News and Announcements
Browse the articles below to learn more about our faculty’s latest achievements, awards and honors.
02.06.2026Amy E. Krambeck, MD, discusses the key advantages of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), highlighting its effectiveness, precision, and benefits for patient recovery.
01.30.2025In this video, Urology Times features Amy E. Krambeck, MD, as she reflects on Northwestern’s achievement of performing 754 holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) procedures in 2024. “This milestone is a testament to our efficiency and the exceptional quality of care patients receive at Northwestern,” says Dr. Krambeck
01.14.2025A team of Northwestern scientists have developed a novel “scaffolding” biomaterial that improves bladder tissue regeneration and overall function better than current techniques.
12.20.2024The use of active surveillance and watchful waiting increased from 13.2 percent in 2010 to 53.8 percent in 2020 among patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, according to a recent study published in JAMA.
12.16.2024A new blood test may help reduce unnecessary prostate biopsies and can detect prostate cancer with similar sensitivity to standard screening in patients across racial and ethnic groups, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
12.09.2024Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered new molecular mechanisms underlying DNA repair dysregulation in cancer cells, findings that may inform the development of new targeted therapies for patients that have become resistant to standard treatments.
11.21.2024As part of the “Voices” series presented by the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, this episode features an inspiring conversation between Dr. Gjanje Smith-Mathus, a female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgeon at WakeMed and founder of the Susu Health Foundation, and Dr. Jennifer Miles-Thomas, Vice Chair of Integration and Innovation at the Northwestern Medicine Department of Urology and AUA treasurer-elect. Dr. Miles-Thomas shares her historic journey as the first woman—and woman of color—on the AUA Board of Directors, highlighting the significance of representation and diversity in leadership within the medical field.
11.12.2024Eric Li, MD, a PGY-6 urology resident, provides an overview of the background and notable findings from the Journal of Urology article, “Clinical Factors Associated with Suspicious 18F-DCFPyL PSMA PET Activity in Patients Initially Managed with Radical Prostatectomy, Including PSA <0.5 ng/mL.”
11.01.2024In this episode of Better Edge, Hiten D. Patel, MD, explores his groundbreaking research on harnessing artificial intelligence to enhance the accuracy of prostate cancer detection and staging. Dr. Patel shares insights into the transformative potential of AI in revolutionizing diagnostic precision and improving patient outcomes in prostate cancer care.
10.22.2024Evan Panken, MD, a PGY-4 urology resident, explores the relationship between testosterone therapy, atrial fibrillation, and acute kidney injury. Dr. Panken discusses the background and key findings from the study “Association of Testosterone Replacement Therapy With Atrial Fibrillation and Acute Kidney Injury,” which he presented at the 2024 Sexual Medicine Society of North America Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona.
09.30.2024A new Northwestern Medicine study suggests using an alternative approach to prostate biopsy is as effective at detecting cancer as the current approach, but without the risk of infection or need for prophylactic antibiotics.
09.23.2024In this episode of Speaking of Urology®, Robert E. Brannigan, MD, discusses recent updates to the AUA/ASRM guidelines on male infertility with Juan J. Andino, MD, MBA. They highlight three key changes: lowering the sperm concentration threshold for Y chromosome microdeletion testing, adding pelvic MRI as an option for suspected ejaculatory duct obstruction, and using testicular sperm in cases of elevated sperm DNA fragmentation. Additionally, they discuss other updates, including when to evaluate males with normal semen analysis, avoiding exogenous therapy for fertility, and the use of scrotal ultrasound.
09.20.2024The PREVENT trial (NCT04843566), recently published in JAMA Oncology, showed that transperineal biopsy had a lower risk of infectious complications while maintaining similar prostate cancer detection rates compared to transrectal biopsy. Senior author Edward M. Schaeffer, MD, PhD, noted that while the benefits of the transperineal approach were previously suggested, high-level category 1 evidence was lacking. The study demonstrated that transperineal biopsy without antibiotic prophylaxis is significantly associated with a lower infection risk, supporting it as a new standard of care for prostate biopsy.
09.17.2024Immunotherapy administered before and after chemotherapy along with surgical removal of the bladder improved survival compared to chemotherapy alone in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer, according to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
08.28.2024Investigators have discovered that aberrant activation of a specific oncoprotein drives key tumor promoting changes in the prostate tissue microenvironment during cancer progression, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in Nature Communications.
08.08.2024On the Rich Roll Podcast, Edward Schaeffer, MD, PhD, dives deep into the critical topics of prostate health, exploring the latest advancements in cancer care, the role of genetics, the impact of lifestyle choices, and cutting-edge developments in robotic surgery. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in men's health and wellness.
07.29.2024In this Urology Times interview, Catherine S. Nam, MD, a clinical andrology fellow at Northwestern University, discusses the motivation behind and significant findings of her study, “Short-Term Changes in Vasectomy Consults and Procedures Following Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.” Dr. Nam delves into the implications of the landmark decision and its impact on vasectomy trends, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of reproductive healthcare and societal change.
07.22.2024In this episode of "The Drive with Peter Attia, M.D.," Edward M Schaeffer, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Urology, delves into the complex role of testosterone in prostate cancer, shedding light on the TRAVERSE trial's insights and the androgen receptor saturation theory. He discusses the Decipher test for assessing cancer aggressiveness and offers guidance on safely administering testosterone replacement therapy to men with low-grade prostate cancer. Dr. Schaeffer also highlights recent advancements in prostate cancer therapies and biomarkers that enable more targeted and precise treatment strategies, reducing the need for broad androgen deprivation therapy.
07.11.2024RNA modifications could serve as a therapeutic target for certain types of cancer, according to a new study published in Molecular Cell which sheds new light on the complex process underlying RNA transcription.
06.28.2024Patients with immunotherapy-resistant bladder cancer who received a novel combination treatment demonstrated improved response to treatment, according to a recent study published in Nature Medicine.
06.18.2024Edward M. Schaeffer, MD, PhD, outlines Northwestern Medicine's strategic growth in urology and healthcare administration, highlighting partnerships and expansions over the past decade. Under his leadership since 2015, the department has established a robust team of 18 urologists across 8 sites within an 11-hospital system serving Chicagoland, integrating quality standards, education, and marketing to ensure consistent, high-quality care across geographic regions
06.12.2024A dysfunctional enzyme may lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice, according to a study published in Science Advances.
- 05.24.2024
Patients with metastatic urothelial cancer and increased expression of the NECTIN4 gene had a dramatically better response to antibody treatment than patients with reduced gene expression, according to recent findings published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
05.16.2024Jenny Guo, MD, a PGY5 resident at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, presents an insightful overview of a mobile care plan for kidney stone management, detailed in the abstract “Development of a Novel Mobile Health Platform for Surveillance of Kidney Stone Formers: 6-Month Preliminary Analysis,” at the 2024 American Urological Association Annual Meeting. This innovative platform aims to enhance patient surveillance and management through mobile technology, offering a promising approach to improve outcomes for individuals with kidney stones.
05.07.2024Joshua Meeks, MD, PhD, and other experts delve into the key takeaways and groundbreaking highlights from the 2024 American Urological Association Annual Meeting.
05.06.2024Kristin Smith, Fertility Preservation Patient Navigator at Lurie Cancer Center, provided valuable insights into fertility challenges for cancer patients as the keynote speaker at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Oncology Policy Summit. The summit focused on addressing sexual and reproductive health concerns that can impact individuals with cancer both during and after treatment.
05.04.2024Joshua J. Meeks, MD, PhD, provides a comprehensive overview of a session held at the 2024 American Urological Association Annual Meeting titled, "Leveraging Innovation in Bladder Cancer Care: Expert Tactics for Successfully Integrating Contemporary Therapeutic Advances Throughout the Disease Spectrum."