Dr. Kathryn Hacker Gessner recently served as a plenary speaker at the 41st Annual European Association of Urology Congress, one of the largest and most influential gatherings of urologists and researchers in the world.
Held from March 13–16, 2026 at ExCeL London, the congress brought together specialists from around the globe to examine emerging research, evolving clinical practices, and innovations shaping the future of urologic care.
Addressing the Future of Bladder Cancer Treatment
The session explored the rapidly changing landscape of bladder cancer management, including treatment strategies for BCG-naïve and BCG-unresponsive non–muscle invasive bladder cancer, real-world approaches to bladder-sparing strategies for muscle-invasive disease, and the growing role of biomarker-driven treatment decisions.
Speakers also examined how novel systemic and intravesical therapies, treatment deintensification strategies, and emerging genomic tools such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) are helping guide more personalized care.
Centering the Patient Perspective
During the session, Dr. Gessner presented a talk titled “How do cystectomy and bladder sparing compare when we ask patients?” Her presentation focused on understanding treatment decisions through the patient perspective—an increasingly important dimension of modern cancer care as clinicians weigh multiple treatment pathways.
Following her presentation, Dr. Gessner also participated in the plenary panel discussion with fellow international experts addressing integrated treatment strategies for urothelial cancer.
Proud to have 🤩🤩 local hero @kategessner_uro sharing this important work at #EAU26 https://t.co/pzGFFn7bol
— Matt Nielsen, MD (@m_e_nielsen) March 14, 2026
Advancing Translational Research in Genitourinary Cancers
At UNC Urology, Dr. Gessner specializes in the care of patients with genitourinary cancers while leading a translational research laboratory focused on improving treatment decisions through genomic and mechanistic analyses. Her research examines alterations within bladder and kidney tumors and their surrounding cellular environment, helping clinicians better understand how tumor biology can guide individualized treatment strategies.
With a growing number of therapeutic options available for patients with urologic cancers, Dr. Gessner’s work centers on identifying treatment approaches that optimize both cancer outcomes and the personal goals of each patient. By integrating genomic insights with clinical decision-making, her research aims to refine how therapies are selected and sequenced for patients facing complex treatment choices.
As global experts gather at events like the annual EAU Congress to evaluate new research and evolving treatment strategies, contributions from UNC clinicians and scientists continue to shape conversations that influence patient care around the world.