VIRO 2026 – Global Voices in Renal Oncology

VIRO 2026 – Global Voices in Renal Oncology is a global virtual medical congress dedicated to renal oncology, renal cell carcinoma, and the evolving management of kidney cancer in 2026. The Congress brings together leading international experts to discuss current standards of care, emerging treatment strategies, multidisciplinary decision-making, and practical approaches to improving outcomes for patients with renal malignancies.

Event Details

Date:  September 10-11, 2026
Format: Virtual Congress
Live Streaming: YouTube | X

The OncoDaily VIRO 2026 Congress will focus on the changing landscape of renal cancer care, with a strong emphasis on translating clinical evidence into real-world practice. As renal oncology continues to evolve, clinicians are increasingly faced with complex decisions involving treatment selection, sequencing, toxicity management, biomarkers, and access to innovation across different healthcare systems.

Renal cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 430,000 new cases and 155,000–180,000 deaths worldwide each year, based on global cancer estimates. While outcomes are favorable for localized disease in high-resource settings, survival declines substantially in advanced stages, particularly in metastatic disease. Despite earlier detection in some regions, a significant proportion of patients still develop advanced disease, where durable control remains challenging.

In recent years, the therapeutic landscape of renal cancer has changed rapidly. The integration of immune checkpoint inhibitors, VEGF-targeted therapies, and combination regimens has reshaped standards of care for advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. These advances have improved outcomes for many patients, yet they also introduce new challenges related to optimal patient selection, sequencing after progression, long-term toxicity management, and the adaptation of evidence-based strategies to diverse clinical environments.

Program Chairs

Pedro Barata is Associate Professor of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a medical oncologist at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. He specializes in genitourinary cancers, including kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer. An internationally recognized researcher and speaker, Dr. Barata has expertise in immunotherapy, targeted therapies, precision oncology, and clinical trial development, contributing to advances in evidence-based and multidisciplinary cancer care.

Speakers

Images	Name
	Viktor Grünwald - Germany Professor of Interdisciplinary Urologic Oncology, University Hospital Essen (Carolus Institute for Urologic Oncology) Medical Oncologist specializing in genitourinary cancers, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and clinical cancer research. International expert in kidney, bladder, prostate, and testicular cancers with extensive experience in clinical trials and translational oncology. Speaker, researcher, and advisor contributing to evidence-based cancer care, multidisciplinary treatment strategies, and international oncology guidelines.
	Joaquim Bellmunt - United States, Massachusetts Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Director, Bladder Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Genitourinary medical oncologist specializing in bladder cancer, immunotherapy, and clinical research. International expert in clinical trials and evidence-based treatment guidelines for genitourinary cancers.
	Maria Bourlon - Mexico Head, Genitourinary Oncology Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ), Mexico. Medical oncologist specializing in prostate, kidney, bladder, and testicular cancers, with expertise in clinical trials and translational research. International speaker and researcher, actively involved in ASCO and ESMO initiatives, and a leader in advancing genitourinary oncology education and cancer care in Latin America.
	Arnab Basu - United States, Washington Medical oncologist specializing in genitourinary cancers, with expertise in renal cell and urothelial carcinoma. His research focuses on biomarkers and precision treatment strategies. He previously served as Section Chief for Genitourinary Oncology at the University of Alabama O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center and is a recipient of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Young Investigator Award.
	Giuseppe Procopio - Italy Full Professor of Medical Oncology and Director of the Genitourinary Cancer Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy. International expert in genitourinary oncology, specializing in kidney and prostate cancer and immunotherapy. Leader of multiple clinical research initiatives, author of 370+ scientific publications, and member of ASCO, ESMO, and AIOM guideline committees.
	Ulka Vaishampayan - United States, Michigan Professor of Internal Medicine, Leader of the Translational and Clinical Research Program, and Director of the Phase 1 Program at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. International expert in genitourinary malignancies, specializing in kidney, bladder, prostate, and testicular cancers. Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Kidney Cancer and VHL (JKCVHL) and author of more than 300 scientific publications.
	Eric Jonasch - United States, Texas Professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Director of the VHL Clinical Center. International leader in kidney cancer and von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease research, specializing in translational research and novel therapeutic strategies. Vice-Chair of the NCCN Kidney Cancer Guidelines Panel and Board Chair of the International Kidney Cancer Coalition.
	Steven Seyedin - United States, California Medical Director of Genitourinary Radiation Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Genitourinary radiation oncologist specializing in prostate, kidney, bladder, and testicular cancers, with expertise in stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and translational research. Investigator on multiple clinical trials focused on integrating advanced radiation technologies with targeted and systemic therapies to improve outcomes for patients with genitourinary malignancies.
	Francesco Massari - Italy Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Bologna and Consultant Medical Oncologist at IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna. His clinical and research interests focus on genitourinary cancers, particularly renal, prostate, and bladder cancer. He has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications and is principal investigator of several national and international clinical trials in uro-oncology.
	Daniel V. Araujo - United States, Florida Genitourinary medical oncologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Florida. He serves as GU Clinical Disease Specific Group (DSG) Leader and Medical Director of Biospecimen Resources at the UF Health Cancer Institute (UFHCI). His work focuses on investigator-initiated trials, biomarker-guided therapy, and treatment optimization in genitourinary cancers, with an emphasis on bladder, kidney, and prostate cancer. He remains active in cooperative group and translational research aimed at advancing precision care for patients with GU malignancies.
	Fernando Maciel Barbosa - United States, Iowa Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Medical Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, United States. Medical oncologist specializing in genitourinary malignancies, clinical trials, and translational research. Genitourinary Medical Oncology Group Leader at the University of Iowa and member of the Alliance Genitourinary Committee.
	Arpita Desai - United States, California Clinical Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at UCSF, specializing in genitourinary cancers with a particular focus on kidney and prostate cancer. She serves as Medical Director of the UCSF Genitourinary Medical Oncology Program, leads the UCSF Kidney Cancer Program, and directs the UCSF Von Hippel–Lindau Multidisciplinary Clinic. Her clinical and research interests focus on advancing precision medicine for kidney cancer through innovative imaging, biomarker-driven therapies, and novel treatment strategies, with an emphasis on translational research and multidisciplinary clinical care.
	Payal Kapur - United States, Texas Professor of Medical Science and Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She serves as Group Leader of Genitourinary Pathology, Co-Leader of the Kidney Cancer Program at the Simmons Cancer Center, and is the pathology representative for the UT Southwestern Urology Spence Conference and Multidisciplinary Renal Cell Carcinoma Tumor Board. Her clinical and research interests focus on genitourinary tumors, with an emphasis on kidney cancer, biomarker development, immunohistochemistry, and translational research to advance prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic strategies.
	Vivek Agarwala - India Director of Medical Oncology and Hemato-Oncology at Narayana Health, serving at Narayana Superspeciality Hospital & Cancer Institute, Howrah, and RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Kolkata. His clinical and research interests focus on comprehensive cancer care, with an emphasis on solid tumors, hematologic malignancies, precision oncology, and advancing evidence-based treatment strategies. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), and has been recognized with the ISMPO TYSA Torrent Young Scholar Award and the Best Orator Award.
	Neil J. Shah - Unites States, New York Medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, specializing in the treatment of genitourinary malignancies, with a particular focus on prostate cancer. His clinical and research interests focus on advancing immunotherapy, precision oncology, and novel therapeutic strategies through clinical trials and translational research to improve outcomes for patients with genitourinary cancers.
	Edwin M. Posadas - United States, California Professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Co-Leader of the Cancer Therapeutics Program, and Medical Director of the Center for Uro-Oncology Research Excellence. His clinical and research interests focus on genitourinary malignancies, with an emphasis on advanced prostate cancer, cancer metastasis, liquid biopsy technologies, biomarker development, and translational research to advance precision oncology and novel therapeutic strategies.
	Ziad Bakouny - United States, New York Instructor in the Department of Medicine and a member of the Genitourinary Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His clinical and research interests focus on genitourinary malignancies, with an emphasis on cancer metabolism, computational oncology, systemic physiology, and translational research to improve outcomes for patients receiving systemic therapies.
	Kelly Fitzgerald - United States, California Health Sciences Clinical Professor and medical oncologist specializing in genitourinary malignancies, with a particular focus on kidney cancer. Her clinical and research interests focus on cancer immunology, immunotherapy, cancer metabolism, and translational research to develop innovative treatment strategies and improve outcomes for patients with genitourinary cancers.
	Abhinav Sidana - United States, Ohio Associate Professor of Surgery and Urologic Oncologist at the University of Chicago, where he serves as Director of the Prostate Cancer Focal Therapy Program and Co-Director of the High-Risk and Advanced Prostate Cancer Clinic. His clinical and research interests focus on prostate and kidney cancer, with an emphasis on robotic and organ-preserving surgery, focal therapies, advanced prostate imaging, and clinical trials evaluating novel treatment strategies for urologic malignancies.
	Eva Compérat - Austria Professor of Urologic Pathology at the Medical University of Vienna and Head of the Department of Pathology at Hôpital Tenon, Sorbonne University, Paris. Her research interests focus on uropathology, particularly bladder, prostate, and kidney cancers, with an emphasis on tumor biology, cancer microenvironment, and predictive and prognostic biomarkers. She is a member of the European Association of Urology (EAU), a board member of the Austrian Society of Pathology (ÖGP), and a contributor to the WHO Classification of Tumours, 5th Edition (2022).
	Martin H. Voss - United States, New York Associate Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and genitourinary oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States. Medical oncologist specializing in kidney cancer, genitourinary malignancies, drug development, clinical trials, and biomarker discovery for advanced renal cancers.
	Zin W. Myint - United States, Kentucky Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Genitourinary Oncology Program at the University of Kentucky Markey Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is a board-certified medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of kidney, bladder, prostate, and other genitourinary cancers. Her clinical and research interests focus on innovative clinical trials and translational research to improve outcomes for patients with genitourinary malignancies.
	David H. Aggen - United States, New York Assistant Attending Physician on the Genitourinary Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, United States. Medical oncologist specializing in kidney cancer, bladder cancer, cancer immunotherapy, and translational research. International expert in adaptive immune resistance, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), clinical trials, and the development of next-generation immunotherapies for genitourinary malignancies.
	Manojkumar Bupathi - United States, Colorado President and Managing Partner of Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, United States. Medical oncologist and healthcare leader specializing in genitourinary cancers, clinical research, precision medicine, and oncology care delivery. Executive Chair of the Genitourinary Research Program at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, with expertise in phase I–III clinical trials, novel therapeutics, community oncology, and value-based cancer care.
	Ketan K. Badani - United States, New York Professor of Urology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Vice Chairman of Urology and Robotic Operations, and Director of the Comprehensive Kidney Cancer Center at the Mount Sinai Health System. His clinical and research interests focus on prostate and kidney cancer, with an emphasis on robotic and minimally invasive urologic oncology, kidney-sparing surgery, surgical innovation, and clinical trials to improve outcomes for patients with urologic malignancies.
	Ciro Franzese - Italy Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at Humanitas University and Director of the Radiation Oncology Unit at Humanitas San Pio X in Milan, Italy. He also serves as Deputy Director of the Residency Program in Radiation Oncology at Humanitas University. His clinical and research interests focus on genitourinary malignancies, stereotactic body radiation therapy, radiosurgery, oligometastatic disease, and advanced radiotherapy techniques. He has served as Coordinator of the Uro-Oncology Group of the Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) and is a Core Expert of the ESTRO SBRT Focus Group. He has authored more than 230 peer-reviewed publications and is investigator of several prospective national and international trials.
	Elena Verzoni - Italy Medical oncologist in the Genitourinary Medical Oncology and Prostate Program, specializing in kidney and prostate cancers. Her clinical and research interests focus on genitourinary malignancies, with an emphasis on clinical trials, translational research, and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. She serves as a principal investigator for national and international Phase I–III clinical trials, is a member of the AIOM kidney and prostate cancer guideline panels, and is an active member of ASCO, ESMO, AIOM, and Meet-URO.
	Yao Zhu - China Professor at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, China. Urologic oncologist specializing in genitourinary malignancies, precision surgery, minimally invasive and robotic-assisted prostate cancer surgery, and multidisciplinary cancer care. His research focuses on translational medicine, clinical trials, novel therapeutic strategies, treatment resistance, and molecular mechanisms in urologic cancers. International researcher and contributor to evidence-based oncology, with interests in personalized medicine and differences in cancer biology and outcomes between Eastern and Western populations.
	Hans Hammers - Unites States, Texas Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and a member of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, United States. He is the Eugene P. Frenkel, MD, Scholar in Clinical Medicine and co-leader of clinical research and immunotherapy for the Kidney Cancer Research Program. His clinical and research interests focus on kidney cancer, particularly renal cell carcinoma, immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor microenvironment, and the development of novel treatment approaches for kidney cancer.
	Eric A. Singer - United States, Ohio Professor of Urology and Bioethics at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Wexner Medical Center, United States. Urologic oncologist specializing in genitourinary cancers, clinical trials, surgical oncology, and bioethics. Chief of the Division of Urologic Oncology, Director of the Urologic Oncology Fellowship Program, and Co-Director of the Genitourinary Disease-Specific Research Group. His research focuses on developing new treatments for patients with genitourinary malignancies, with interests in clinical research, research ethics, surgical innovation, and multidisciplinary cancer care.
	Michael B. Atkins - United States, Washington Deputy Director of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, William M. Scholl Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Oncology at Georgetown University, United States. Medical oncologist specializing in kidney cancer, melanoma, cancer immunotherapy, and translational clinical research. International expert in renal cell carcinoma, immunotherapy, biomarker research, and clinical trials, with over three decades of leadership in advancing evidence-based cancer care.
	Darren R. Feldman - United States, New York Associate Attending Physician on the Genitourinary Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, United States. Medical oncologist specializing in germ cell tumors, kidney cancer, genitourinary malignancies, and clinical trials. International expert in kidney cancer research, germ cell tumor management, translational oncology, treatment-related toxicities, and evidence-based cancer care.
	Dillon Cockrell - United States, Tennessee Assistant Professor of Medicine at Duke University Health System, United States. Medical oncologist specializing in genitourinary cancers, including prostate, bladder, kidney, and testicular cancers. His clinical and research interests focus on precision oncology, biomarkers, clinical trials, multidisciplinary cancer care, and improving treatment outcomes for patients with genitourinary malignancies.
	Guru Sonpavde - United States, Florida Professor of Medicine at Loma Linda University and Director of Genitourinary Oncology and Phase I Research at AdventHealth Cancer Institute, United States. Medical oncologist specializing in bladder cancer, genitourinary malignancies, solid tumors, clinical trials, and drug development. International expert in bladder cancer research with extensive experience in oncology publications and treatment innovation.
	Samuel Washington - United States, California Associate Professor of Urology at the University of California, San Francisco, United States. Urologic oncologist specializing in prostate cancer, urologic cancer outcomes, cancer health disparities, early detection, and community outreach. His research focuses on how healthcare systems, geography, race, ethnicity, and social factors influence urologic cancer care and outcomes.
	Hossein Taghizadeh - Austria Privatdozent and Consultant Oncologist at the Oncology Department of University Hospital St. Pölten, Austria, where he has served as Lead of Gastrointestinal and Urogenital Oncology since July 2024. Specialist in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology, with expertise in systemic cancer therapy, personalized oncology care, and translational cancer research. His clinical interests focus on gastrointestinal and genitourinary malignancies.
	Moshe Ornstein - United States , Ohio Director of Genitourinary Medical Oncology at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Medical oncologist specializing in genitourinary cancers, clinical trials, translational research, and novel treatment strategies. Faculty member at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, with expertise in advancing research and multidisciplinary care for patients with urologic malignancies.
	James Brugarolas - United States , Texas Professor of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, United States. Medical oncologist and kidney cancer researcher specializing in renal cell carcinoma, cancer genetics, translational research, HIF-2 targeted therapy, and clinical oncology. Founding Director of the Kidney Cancer Program at UT Southwestern, with major contributions to kidney cancer biology, biomarker research, and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
	Fed Ghali - United States , Connecticut Assistant Professor of Urology at Yale School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Urologic oncologist specializing in bladder, ureter, kidney, and testicular cancers. His research focuses on clinical trial design, tumor evolution, biomarker development, and improving patient selection for new therapies in genitourinary oncology.

Scientific Program Overview

The scientific program of VIRO 2026 – Global Voices in Renal Oncology will explore the full clinical spectrum of renal cell carcinoma, from localized and high-risk disease to advanced and metastatic renal cancer. Sessions will address contemporary approaches to diagnosis, risk assessment, systemic therapy, multidisciplinary care, and follow-up, while highlighting how evolving clinical evidence can be applied in daily practice.

Expert-led discussions will examine the role of immunotherapy-based combinations, VEGF-targeted treatment strategies, adjuvant approaches, management after disease progression, and the future of biomarker-informed decision-making. The congress will also focus on key practical questions in renal oncology, including how to select the most appropriate first-line regimen, how to manage immune-related and treatment-related adverse events, and how to personalize care based on disease biology, patient characteristics, and available resources.

VIRO 2026 also recognizes that progress in renal cancer care must be global. Access to advanced diagnostics, clinical trials, systemic therapies, multidisciplinary expertise, and supportive care remains uneven across regions. By bringing together voices from different countries and healthcare systems, the congress aims to foster international dialogue on how innovation can be delivered more equitably and effectively.

Designed for medical oncologists, urologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, researchers, trainees, nurses, and other professionals involved in renal cancer care, VIRO 2026 will provide a practical and forward-looking platform for education, collaboration, and clinical exchange.

VIRO 2026 – Global Voices in Renal Oncology aims to support more personalized, effective, and equitable care for patients with renal malignancies worldwide. Through global expertise, multidisciplinary discussion, and real-world perspectives, the congress will help bridge the gap between emerging evidence and everyday clinical practice in renal oncology.