News and Events
UCLA Urology in the News
The UCLA Department of Urology provides cutting-edge diagnosis and treatments and supports a staff of renowned physicians, surgeons, and researchers. Demonstrating continued excellence in the field of Urology, the UCLA Department of Urology along with its varied Centers of Excellence, is often the subject of stories in newspapers, magazines, and journals. The Department also frequently issues news releases to keep the community informed on the latest developments in urology, the treatments available at UCLA, and various milestones within the Department. We include here a collection of recent stories, and an archive of older articles, for your further information.
August 19, 2025
Kids feel less pain with underused kidney stone treatment - Dr. Renea Sturm, assistant professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Medscape.
August 18, 2025
UCLA-developed biomaterials address challenges of lower urinary tract surgery - Dr. Renea Sturm, assistant professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has led the development of an innovative biomaterial scaffold and adhesive patch. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
July 24, 2025
First bladder transplant offers new hope for patients with terminal benign bladders - Dr. Nima Nassiri, assistant professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Renal + Urology News.
July 21, 2025
Renal cell carcinoma: what you need to know about hereditary syndromes - Dr. Brian Shuch, urologic oncologist and director of the Kidney Cancer Program at UCLA Health, provides expert commentary to MD Edge.
July 11, 2025
Fast track status granted by FDA to TRE-515 in prostate cancer - Dr. Jean DeKernion, Trethera Director Emeritus and cofounder of the Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Prostate Cancer at UCLA, is featured in CURE Today.
June 24, 2025
Rising advanced prostate cancer cases lead to urgent call for action: free treatment is available now for eligible Californians through the IMPACT program - Dr. Mark Litwin, professor and chair of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Yahoo!News.
Additional Coverage: Demopolis Times
June 13, 2025
6 health screenings every man should know about - Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the men's clinic at UCLA, fellowship director of the UCLA male reproductive medicine and surgery program, and director of UCLA Urology Santa Monica, discusses which health screenings men need and why they’re important. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
June 12, 2025
Non-surgical option approved for recurrent low-grade bladder cancer - Dr. Isla Garraway, professor of urology and director of research in urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Medpage Today.
June 12, 2025
Can ozempic make your penis look bigger? - Dr. Juan Andino, assistant clinical professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to VeryWell Health.
June 7, 2025
Utilizing AI in Prostate Cancer Care and Management - Dr. Wayne Brisbane, assistant professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Cure.
June 4, 2025
Future fertility options are improving for young people diagnosed with cancer - Dr. Juan Andino, assistant clinical professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Dr. Zain Al-Safi associate clinical professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, discuss care for patients in the UCLA Health Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
May 22, 2025
Telehealth company under scurtiny after being accused of selling knock-off drugs - Dr. Jesse Mills, director of the men's clinic at UCLA, fellowship director of the UCLA male reproductive medicine and surgery program, and director of UCLA Urology Santa Monica, provides expert commentary to NBC News.
May 22, 2025
UCLA researchers awarded grant to study how prostate cancer spreads to the liver - Dr. Andrew Goldstein, associate professor in the departments of molecular, cell & developmental biology and urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and his team was awarded $1 million to identify metabolic pathways that drive tumor growth in the liver and explore whether targeting these pathways could enhance patient survival. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
May 22, 2025
Managing prostate cancer - Dr. Leonard S. Marks, professor and deKernion endowed chair in urology and member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides expert commentary to KCAL-TV.
May 19, 2025
Study shows value of precision-based approaches in prostate cancer - Dr. Isla Garraway, professor of urology and director of research in urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Urology Times.
Additional Coverage: MSN, Medical Xpress, World Today News
May 19, 2025
Trump allies shift from well-wishes to suggesting Biden hid his cancer diagnosis - Dr. Jesse Mills, the director of the Men’s Clinic at UCLA Health, provides expert commentary to NBC News.
Additional Coverage: Aol
May 19, 2025
Biden cancer announcement raises new questions over white house transparency - Dr. Mark Litwin, professor and chair of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Newsweek.
Additional Coverage: Los Angeles Times, KTLA, Newsmax TV- The Record with Greta Van Sustreren, Los Angeles Times, Yahoo!News, Newsweek
May 18, 2025
First human bladder transplant performed at UCLA - Dr. Nima Nassiri, assistant professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of the UCLA Vascularized Composite Bladder Allograft Transplant Program, helps perform a historic surgery, the result of years of research, opens the door for improved treatment of non-functioning bladders. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
Additional Coverage: UCLA Newsroom, The New York Times, Becker's Hospital Review, News Medical Net, New York Daily News, The Mirage, Discover Magazine, STAT News, The Independent, American Bazaar, The New York Post, The Guardian, ABC 5, Univision, KSNC-TV, NBC 4, KNBC, Medical Dialogues, KTLA, Yahoo!News, Science News, KNX-AM, Becker's Hospital Review
May 18, 2025
Large-scale analysis reveals distinct genetic patterns in veterans with metastatic prostate cancer - Dr. Isla Garraway, professor of urology and director of research in urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Medical Xpress.
Additional Coverage: World Today News
May 14, 2025
How diet can help prevent kidney stones - Dr. Kymora Scotland, Dr. Mary Ann Stothers, and Dr. Carol Bennett, members of UCLA Health Urology, provide a cooking demonstration on how it easy it can be to eat the recommended foods. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
May 8, 2025
Advanced imaging and targeted therapy help men with prostate cancer safely defer surgery and radiation - Dr. Leonard Marks, professor and deKernion Endowed Chair in Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, was the senior author on a study where UCLA researchers looked at how using MRI, MRI-guided biopsies and focal therapy can help men with prostate cancer remain on active surveillance. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom & the UCLA Newsroom.
Additional Coverage: The Mirage, The Health Cast, Health Day, U.S. News & World Report, eCancer, and 120 others.
May 6, 2025
A mother's gift: Kidney donation gives teen his life back - Dr. Jeffrey Veale, professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, helps Texas family heal after teen's kidney failure. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
May 2, 2025
Kidney transplantation for patients of larger sizes now possible with robotic surgery - Dr. Nima Nassiri, assistant clinical professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, discusses how patients whose obesity may have them on “hold” status for kidney transplants may now be potential candidate. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
May 1, 2025
So that's why you have to pee so badly when you're nervous - Dr. Victor Nitti, professor of urology and obstetrics and gynecology, and chief of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at UCLA Health, provides expert commentary to Huff Post.
April 24, 2025
New insights into genetic drivers of prostate cancer - Dr. Paul Boutros, interim vice dean for research at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of cancer data science at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides expert commentary to Renal + Urology News.
April 21, 2025
UCLA investigators highlight innovations in prostate and bladder cancer, AI, and patient-centered care at AUA 2025 - Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
April 16, 2025
FDA sBLA submitted for anktiva plus BCG in papillary bladder cancer - Dr. Karim Chamie, associate professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to CURE Magazine.
April 10, 2025
What to know about peptide therapy - Dr. Jesse Mills, the director of the Men’s Clinic at UCLA Health, provides expert commentary to NBC News.
April 9, 2025
UCLA urologist awarded $3 to study causes and treatments for chronic pelvic pain - Dr. Anne Ackerman, associate professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, received more than $3 million in research funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and National Institutes of Health to explore treatment options for chronic bladder and pelvic pain conditions. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
April 8, 2025
Innovative kidney vouchers expand access to organs - Dr. Jeffrey Veale, professor of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, helped to establish the Kidney Voucher Program in 2014. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
April 7, 2025
Kidney donor decided it was better to give than receive for her 50th birthday - Dr. Hans Gritsch and Dr. Jeffrey Veale's kidney transplant patients were honored at an LA Lakers game. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
April 2025
Slowing prostate cancer progression: the role of dietary fat modifications - Dr. William Aaronson, professor of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine and Chief of Urologic Oncology at West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center, provides expert commentary to ReachMD.
Additional Coverage: The ASCO Post
March 24, 2025
UCLA Health surgeon trains doctors in Zambia to perform kidney transplants - Dr. Hans Gritsch, director of UCLA Health’s kidney transplant program, performed the first-ever pediatric transplant in that country and the first laparoscopic donor surgery. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
March 24, 2025
New AI tool predicts prostate cancer treatment success - Dr. Wayne Brisbane, assistant professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses a new method to determine the volume of cancer within a prostate tumor. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
Additional Coverage: Targeted Oncology, The ASCO Post, KNX-AM, Good Nite LA, Good Day Tampa Bay, KCBS-AM, Medical Xpress, eCancer, News Medical Net, My News LA, R&D World
March 4, 2025
Study uncovers genetic drivers of aggressive prostate cancer - Dr. Paul Boutros, professor of urology and human genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine, director of cancer data science at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and co-senior author of the study, discuses 223 mutations that determine how prostate tumors develop and become lethal. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
Additional Coverage:The Mirage, Scienmag, News Medical Net, Medical Xpress, Health 365, MSN, MedBound Times, MD Linx
February 2025
7 million dollar awarded to Dr. Jeffrey Veale - Dr. Jeffrey Veale, clinical professor of urology and director of the UCLA Kidney Exchange Transplantation Program, received a $7 million award from the for his project entitled "The UCLA Delayed Immunological Tolerance after Kidney Transplantation Program."
February 13, 2025
Kidney transplants without immunosuppression? Q&A with Dr. Jeffrey Veale - Dr. Jeffrey Veale, professor of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, discusses the ‘delayed tolerance’ protocol at UCLA Health and how it allows the kidney recipient freedom from immunosuppressant medications. Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
January 30, 2025
Better male birth control is on the horizon - Dr. Jesse Mills, director of UCLA’s Men’s Clinic, provides expert commentary to Science News.
January 28, 2025
Dr. Carol Bennett receives leadership award from Society of Women in Urology - Dr. Carol Bennett, professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, has received the Jean Fourcroy Leadership Award from the Society of Women in Urology (SWIU). Learn more at the UCLA Health Newsroom.
January 22, 2025
Immunotherapy boosts chemotherapy in rare urological cancers - Dr. Arnold Chin, professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and member of the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides expert commentary to DDN.
January 19, 2025
Can you transplant an organ more than once? - Dr. Nima Nassiri, assistant professor of urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, provides expert commentary to Live Science.
Additional Coverage: USA Times