WBCPC appoints new President as the Board expands

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition is thrilled to announce the appointment of Lori Funk-Cirefice as its new President, and the election of Alessandro Boni from Italy and Fiorella Gagliardi from Argentina as new members of the Board of Directors, all serving a term from 2025 to 2028.

Lori Funk-Cirefice, based in France, has been involved with the Coalition since its founding in 2019. She is the President of Cancer Vessie France, a national patient organization she became involved with following her husband’s bladder cancer diagnosis. With a strong focus on patient support, awareness, HTA and advocacy, Lori has served as Vice-President and Treasurer of the Coalition in the past and now takes on the role of President, bringing both personal and leadership experience to the position.

Alessandro Boni, a bladder cancer survivor from Florence, Italy, is an active member of WBCPC member PaLiNUro, where he supports patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and leads advocacy activities. With a background in human resources and innovation, Alessandro is also a certified patient expert and represents patients in regional and national networks. He joins the Board with a continued commitment to improving patient representation and care.

Fiorella Gagliardi, based in Argentina, is the President of VICARE GU, the only genitourinary cancer patient organisation in the country with a Latin American reach. A breast cancer survivor and strategic consultant, Fiorella combines her professional background with a passion for patient advocacy. She founded the Patient Platform, promoting information, connection, and support for those affected by cancer and works to amplify the patient voice across the region.

“We are proud to welcome Lori, Alessandro, and Fiorella into their new roles. Their diverse experiences and dedication to patient advocacy will strengthen our global work and help guide our focus in the years ahead.” – Alex Filicevas, Executive Director of the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition.

The enlargement of the Board to 9 members with the addition of Lori, Alessandro and Fiorella strengthens the World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition governance, highlighting the importance of patient-led advocacy in our work. Their personal experiences and commitment to supporting others and raising awareness are crucial to our mission of addressing the needs of those affected by bladder cancer around the world.