Davos: Urological Challenge award for Alberto Breda

Dr. Alberto Breda (Barcelona, Spain) won the 6th Urological Challenge Award at the 21st European Urology Forum held from February 4 to 7 in Davos, Switzerland.

In awarding him the first prize, the jury cited Breda’s persuasive and well-argued presentations in live donour nephrectomy, intra-renal stones and cryotherapy for prostate cancer (PCa). “The challengers gave insightful presentations, and the discussions among the critique panel that followed these presentations reflect the careful preparation of all the participants,” said the jury.

Breda presented his research and defended his conclusions on topics such as live donor nephrectomy in the modern era, flexible ureteroscopy for the management of intrarenal stones, and the role of cryotherapy in prostate cancer management.

Dr. Nicolas Lumen (Ghent, Belgium) bagged the second prize, while Dr. Michiel Sedelaar from Nijmegen, the Netherlands, received the third prize. Lumen discussed pelvic lymph node dissection in PCa and free graft urethroplasty. Sedelaar, meanwhile, tackled new developments in the systemic treatment of renal cell carcinoma, insights on pT1, Grade III non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and the contemporary role of RPLND for testis cancer.

The jury cited as runners-up Drs. Cristian Surcel (Bucharest, Romania) and Andreas Petrolekas, (Athens, Greece). Surcel examined issues in penile cancer and retroperitoneal fibrosis, while Petrolekas discussed post prostatectomy incontinence and nocturia.

First introduced in 2007 within the programme of the annual Europeal Urology Forum, the Urological Challenge showcases the clinical and research findings of some of Europe’s most promising young urologists who debate with an expert panel the finer issues and controversies in their chosen topics. Previous first prize winners were Anup Patel (2007), Levent Turkeri (2008), Olivier Reich (2009), Steven Joniau (2010), and James Catto (2011).

Around 190 participants gathered this year in Davos for the European Urology Forum to discuss the latest updates and examine key developments in urological diseases. The four-day forum also provided expert tutoring on hands-on laparoscopic training.