By Pamela McGowan
In February 2025, the team at Fight Bladder Cancer had the opportunity to attend an informative and outcome focussed event at the University of Birmingham, the 7th Bladder Cancer Translational Research Meeting.
Organised by the Bladder Cancer Research Centre (University of Birmingham) and the Transforming cancer OUtcomes through research (TOUR) Team (King’s College London and Guy’s Hospital), the meeting was an excellent platform for collaborative thinking, bringing together clinical, academic and patient-focused perspectives to identify new ways to improve outcomes for people affected by bladder cancer.
The packed agenda included the latest updates in the field of bladder cancer research; including specific focus on how research advances might transform care and translate into improved patient outcomes, as well as a prize-winning presentation from Fight Bladder Cancer’s very own patient representative, Melanie Costin, presenting the latest patient survey data.
‘Patient advocacy group resources improve confidence in managing diagnosis’
FBC survey data, collated via a health literacy questionnaire, highlighted gaps in the patients’ ability to effectively engage with healthcare providers, despite the use of Fight Bladder Cancer resources and support services. Click here to view survey data.
- 63% found it easy, or very easy, to make sure their healthcare providers understand their problems properly.
- 67% said it was easy, or very easy, to talk about their health concerns
- 60% found it easy, or very easy, to ask questions until they fully understood what was being said.
While many participants in the survey reported feeling more confident and knowledgeable about managing their diagnosis, not everyone had the same experience.
Continuing to enhance health literacy, alongside improved patient-provider interactions are therefore deemed essential to empowering individuals to manage their bladder cancer more effectively and confidently.
Research Priorities and Meeting Highlights:
A meeting highlight, and particularly interesting to note, was the observed shift in research priorities within the bladder cancer community, as represented by an audience poll collated both prior to, and during, this year’s event.
In 2019, at the 6th Bladder Cancer Translational Meeting, leading research priorities leant toward molecular profiling and utilisation of prognostic biomarkers for selection and stratification of patients for treatment regimes, along with exploring the use of genomic markers to stratify and predict response to available therapies.
Whereas now, in 2025, as demonstrated at the 7th Bladder Cancer Translational Meeting, leading research priorities appear to have shifted toward focussing on establishing biomarker testing as a replacement to invasive techniques currently employed for diagnosis and follow-up monitoring – Demonstrating improved patient acceptability and reduction in economic burden of existing diagnosis/screening/follow-up pathways without increasing the risk of misdiagnosis or disease progression will be critical to achieving this research aim.
Regardless of audience poll outcomes, it was clear that all of the above, previous research priorities included, remain of significant importance and all featured, rightly and firmly, within discussion during the course of the meeting.
Other key takeaways from the meeting included the necessity for innovative approaches in diagnostics and therapeutics due to the burden of bladder cancer remaining high. The need to bridge the gap between research, clinical practice and patient advocacy was seen as critical to achieving this – with collaboration as the final call-to-action of the day.
The team at Fight Bladder Cancer came away from 7th Bladder Cancer Translational Research Meeting having felt a definite, and very welcome sense, that conversation is moving toward accessibility and acceptability, prioritising patient experience and quality of life, both of which have always been, and will continue to be, at the heart of Fight Bladder Cancer’s mission and are representative of the current patient view.
Further details regarding the event, including speakers and programme of presentations, can be found at the following website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/events/7th-bladder-cancer-translational-research-meeting
Fight Bladder Cancer’s recent survey data can be found here: ‘Patient advocacy group resources improve confidence in managing diagnosis’