The Society for Basic Urologic Research (SBUR) is pleased to announce the 2023 SBUR Spring Meeting with our AUA affiliates. The meeting will take place in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, in conjunction with the AUA Annual Meeting. In keeping with tradition, this 1-day meeting will consist of a joint morning session with the Society of Urologic Oncology (SUO) and 2 SBUR breakout sessions in the afternoon. Please join our SBUR members, trainees, and urological research colleagues for these cutting-edge sessions covering benign urological diseases, urologic oncology, and basic and translational urological research.

The SBUR/SUO Joint Session will be held from 8-11:50 am in Grand Ballroom A of the McCormick Place Convention Center. The morning session, “Cancer Genomics and the Tumor Microenvironment,” will feature 6 balanced presentations on bladder, kidney, and prostate cancer from leading urological cancer researchers and physician scientists. The Donald S. Coffey Keynote Lecture will be presented by Dr Pete Nelson, MD, a prolific physician scientist and director of the Prostate Cancer Research Program at the Fred Hutch and University of Washington Cancer Consortium. World renowned for his translational work on the molecular and genetic characterization of prostate cancer, and the prostate tumor microenvironment, Dr Nelson will present “On the Giants’ Shoulders: Identifying Prostate Cancer Vulnerabilities Using New Models and Genome-scale Tools.” The second presentation on prostate cancer will be given by Dr Folakemi Odedina (Mayo Clinic), founder of the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC) and a global leader in health outcomes and behavioral science research on prostate cancer in Black men of African descent. Her presentation will discuss global innovations in addressing prostate cancer disparities in Black men. Dr Payal Kapur (UT Southwestern), a leading renal cancer pathologist at the Simmons Cancer Center, will present her work on the molecular and pathological characterization of renal cancer. Dr Qing Zhang, a cancer molecular biologist from UT Southwestern, will present his recent work on hypoxia and the genetics of kidney cancer. Dr Joshua Meeks, a prominent physician scientist from Northwestern, will present work on the intersection of epigenetics, the tumor immune microenvironment, and bladder cancer therapy. John Taylor, director of basic urologic research in the Department of Urology and the coleader of the Drug Discovery Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics Program at the University of Kansas Cancer Center, will present the second lecture on bladder cancer and his recent work on inflammation and the tumor immune microenvironment.

The SBUR has arranged for a hospitality suite in the Clark Room at the Hyatt Regency McCormick to be made available for its members following the joint SBUR/SUO morning session. We encourage members to take advantage of this opportunity to reconnect with colleagues. You are welcome to bring your lunch and enjoy it with your peers.

The SBUR will also host 2 consecutive afternoon breakout sessions in Grand Ballroom BC at the McCormick Place Convention Center. Dr Renee Vickmann (NorthShore HealthSystem Research Institute) will chair the first session, “Inflammation and Tissue Microenvironments,” beginning at 1:00 pm. This session will feature a balanced series of 4 presentations covering benign and malignant urological diseases. Dr Zihai Li, from the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, will present work on the role of chaperone biology in cancer immunology. Dr Nicholas Steers of Columbia University will present on the immunology of the urinary tract. Dr Janielle Maynard of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine will present her work on purinergic receptors in prostate cancer. In the final lecture of the session, Dr Nathan Tykocki of Michigan State University will present his lab’s recent work on urinary bladder physiology.

After a 10-minute break, the second breakout session will begin at 2:35 pm. This session, titled “Emerging Pathways and Technology,” will be chaired by Dr Paula Hurley of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine. Four speakers in this session will discuss groundbreaking work in both benign urology and urologic oncology. Dr Jim Hokanson, from the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Medical College of Wisconsin, will present ongoing studies from his laboratory on urological dysfunction. Houjian Cai from the University of Georgia will present recent work from his laboratory on lipidation and metabolism in prostate cancer. Dr Renee Vickman from the NorthShore HealthSystem Research Institute will present on TNF signaling, prostate inflammation, and hyperplasia. Anna Woloszynska of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center will conclude the session with a presentation on functional genomics in bladder cancer.

I would like to recognize the members of the SBUR Spring Program Committee for their hard work in preparing this exciting day of research and discussion: Dr Haojie Huang, immediate past president of the SBUR from the Mayo Clinic, Dr Paula Hurley from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and Dr Renee Vickman from the NorthShore HealthSystem Research Institute. I would also like to thank the AUA and SUO for their work in supporting the SBUR and the SBUR Spring Meeting. This shared passion for urological research and clinical advances in urology is what makes the SBUR Spring Meeting so special. I look forward to seeing you all in the beautiful city of Chicago this spring!

About SBUR

Since its inception in 1986, SBUR has been committed to education, innovation, advocacy, and excellence in basic urology research. SBUR is focused on promoting collaboration and dialogue between researchers and clinicians, and providing a forum for dissemination of ongoing research and expertise in urological diseases.