National Cancer Institute to Fund UVA Study on Improving Kidney Cancer Management

The University of Virginia’s School of Data Science is pleased to announce that proposed research from a team of University faculty members that aims to give doctors and patients better information on how to manage kidney cancer has been funded by the National Cancer Institute. 

Heman Shakeri, an assistant professor of data science, is serving as an investigator on the project, working in collaboration with a team of faculty members from the School of Medicine. The team is led by Dr. Jennifer Lobo, an associate professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences.

Kidney cancer is one of the most common forms of cancers in the United States, with two-thirds of patients diagnosed with localized renal masses, known as LRM, which are tumors confined to the kidney. 

There are currently several ways to manage LRM, but significant confusion exists around which approach is the best due to a lack of research in this area. For instance, current guidance is for kidneys to be maintained in patients who may have problems with kidney functions in the future, but accurately identifying these patients can be difficult. 

The project will develop a tool based on real-world data that will help doctors and patients understand the trade-offs of various treatment options. By collecting a variety of different types of information from patients, Shakeri and Lobo will be able to develop rules for management of LRM – allowing patients and doctors to engage in a collaborative, shared decision-making process when making critical treatment choices.  

The grant is for more than $1.6 million and runs through June 2027.