Program—demonstrates how AI can automate data extraction and standardization, dramatically reducing the time required to prepare research datasets.
The AI model achieved 99% accuracy in identifying tumor types and 97% in detecting metastasis across thousands of kidney cancer pathology reports. The approach, developed in collaboration with the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics, could help accelerate large-scale clinical research in kidney cancer and beyond.
Read the full UTSW news release ›
Jun. 15, 2025
Study identifies new pathway tumors use to gain antioxidant protection
Study identifies new pathway tumors use to gain antioxidant protection
June 15, 2025
Research
Discovery
Publications
Researchers at Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) discovered that tumors can draw in lipoproteins—and the antioxidant vitamin E they carry—through a unique pathway involving sugar-coated cell structures called
sulfated glycosaminoglycans
(GAGs). This mechanism helps cancer cells resist oxidative stress and survive.
Published in
Nature
, the study was led by Javier Garcia-Bermudez, Ph.D., with collaboration from the Kidney Cancer Program. Using patient-derived kidney tumors, the team confirmed that clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC) contain elevated GAG and vitamin E levels, and that blocking GAG production made tumors less aggressive.
“These findings suggest antioxidants play an important role in kidney cancer survival and identify a potential target for new therapies,” said James Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Kidney Cancer Program.
Read the full UTSW news release ›
Jun. 4, 2025
Study reveals how biomolecular condensates drive kidney cancer
Study reveals how biomolecular condensates drive kidney cancer
June 4, 2025
Research
Discovery
Publications
UT Southwestern researchers have uncovered how certain genetic fusions trigger an aggressive form of kidney cancer through the formation of
biomolecular condensates
—protein networks that alter gene expression and promote malignancy.
Published in
Cell
, the study was co-led by Benjamin Sabari, Ph.D., with contributions from James Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Kidney Cancer Program, whose team provided patient-derived samples for the research. The findings identify a shared molecular mechanism across diverse cancer-causing gene fusions and point to potential new therapeutic targets.
The discovery, made possible through samples maintained by the Kidney Cancer Program’s biorepository, could inform the development of treatments for translocation renal cell carcinoma and other cancers driven by similar mutations.
Read the full UTSW news release ›
Apr. 25, 2025
AI model predicts kidney cancer therapy response
AI model predicts kidney cancer therapy response
April 25, 2025
Research
AI-Data Science
Publications
A team led by UT Southwestern researchers, including Satwik Rajaram, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics and member of the Kidney Cancer Program, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that can predict which kidney cancer patients are most likely to benefit from anti-angiogenic therapy.
Published in
Nature Communications
, the study shows that AI can analyze standard histopathological slides to identify patients likely to respond to treatment—offering a faster, more accessible, and interpretable alternative to existing genetic tests.
Dr. Rajaram co-led the research with Payal Kapur, M.D., Professor of Pathology and Urology and co-leader of the Kidney Cancer Program. The approach could eventually help guide treatment decisions for kidney cancer and beyond.
Read the full UTSW news release ›
Mar. 18, 2025
Dr. James Brugarolas Awarded ~1.2 Million from CPRIT Grant
Dr. James Brugarolas Awarded ~1.2 Million from CPRIT Grant
March 18, 2025
Research
Research
Announcement
The Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) has awarded nearly $1.2 million to
Dr. James Brugarolas
, founding Director of the Kidney Cancer Program at UTSW. This funding will support his research into translocation renal cell carcinoma (tRCC), a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer that primarily affects children and young adults.
tRCC remains poorly understood due to its rarity, and a lack of suitable models has hindered progress in developing effective treatments. The
Brugarolas Lab
recently developed a mouse model that replicates the human disease, providing a critical tool for further study. With this CPRIT grant, they will conduct mechanistic studies using the UTSW transgenic mouse core, led by
Dr. Robert Hammer
, and collaborate with
Dr. Ben Sabari
to explore potential drug therapies.
This research could lead to key insights into tRCC biology and lay the foundation for new treatment strategies, offering hope for patients with this challenging disease.
Read more about the award
here
Mar. 18, 2025
Three UTSW Postdocs Receive Kidney Cancer Research Program Awards
Three UTSW Postdocs Receive Kidney Cancer Research Program Awards
March 18, 2025
Research
Research
Recognition
Announcement
Three outstanding UTSW postdoctoral researchers have been awarded the highly competitive
Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellowship Awards
from the
Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP)
under the
Department of Defense’s (DoD) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
Dr. Jun Fang
from Dr. Qing Zhang’s lab was recognized for her work on
HIF-2α regulation in ccRCC
. Her research focuses on
Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3)
and its role in controlling
HIF-2α through the JAK-STAT pathway
. Her findings could lead to alternative treatment options for patients resistant to current HIF-2α inhibitors like Belzutifan.
Dr. Arijit Mal
from Dr. James Brugarolas’ lab received funding for his research on
hypercalcemia in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC)
. His project aims to uncover how
HIF2α selectively regulates PTHrP
Dr. Tao “Dylan” Wang
, also from Dr. Zhang’s lab, received this funding for his research using
CRISPR screening to identify oncogenic enhancers in ccRCC
. His work highlights a novel
PLXNA1 gene enhancer
that drives tumor growth, with potential therapeutic implications for targeting ccRCC at the epigenetic level.
Congratulations
to Dr. Fang, Dr. Mal, and Dr. Wang (pictured in order of mention).
See more about the Zhang Lab awards
here.
Sep. 12, 2024
Ralph DeBerardinis Appointed as Director of the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development & the Center for Human Genetics
Ralph DeBerardinis Appointed as Director of the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development & the Center for Human Genetics
September 12, 2024
Pediatric
Patient Care
Spotlight
Recognition
Announcement
Effective September 1st, 2024, Ralph DeBerardinis, M.D., Ph.D., as the new Director of the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development and the Center for Human Genetics. Visit
Dr. DeBerardinis’ UTSW profile
and follow his lab on
to read more about his accomplishments.
Sep. 8, 2024
UTSW Hosts VHL Family Weekend with Expert Insights from Dr. Brugarolas
UTSW Hosts VHL Family Weekend with Expert Insights from Dr. Brugarolas
September 8, 2024
Events
Patient Support
Event
UT Southwestern hosted the 2024 VHL Family Weekend on September 7, bringing together families, patients, and experts for a day of connection, learning, and collaboration.
Dr. James Brugarolas participated in a panel discussion alongside other VHL specialists to discuss Belzutifan, the recently FDA-approved drug for treating renal cell carcinoma in VHL patients. The event also featured interactive workshops, expert presentations, and opportunities to connect with the VHL community.
Beyond the sessions, attendees enjoyed family-friendly activities and the chance to explore Dallas. The weekend highlighted UTSW’s ongoing commitment to advancing VHL research and patient care.
Sep. 3, 2024
Congratulations to UT Southwestern Kidney Cancer Researchers on CPRIT Awards!
Congratulations to UT Southwestern Kidney Cancer Researchers on CPRIT Awards!
September 3, 2024
Research
Fundamental Research
Discovery
Research
Recognition
Announcement
Five outstanding kidney cancer researchers at UT Southwestern have been recognized by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) with prestigious awards.
Please join us in congratulating the following awardees and their groundbreaking projects:
Dr. Kevin Courtney
Clinical Investigator Award
“Identifying and exploiting novel metabolic vulnerabilities in the treatment of kidney cancer”
Dr. Neil Desai
Clinical Investigator Award
“Adapting radiotherapy clinical trials to treatment response and artificial intelligence innovations”
Dr. Ralph DeBerardinis
Core Facility Award
“Children’s Research Institute Metabolomics Core: Advanced Methodologies in Cancer Metabolism”
Dr. Yang Xie
Core Facility Award
“Pediatric Cancer Data Core”
Dr. Ram Mani
High Impact/High Risk Research Award
“Mapping multivalent chromatin interactions to define the 3D genome of Clear cell renal cell carcinoma”
These awards underscore the importance of their innovative research, which is vital in advancing our understanding, prevention, and treatment of kidney cancer. The recognition from CPRIT not only honors their dedication and expertise but also provides crucial support for their continued contributions to the field.
We are excited to see the impact of these research efforts and the advancements they will bring in improving patient outcomes.
Aug. 25, 2024
DeBerardinis Lab’s Groundbreaking Research on Kidney Cancer Published in Nature Journal
DeBerardinis Lab’s Groundbreaking Research on Kidney Cancer Published in Nature Journal
August 25, 2024
Research
Fundamental Research
Discovery
Research
Publications
Announcement
Recognition
Congratulations to the DeBerardinis Lab on their recent publication in Nature, titled “Mitochondrial Complex I Promotes Kidney Cancer Metastasis.” Their work provides critical insights into how kidney cancer spreads.
The researchers conducted a study using tumors from over 80 kidney cancer patients to uncover how cancer cells utilize nutrients differently to generate energy and fuel their growth. They discovered that clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), a common type of kidney cancer, exhibits unique patterns in nutrient processing.
The study revealed that ccRCC metastases show distinct metabolic behavior compared to primary tumors, indicating that the cancer adapts its metabolism during its spread. In laboratory mice, the researchers found that altering certain metabolic processes in cancer cells could influence their ability to metastasize. This suggests that targeting these metabolic changes might offer new approaches to treating kidney cancer.
This significant work highlights the dynamic nature of cancer metabolism and opens doors to potential new treatments. Kudos to the DeBerardinis Lab for this groundbreaking research that brings us closer to a better understanding of kidney cancer.
Follow the DeBerardinis lab on X at
@RJDLab
, and read the Nature article
here
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