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IBCG25 Annual Retreat
Written by Dr Roberto Contieri
The 3rd Annual International Bladder Cancer Group (IBCG) Retreat was held in Houston from August 21–23, 2025. This meeting once again demonstrated the prestige and unique role of the IBCG in shaping the future of bladder cancer research and care.
In his President’s Welcome, Dr. Ashish Kamat highlighted the spirit of collaboration, inclusiveness, and patient-centeredness that defines IBCG. Over two days, more than 100 leading clinicians, researchers, regulators, and patient advocates came together to tackle the most pressing challenges in bladder cancer.
The Retreat has become a cornerstone for the uro-oncology community. The depth of discussion, the focus on clinically meaningful outcomes, and the collegial atmosphere underscored its pivotal importance for both research and practice. One of the most striking aspects was the truly global nature of the gathering – with participants from over 25 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. The diversity of expertise and perspectives created a vibrant exchange of ideas and reinforced the IBCG’s mission to build a worldwide network of collaboration.
This year’s program centered on two major themes
Biomarkers in Urothelial Cancer
Advancing the integration of biomarkers into clinical workflows, from early detection to risk stratification, treatment selection, and surveillance, to enable more precise, personalized care.
Local Bladder Toxicity
Defining and measuring bladder specific toxicity across surgery, intravesical therapies, radiotherapy, and systemic treatments, with the goal of developing practical tools to monitor and reduce adverse effects.
Importantly, the in-person meeting was the culmination of months of preparatory work. Working groups drafted consensus statements that were then discussed, amended, and voted upon by all attendees during the Retreat to achieve consensus across both themes. Several proposals for new international collaborations also emerged – including multicenter studies to validate toxicity tools, harmonized approaches to biomarker testing, and global registries that will extend the reach of the IBCG’s work far beyond this single meeting.
The Retreat placed a strong emphasis on the patient voice, with active involvement of the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) and the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition (WBCPC). Their contributions ensured that scientific and clinical advances were grounded in what matters most – meaningful improvements in the lives of those living with bladder cancer. Dialogue with regulators from the FDA and EMA further enriched the meeting, opening new avenues for international collaboration.
The IBCG also recognized outstanding contributions within the community:
· IBCG Champion Award – presented to Dr. Joan Palou for his exceptional leadership and lasting impact on the field.
· IBCG Travel Award – awarded to Dr. Roberto Contieri, supporting the next generation of leaders in bladder cancer.
From a personal perspective, it was a true honor to receive the IBCG Travel Award in front of such a distinguished audience. This recognition, together with the enthusiasm and dedication of all IBCG members toward a shared mission, has been deeply inspiring and has further strengthened my motivation to pursue this path with even greater commitment. The IBCG Retreat is an exceptionally formative meeting for young urologists and researchers: it offered me the opportunity to engage directly with world-leading experts, to immerse myself in the latest evidence, and to participate in high-level discussions on the most pressing and forward-looking topics in the field. Beyond knowledge, it provided a vision of how our discipline is evolving and how international collaboration can truly accelerate progress. For me, it has been not only an educational milestone, but also a source of lasting inspiration to continue contributing to the future of bladder cancer research and care.
In conclusion, the IBCG2025 Retreat embodied the best of science and collaboration – rigorous debate, global participation, forward-looking projects, patient-centered focus, and enduring friendships. It reaffirmed the IBCG’s mission to unite experts and advocates worldwide in the pursuit of progress that truly benefits patients.