Editor's Note: Dr. Stern is the chair of the AUA Research Appropriations Committee (RAC). The mission of the RAC is to effectively champion for public, private, and philanthropic support of urologic research by energizing and synergizing with all stakeholders. Learn more about the RAC and how to get involved here. 

The US Congress has long recognized its responsibility to protect the health and well-being of our service members, veterans, and their families. One of the most impactful ways it has fulfilled this duty is through support of the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). The primary purpose of the CDMRP is to fund innovative medical research in areas specified by Congress, focusing on diseases and conditions that disproportionately impact our military service members, veterans, and their families.

The Kidney Cancer Research Program (KCRP) is 1 of 35 disease/condition-specific programs falling under the CDMRP umbrella. The program was established in 2017 and has become a lifeline for those facing one of the most lethal and underresearched cancers affecting the military community. Most recently—from fiscal years (FYs) 2021 through 2024—Congress funded the KCRP at $50 million annually before defunding the program entirely with passage and implementation of the FY 2025 continuing resolution last spring.

As Congress finalizes work on FY 2026 appropriations, it is imperative that funding to the KCRP is restored to at least the $15 million funding level approved by the US House of Representatives in their version of FY 2026 DOD appropriations legislation that passed the chamber in July.¹

Kidney Cancer: A Military Health Crisis

Kidney cancer, particularly renal cell carcinoma (RCC), has an outsized impact on the military community. Among veterans, kidney cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer, compared with seventh in the general population.² The prevalence and severity of RCC are alarming; it is one of the deadliest of all genitourinary tumors and disproportionately affects men—who make up > 80% of active duty military personnel.^3-5 This disparity is not coincidental. The link between military service and kidney cancer is well established, rooted in a combination of environmental, occupational, and lifestyle exposures that uniquely impact service members. These include toxic chemical exposure from contaminated drinking water, burn pits, firefighting foam, and higher rates of tobacco use.⁶

Toxic Exposure and the Role of Military Service

Multiple studies have confirmed that military environments expose service members and their families to a host of carcinogenic substances. Chemicals such as trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, found in drinking water on and around military bases and installations, have been directly tied to increased kidney cancer risk.

A stark example is Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, where, according to a 2014 report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Marines and their families experienced a 35% higher risk of developing kidney cancer compared with civilians.⁷

Similarly, exposure to burn pits and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—“forever chemicals” used in military-grade firefighting foam—is increasingly being linked to kidney cancer. This connection was formally acknowledged by Congress through The 2022 Promises to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act that expanded benefits for post-9/11 war veterans exposed to burn pits who developed various cancers, including kidney cancer.⁸ More recently, Congress passed The Aviator Cancer Examination Study that was signed into law in August 2025 and directs the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to formalize the evidentiary link between kidney cancer and other cancers from military aviation service.⁹

Unmet Medical Needs and Research Gaps

Despite established risks, kidney cancer remains dangerously underfunded and poorly understood. There are no effective tools for early detection. No validated methods exist to identify individuals at high risk of recurrence. Once the cancer spreads, there are no biomarkers to guide treatment decisions.

This is where the KCRP plays a critical role. Since its inception, the program has supported essential research to understand kidney cancer’s causes, develop new diagnostic approaches, and create innovative therapies.¹⁰ Dr Hyung Kim, chair of the department of urology at Cedar Sinai Medical Center and urologic oncologist, commented that “I saw firsthand how the CDMRP Kidney Cancer Research Program enables high-risk translational work that would not be possible otherwise. That investment directly accelerates discoveries toward patient impact, which is exactly why this program should be restored.”

Current KCRP-supported projects include the following:

• Preclinical research into renal medullary carcinoma pathogenesis and the role of exercise.
• AI Metrics, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence tool that enhances imaging analysis for kidney tumors.
• Studies on translocation RCC, a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer that primarily affects younger individuals.

These projects are not hypothetical—they are real, ongoing initiatives that could transform treatment and survival rates for service members and veterans with kidney cancer.

The Threat of Sustained Funding Cuts

Last spring, Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep the federal government open through the remainder of FY 2025. This measure reduced CDMRP funding by a staggering 57% from $1.5 billion to $650 million. In implementing this cut, Congress advised the DOD to eliminate funding for the KCRP entirely. Needless to say, to go from an enacted funding level of $50 million in FY 2024 to nothing in FY 2025 has caused untold disruptions in kidney cancer research and innovation. If KCRP funding is zeroed out again for FY 2026, the chances that the program will ever return will drop significantly.

A Call to Action for FY 2026

This is why the AUA—along with nearly 20 kidney cancer patient advocacy groups, researchers, clinicians, and other stakeholders—is calling on Congress to restore funding to the KCRP to at least $15 million in final enacted FY 2026 appropriations. This amount, consistent with the House-passed defense appropriations bill, is a modest but vital investment in the lives of service members, veterans, and military families.