Dean R. O'Neill Renal Cell Cancer Fund

The Dean R. O'Neill Renal Cell Cancer Research Fund's mission is to support renal cell cancer research at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland and awareness to the general public.

The Dean R. O'Neill Renal Cell Cancer Research Fund works with the National Institues of Health and the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute to research cures for renal cell carcinoma, commonly called kidney cancer. The fund sponsors a post doctural fellow to work with Dr. Richard Childs and his staff of doctors to explore treatments such as allogeneic stem cell transplants, vaccine therapy and drug treatments. Most common in males over age 40, renal cell cancer is on the rise in the United States. Nearly 30,000 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer each year, half of whom develop metastatic disease. Important genetic mechanisms that lead to the development of kidney cancer were discovered by scientists in the NHLBI's Hermatology lab that was supported by the Dean R. O'Neill Renal Cell Cancer Research Fund.