Introducing WBCPC Scientific Advisory Board

The World Bladder Cancer Patient Coalition is proud to announce the launch of its first Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) a significant step forward in our efforts to ensure all our work is grounded in the latest medicaland scientific expertise and the real needs of people affected by bladder cancer.

Comprised of leading urologists, oncologists, radiotherapists, researchers, pathologists, nurses, and other medical professionals from around the world, the SAB will provide independent advice to the WBCPC Board of Directors and senior leadership. This new body will guide the scientific accuracy of our patient information, support global awareness initiatives, and help connect our community with the broader healthcare field.

The Scientific Advisory Board is chaired by Dr. Ashish Kamat, a globally recognised leader in bladder cancer care and research. His leadership reflects a deep commitment to advancing person-centred care and ensuring that the voices of patients remain at the heart of scientific progress.

We are happy to welcome the following members as the first cohort of the WBCPC Scientific Advisory Board:

• Ashish Kamat (Chair)– Endowed Professor of Urologic Oncology (Surgery) and Cancer Research, and Director of the Bladder Cancer Support Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, United States
• Bente Thoft Jensen– Clinical Nurse Specialist and Assistant Professor at the Department of Urology, Aarhus University Hospital, and the Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Denmark
• Eva Maria Compérat– Professor of Urologic Pathology at the Medical University of Vienna and Head of the Department of Pathology at the Hôpital Tenon, Sorbonne University, Paris
• Fernando Maluf– Director of Medical Oncology at Beneficência Portuguesa and member of the steering committee of the Medical Oncology Centre at Albert Einstein Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil
• Jeremy Teoh– Associate Professor and Assistant Dean (External Affairs) at the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Karima Oualla– Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at the University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah and the genitourinary (GU) cancer referent at Hassan II University Hospital in Fez, Morocco
• Makarand Khochikar– Globally recognised urologic oncologist with over 30 years of experience. Trained in Mumbai and Nadiyad (1989–1992), with further specialisation in London and Cambridge (1993–1998), India
• Mario I. Fernández– Associate Professor in the Department of Urology at the Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
• Molly Ingersoll– Immunologist and researcher; received her PhD from NYU School of Medicine, where she studied host–pathogen interactions with Arturo Zychlinsky at NYU and the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin, Germany
• Patrick Hensley– Assistant Professor in the Departments of Urology and Pathology at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, United States
• Patrick Thomas– Affiliate Research Fellow within the Queensland Bladder Cancer Initiative (QBCI) at Queensland University of Technology, Australia
• Rikiya Taoka– Associate Professor in the Department of Urology at Kagawa University, Japan
• Saad Aldousari– Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Sabah Al-Ahmad Urology Center (SAUC), a tertiary referral centre for adult and paediatric urology patients, Kuwait
• Shilpa Gupta – Director of Genitourinary Medical Oncology at the Taussig Cancer Institute and Co-Leader of the Genitourinary Oncology Program at the Cleveland Clinic, United States
• Ananya Choudhury– Chair of Clinical Oncology and Clinical Lead for Advanced Radiotherapy within the Division of Cancer Sciences at the University of Manchester, and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology at The Christie NHS Trust, United Kingdom
• Shingai Mutambirwa– Head of the Department of Urology at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in Pretoria, South Africa

This new initiative marks an important next step for the Coalition as we continue to expand our work in advocacy, education, and global collaboration. The SAB will play a central role in ensuring our materials are scientifically accurate, patient-focused, and aligned with current best practices in bladder cancer care.

We are grateful to all members for joining this important effort and look forward to working together to improve outcomes and experiences for people affected by bladder cancer worldwide.