Physicians
(2013–present)
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
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.
Kidney Cancer Patient Laboratory Initiative – Pilot Funding
The Kidney Cancer Program (KCP) has received a $500,000 philanthropic award from the Pasarow Foundation to launch the Patient Laboratory—an effort to transform how we study and care for patients with kidney cancer.
Cancer research is at an inflection point. Advances in molecular profiling, spatial biology, single-cell analysis, digital pathology, proteomics, serial liquid biopsy, and artificial intelligence now enable unprecedented characterization of a patient’s cancer and treatment response. Yet these technologies largely remain in specialized labs offering limited benefit to patients. Our goal in the Kidney Cancer Patient Laboratory is for each patient to become a research laboratory bringing together providers and scientists into an unprecedented longitudinal patient-centered journey integrating discovery and care. Linking clinical presentation to in-depth understanding of disease biology and longitudinal treatment interventions with detailed analyses of their impact on the cancer ecosystem has the potential to revolutionize cancer research and treatment.
The vision is to deeply characterize individual patient tumors by bringing together the latest technologies. Multiple technologies will be applied simultaneously to the same patient specimens and linked to detailed clinical, imaging, pathological, and longitudinal outcome data. Investigators will become active members of multidisciplinary patient research and care teams, working alongside physicians. To date, 31 investigators have been incorporated.
By integrating mechanistic science with clinical decision-making, we hope to create a new research and patient care model—one in which discoveries emerge from the comprehensive study of individual patients and inform future patient care.
Second Call for Investigators
We are seeking additional participation from UT Southwestern faculty investigators. We invite basic and translational researchers with technologies or analytical approaches that complement existing approaches.
Faculty who would like to participate in multidisciplinary patient research and care discussions are also welcome even if they don’t have a technology to contribute.
Building on KCP Resources
This initiative will synergize with several key KCP resources:
- Kidney Cancer Explorer, a database integrating clinical and research data in real time.
- The SPARK collaboration with Regeneron, which includes whole-exome sequencing (WES) and RNAseq of our kidney cancer library (>3,000 primary tumors and metastases) with a planned expansion to include FFPE samples.
- A collaboration with Natera, enabling prospective collection and analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to monitor disease evolution, treatment response, and minimal residual disease over time.
- Our tumorgraft platform enabling functional studies and mechanistic investigation using patient-derived mouse models (>200 models).
- Other ongoing efforts in digital pathology and organoids.
Together, these complementary efforts create an unprecedented opportunity to understand kidney cancer across multiple scales—from tissue architecture and genomics to circulating biomarkers and functional modeling.
Investigators and Research Areas
A Unique Opportunity
This initiative offers a rare opportunity for basic/translational scientists to become directly engaged in patient-centered research alongside clinicians delivering patient care. Participating investigators will work closely with medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, computational scientists, and other investigators.
The project leadership team—Dr. James Brugarolas, Dr. Payal Kapur, and Dr. Vitaly Margulis—is available to discuss proposals with interested faculty.
We hope you will join us in building the Kidney Cancer Patient Laboratory.
Application and Pilot Funding
Investigators proposing a technology should submit a one-page application that includes:
- One to two paragraphs describing the proposed technology or analytical approach, the scientific questions it will address, and its contribution to the Patient Laboratory.
- A lean budget outlining anticipated per-patient and per-sample costs, with justification of reagents, assays, or technology-related expenses.
Funding is intended to support direct costs required to implement the proposed technology. Personnel costs should not be included. Samples will be provided to investigators free of charge along with histology services.
Eligibility: UT Southwestern faculty investigators
Application deadline: December 13, 2026
Submission: KCPDRA@utsouthwestern.edu
Faculty interested in participating without proposing a technology may contact the same address.
KCP Community Event Brings Patients, Families, and Experts Together
On September 20, 2026, the UT Southwestern Kidney Cancer Program (KCP) welcomed patients, families, clinicians, researchers, and supporters for an afternoon of learning and connection.
The program featured presentations, a case discussion, and breakout sessions that gave attendees opportunities to ask questions and engage with KCP experts. We also recognized the generosity and dedication of our patient advocates and donors before closing with a reception.
Feedback has been very positive, and we are grateful to everyone who attended, presented, volunteered, or helped make the event possible.
Presentation slides and select photos from the event are available below. Thank you for being part of our KCP community!
From Gene Discovery to Belzutifan, an FDA-Approved Drug – James Brugarolas
The Kidney Cancer Patient Lab – Payal Kapur
Circulating Tumor DNA Applications in Kidney Cancer – Vitaly Margulis
The Legacy Program: Immunology Research Through Tissue Donation – Tao Yue
Four Researchers Awarded Funding from SPORE for Innovative Kidney Cancer Research
The KCP has awarded four researchers with prestigious SPORE subawards to advance the field of 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. The selected researchers will explore a range of critical areas including cellular signaling pathways, epigenetics, tumor-stroma interactions, and more, with the goal of advancing understanding and treatment of kidney cancer.
Below are the four awardees along with the title of their proposals.
CEP Awardees:
“HIF2a inhibitor for the treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy”
“Novel renal cell carcinoma theranostics targeting kidney injury molecule-1”
DRP Awardees:
“Defining immune mechanisms of SETD2-mediated tumor control in sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma”
“In vivo CRISPR screen identifies novel suppresors of ccRCC in brain metastasis”
Updated Survival Statistics for Kidney Cancer Patients at UTSW
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.
Kidney Cancer Program Researchers Receive DOD Awards Totaling More Than $6M
UTSW kidney cancer drug shows promise against life-threatening hypercalcemia
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.
RCC Animal Model Workshop Unites Global Experts in Kidney Cancer Research
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.
Researchers Granted Subawards from SPORE!
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.
UTSW develops AI-driven system to streamline research data collection
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.
Study identifies new pathway tumors use to gain antioxidant protection
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.
Study reveals how biomolecular condensates drive kidney cancer
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.
AI model predicts kidney cancer therapy response
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.
Dr. James Brugarolas Awarded ~1.2 Million from CPRIT Grant
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.
Three UTSW Postdocs Receive Kidney Cancer Research Program Awards
- 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.
Ralph DeBerardinis Appointed as Director of the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development & the Center for Human Genetics
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 X to read more about his accomplishments.