This month, we’re thrilled to introduce Melissa Derr, our new Program Director, who brings years of experience in patient support, fundraising, and legislative advocacy, as well as a passion for making an impact in the fight against kidney cancer. Through her work with the Andy Derr Foundation, an organization founded in honor of her father-in-law, and KidneyCAN, Melissa has been a powerful force in securing resources for patients, families, and researchers.
Melissa’s father-in-law, Andy Derr, was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2003. His passion for research, education, and advocacy led to the creation of the Andy Derr Foundation, which continues to fund critical kidney cancer initiatives today. Melissa is shown here with her husband, Brian, Andy, and her sister-in-law Megan Barkanic.
Melissa’s commitment to kidney cancer research and policy change is deeply personal. Her family’s experience has shaped her mission to push for better treatments, more funding, and a future where fewer families face this disease. Here she is with her husband (Brian) and daughter (Emmie), her mother-in-law, Joann Derr, her sister-in-law, Megan Barkanic, and her niece and nephew.
Melissa’s involvement in the kidney cancer community started with her father-in-law, Andy Derr, who was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2003 at just 42 years old. What began with routine urinary symptoms quickly escalated to an emergency room visit that revealed a 15-centimeter tumor on his right kidney. After surgery, Andy remained cancer-free for over a decade, continuing regular screenings and monitoring his health.
In 2014, eleven years after his initial diagnosis, a 4-centimeter, metastatic tumor was discovered in his lung. Andy and his family pursued every option, seeking second opinions from top experts and eventually enrolling in an immunotherapy clinical trial at Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute.
While the trial led to breakthroughs in kidney cancer treatment, Andy’s disease continued to progress, spreading to his lymph nodes, bones, and brain. Even as his condition worsened, he made the most of his time, traveling to Italy with his family and continuing to advocate for kidney cancer research. He passed away peacefully in January 2016, surrounded by his loved ones.
A legacy of love, strength, and advocacy: the Derr family knows firsthand the impact of kidney cancer. Their experience inspired them to turn grief into action, creating the Andy Derr Foundation to fund research, support patients, and advocate for a future without kidney cancer.
Melissa describes Andy as a brilliant problem solver, an engineer who approached kidney cancer like a complex equation: learning everything he could, analyzing the science, and seeking the best treatment options. Through this process, he saw firsthand how difficult it was for patients to access the right information and resources.
“Andy wanted to change that,” Melissa explained. He became a patient advocate, an active member of Smart Patients, and an ASCO patient representative. Even though he was randomized to the standard treatment arm of his clinical trial, he believed that his participation was crucial to advancing kidney cancer research—and he was right.
In 2016, Andy’s family and friends launched the Andy Derr Foundation (ADF) to continue his mission. Since its inception, ADF has raised and donated over $450,000 to support kidney cancer research, patient education, and advocacy efforts in the Greater Lehigh Valley.
“We know he’d be proud of the progress we’ve made,” Melissa shared, “but we also know he’d be asking, ‘What’s next?’ So we keep pushing forward, always looking for new ways to help and honor his legacy.”
Melissa’s passion for advocacy began long before she met Andy. Growing up, her family supported Dana-Farber’s blood component lab, donating platelets after her grandfather’s lymphoma diagnosis. But after Andy’s recurrence in 2014, Melissa’s advocacy took on a new urgency.
“It felt terrible to know someone I cared deeply for did not have many treatment options,” she recalled. In 2015, she ran the Boston Marathon to fundraise for Dana-Farber in Andy’s honor in the hopes that this contribution could move the needle, even just a little.
After Andy’s passing, Melissa continued her work with the Andy Derr Foundation, but she wanted to expand her impact. In 2021, ADF partnered with KidneyCAN’s Advocacy Days, and Melissa joined her first meetings with lawmakers.
“At first, I was nervous, but with each call, my confidence grew—so did my understanding of how crucial this work is.”
She quickly realized that advocacy could be her way to contribute to kidney cancer research in a tangible way. As she became more involved with KidneyCAN’s federal advocacy efforts, she saw firsthand how underfunded kidney cancer research is—and how much impact legislative action can have.
When the opportunity arose to join KidneyCAN as Program Director, she knew it was the right move.
“Each time I participated in an advocacy day, I left feeling accomplished but also wanting to do more.”
Now, as part of the KidneyCAN team, Melissa is dedicated to increasing research funding, empowering advocates, and pushing for policy changes that will improve patient outcomes.
Brian and Melissa, along with with their daughter Emmie, know the importance of making family memories today.
Congress controls the federal research budget, but they rely on constituents to highlight areas of need like kidney cancer, which remains significantly underfunded. Researchers are more likely to propose studies that align with available grants, meaning limited funding discourages bold, innovative research.
Melissa believes that advocacy is about education and persistence. “If we all push different agendas, our message gets diluted,” she explained. “Congress funds federal programs, so we need to advocate on a federal level with a unified voice. Aligning our priorities increases our chances of securing the funding needed to drive progress.”
Melissa has big hopes for the future of kidney cancer research. She believes a screening method for early detection would be a game-changer, as kidney cancer is often diagnosed late or by accident. While treatment options have expanded in recent years, many patients still face the harsh reality that their current therapy will eventually stop working.
“Until we find a cure, ensuring there’s always a next-line treatment available is critical,” Melissa said. “Continued funding and research will help make that a reality.”
When Andy passed away in 2016, there were zero dedicated federal dollars for kidney cancer research. Today, thanks to advocacy, there is a kidney cancer research program with real funding, and new treatments are giving patients more time. Melissa’s work—alongside that of countless advocates and researchers—is ensuring that this momentum doesn’t stop.
Melissa encourages anyone who wants to make a difference to start with KidneyCAN’s Advocacy Days—whether in person or virtually.
“Just start. Join a call. Share your story. Every voice matters.”
If you’d like to join the fight for kidney cancer research funding, get involved with KidneyCAN’s advocacy efforts today.
Thank you to Melissa for sharing her story, and welcome to the team! And thank you to the Andy Derr Foundation for their continued partnership in our mission to accelerate cures for kidney cancer.
