Urologic Oncology Precision Medicine - Educational Program
22–24 January 2026 · Graz, Austria
A three-day program for the clinical teams that run genitourinary oncology together: urologists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and molecular biologists. It follows main GU tumors across the full pathway: from surgical planning and imaging, through the molecular tumor board, to in-house diagnostics.
Vessel operates the program. Each session is led by a practitioner from a working interdisciplinary uro-oncology team, drawn from leading European cancer centres including the Medical University of Graz. The leads were chosen as they run these workflows daily, so what they teach is what they are actually doing on a daily basis, including how they navigate cross-specialty.
The three days build in sequence: individual specialty decisions, then interdisciplinary coordination, then the molecular and diagnostic foundation underneath.
At a glance
- Dates: 22–24 January 2026 (Thursday–Saturday)
- Days 1–2 (Thu–Fri): LKH Univ. Klinikum Graz · Auenbruggerplatz 52/5, 8036 Graz
- Day 3 (Sat): Hotel Weitzer · Grieskai 12/14, 8020 Graz
- Format: Case-based sessions, roundtables, and a live tumor board simulation
Jump to: Day 1 · Day 2 · Day 3 · Faculty · Practical information
Day 1 — Thursday, 22 January
Surgery & Imaging
LKH Univ. Klinikum Graz
The day in one line: Follow a GU case from surgical planning through imaging — and into the interdisciplinary tumor board.
| Time | Session | Lead |
|---|---|---|
| 08:15–09:00 | Welcome & Introduction | Jost · Hasenleithner |
| 09:00–11:00 | Surgical Decision-Making in Non-Prostate GU Malignancies | Leitsmann |
| 11:15–12:15 | Imaging in Non-Prostate GU Tumors | Adelsmayr |
| 12:15–13:15 | Lunch | — |
| 13:30–15:30 | Surgical Considerations for Prostate Cancer & Robotic Techniques | Ahyai |
| 15:45–16:45 | Imaging in Prostate Cancer | Talakic |
| 17:00–19:00 | Treatment Selection in Non-Prostate GU Cancers & the GU Tumor Board | Terbuch |
08:15–09:00 · Welcome & Introduction
Leads: Prof. Philipp Jost; Samantha Hasenleithner, PhD
Prof. Jost sets the frame for the three days, clarify objectives, and align expectations with the UHC Zagreb team.
09:00–11:00 · Surgical Decision-Making in Non-Prostate GU Malignancies
Lead: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Conrad Leitsmann — Urology, Medical University of Graz
Surgical planning for non-prostate GU tumors, worked through real case reviews. Decision criteria for approach selection, the anatomical considerations specific to each tumor type, and how surgical planning shapes downstream treatment options — comparing robotic-assisted and non-robotic techniques.
Primary audience: Urologists
Value for others: Oncologists and radiologists see the surgical possibilities and limits that inform treatment discussion, including the effect on eligibility for neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy.
11:15–12:15 · Imaging in Non-Prostate GU Tumors: From Detection to Follow-Up
Lead: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Gabriel Adelsmayr, MBA — Radiology, Medical University of Graz
How a radiology department works inside the GU care pathway — image interpretation and the communication that surrounds it. Through selected cases: the triggers for urgent consultation, and the standardized reporting templates that keep clinical decisions consistent.
Primary audience: Radiologists
Value for others: Urologists and oncologists see the protocols that get critical findings to the right specialist quickly, and how structured imaging workflows hold the team to one standard.
13:30–15:30 · Surgical Considerations for Prostate Cancer and Robotic Techniques
Lead: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sascha Ahyai — Director, Urology, Medical University of Graz
Prostate cancer surgery from patient selection through postoperative planning. The systematic decision-making — how imaging findings, pathology results, and patient factors converge on a surgical strategy — and where the surgical team coordinates with pathology on tissue handling and with oncology on sequencing. Includes how robotic platforms fit into routine practice.
Primary audience: Urologists
Value for others: Pathologists see the tissue-handling steps that protect both diagnostic accuracy and molecular testing; oncologists see the surgical factors that shape later treatment.
15:45–16:45 · Imaging in Prostate Cancer: From Detection to Follow-Up
Lead: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Emina Talakic, MBA — Radiology, Medical University of Graz
The specific challenges of prostate cancer imaging, from detection through treatment monitoring — local disease, nodal involvement, biochemical recurrence. Through case examples: coordinating imaging with PSA kinetics and clinical findings to guide management.
Primary audience: Radiologists
Value for others: Urologists and oncologists see how findings reach the right specialist promptly, and how structured imaging workflows keep the multidisciplinary team consistent.
17:00–19:00 · Treatment Selection and Management in Non-Prostate GU Cancers and the Interdisciplinary GU Tumor Board
Lead: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Angelika Terbuch — Oncology, Medical University of Graz
An interactive session that recreates real tumor board dynamics around complex non-prostate GU cases requiring multimodal treatment. How conflicting recommendations get resolved, and the evidence hierarchy behind treatment selection — including surgical and imaging considerations, and clinical trials.
Primary audience: Oncologists
Value for others: All specialties join the mock discussion, see how their input shapes consensus, and see how biomarker results move treatment algorithms in practice.
Day 2 — Friday, 23 January
Clinical Decision-Making and the Molecular Tumor Board
LKH Univ. Klinikum Graz
The day in one line: From individual specialty decisions to interdisciplinary coordination — and the infrastructure behind a working MTB.
| Time | Session | Lead |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00–11:00 | The Role of the Molecular Oncologist & GU Cases from the MTB | Edlinger |
| 11:15–13:00 | Roundtable: Precision Oncology in Advanced Disease | Jost |
| 13:00–14:00 | Lunch | — |
| 14:00–16:00 | Molecular Tumor Board Fundamentals | Hasenleithner |
| 16:30–18:30 | Medical Oncology in Routine Management of Prostate Cancer | Bauernhofer |
09:00–11:00 · The Role of the Molecular Oncologist and GU Cases from the MTB
Lead: Dr. Leo Edlinger — Oncology, Medical University of Graz
A short introduction to the molecular tumor board and the molecular oncologist's role, then a series of GU cases referred to the MTB. Which molecular diagnostics get ordered for these tumors (IHC, CGP, and others), how the results guide personalized decisions, and how those decisions are made when clinical-study data are thin.
Primary audience: Oncologists
Value for others: Pathologists see how clinicians work from molecular pathology reports to assign actionability levels; molecular biologists see how the oncologist separates biological impact from clinical relevance.
11:15–13:00 · Roundtable Discussion on Precision Oncology in Advanced Disease
Lead: Prof. Philipp Jost — Director & Chair, Oncology, Medical University of Graz
A roundtable on the strategy, purpose, and payoff of the MTB: how it creates systematic pathways to identify patients for biomarker-driven therapy, handles off-label use, supports trial enrollment, and acts as an innovation hub for new precision oncology approaches.
Primary audience: Oncologists and molecular tumor board members
Value for others: Pathologists, molecular biologists, and urologists see how their diagnostic work feeds real decisions on targeted therapy, trial referral, and off-label use — and where clearer communication unblocks options.
14:00–16:00 · Molecular Tumor Board Fundamentals
Lead: Samantha Hasenleithner, PhD — Vessel Co-founder & Managing Director; Oncology, Medical University of Graz
What it takes to set up and run an effective MTB — inclusion criteria, referral workflows, case prioritization, case discussion, and communicating results. Resource needs, and a high-level view of running an MTB for routine decisions in advanced cancer. Clarifies how the interdisciplinary tumor board and the MTB differ in goal.
Primary audience: All disciplines involved in MTB organization and case presentation
Value for others: Department leads get clarity on the infrastructure and staffing actually required; clinicians see what information a useful MTB discussion needs, and how recommendations get tracked and implemented.
16:30–18:30 · Medical Oncology in Routine Management of Prostate Cancer: Treatment Algorithms and Interdisciplinary Decision-Making
Lead: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Bauernhofer — Oncology, Medical University of Graz
Prostate cancer management across the disease continuum, from hormone-sensitive to castration-resistant. Through case-based discussion: selection criteria, sequencing, and the decision points where interdisciplinary input matters — weighing disease volume, prior local therapy, comorbidities, and molecular features. When to bring in radiation oncology for oligometastatic disease, how urologic input affects systemic-therapy timing, and the role of pathology review.
Primary audience: Oncologists
Value for others: Urologists and radiologists see how their assessments drive systemic therapy decisions, and when re-evaluation is needed during treatment.
Day 3 — Saturday, 24 January
Molecular Diagnostics & Implementation
Hotel Weitzer
The day in one line: From complex molecular diagnostics cases to a concrete roadmap for in-house liquid biopsy.
| Time | Session | Lead |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00–11:00 | Molecular Pathology Case Workshop for GU Tumors | Jahn |
| 11:30–13:30 | Building In-House Liquid Biopsy Capabilities | Heitzer |
| 13:30–14:30 | Lunch and wrap-up | — |
09:00–11:00 · Molecular Pathology Case Workshop for GU Tumors
Lead: Univ.-FA Dr. Stephan Jahn — Pathology, Medical University of Graz
Challenging molecular pathology cases for interactive group discussion. After a short introduction to Graz's molecular pathology portfolio, infrastructure, and workflows, the cases highlight technical approaches and interpretation strategies. UHC Zagreb participants bring their own institutional cases for individualized feedback — collaborative troubleshooting in practice.
Primary audience: Pathologists and molecular biologists
Value for others: Oncologists see the technical factors behind result reliability, and the common pitfalls in biomarker testing implementation.
11:30–13:30 · Building In-House Liquid Biopsy Capabilities: Infrastructure, Validation, and Integration with Outsourced Testing
Lead: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ellen Heitzer — Human Genetics, Medical University of Graz
What in-house liquid biopsy actually requires — from hotspot panels to comprehensive genomic profiling. Infrastructure, validation, and quality control, and how in-house and outsourced testing complement each other for patient care. Realistic timelines, sample-volume considerations, bioinformatics needs, and GU-specific applications — a concrete roadmap for program development.
Primary audience: Molecular biologists and pathologists
Value for others: Oncologists see when liquid biopsy adds clinical value in GU cancer, and how robust capabilities enable real-time monitoring of treatment response, early detection of resistance, and identification of patients for next-line targeted therapy.
Faculty
Vessel operates this program. Faculty are drawn from leading European cancer centres, including the Medical University of Graz.
- Prof. Philipp Jost — Director and Chair, Clinical Division of Oncology; University Palliative Care Unit, Comprehensive Cancer Center Graz; 2nd Deputy Director, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz
- Samantha Hasenleithner, PhD — Vessel Co-founder & Managing Director; Clinical Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz
- Univ. FA Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Conrad Leitsmann — University Clinic of Urology, Medical University of Graz
- Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. univ. Dr. scient. med. Gabriel Adelsmayr, MBA — Clinical Department for General Radiological Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz
- Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Sascha Ahyai — Director, University Clinic for Urology, Medical University of Graz
- Univ. FÄ Priv.-Doz.in Dr.in med. univ. Emina Talakic, MBA — Clinical Department for General Radiological Diagnostics, Medical University of Graz
- Univ. FÄ Priv.-Doz.in Dr. Angelika Terbuch — Clinical Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz
- Dr. Leo Edlinger — Clinical Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz
- Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. univ. Thomas Bauernhofer — Clinical Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz
- Univ.-FA Dr. Stephan Jahn — Diagnostic & Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz
- Univ.-Prof.in Mag.a Dr.in rer. nat. Ellen Heitzer — Diagnostic & Research Institute of Human Genetics, Medical University of Graz
Practical information
Days 1–2 (Thu–Fri, 22–23 January)
LKH Univ. Klinikum Graz
Auenbruggerplatz 52/5, 8036 Graz
Day 3 (Sat, 24 January)
Hotel Weitzer
Grieskai 12/14, 8020 Graz
Session slides and materials are available to enrolled participants.
Vessel FlexCo operates this program independently. Faculty are drawn from leading European cancer centres, including the Medical University of Graz.