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Focal Therapy – Mastering targeted treatments (Clinical Urology)

Tracks
Clinical Urology
Thursday, August 21, 2025
1:30 PM - 5:45 PM
Level 4 - Rooms 1 & 2

Details

The workshop is a comprehensive session for healthcare professionals seeking an in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in the latest advancements in focal therapy for clinically localised prostate cancer. 
The workshop will cover both theoretical foundations and practical skills needed to implement focal therapy into clinical practice. Delegates will have the opportunity to interact with world leading experts on all aspects of focal therapy including: 
•    Understanding the principles of focal therapy 
•    Patient selection, diagnosis and treatment planning 
•    Energy options and selection 
•    Post-treatment follow-up 
•    Managing and salvaging failures
•    Live panel discussion and case review 
•    Hands on with a focal therapy simulator

Workshop Chairs Dr Nicholas Mehan & Dr Fairleigh Reeves
International Faculty Professor Arvin George, John Hopkins School of Medicine, United States
Who should attend This program is for healthcare professionals looking to integrate minimally invasive, targeted treatment options into their practice.
Experience Beginner to Advanced

To download the workshop flyer which includes the program click the image below.

This workshop is kindly sponsored by



Speaker

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Dr Nick Mehan
Urologist
Sydney Urology Group

Welcome

1:30 PM - 1:40 PM

Biography

Dr. Mehan is a Urological Surgeon who is appointed at Nepean Hospital in Sydney. Nick completed his specialist Urology training in Australia across multiple hospitals in NSW. He completed 2 years of post-fellowship training in robotic surgery and laser prostate enucleation (HoLEP) at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. Dr. Mehan has a clinical practice focussed on prostate cancer including focal therapy and salvage radical prostatectomy. He was an investigator on the first in-human trial of ProFocal laser therapy for clinically localised prostate cancer at Nepean Hospital.


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Professor Arvin George
Urologist
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

The case for focal therapy

1:40 PM - 1:55 PM

Biography

Dr. Arvin George is a urologic surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and management of genitourinary cancers. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Urology and Director of Prostate Cancer Programs at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. After obtaining his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, he completed his Urology Residency at the Smith Institute for Urology, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. He also completed his Endourology fellowship in New York gaining additional subspecialty expertise in robotic, laparoscopic, and percutaneous surgery. Subsequently, he completed a Urologic Oncology fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. Dr. George’s clinical practice includes both surgical and non-operative management of prostate, kidney, and upper tract urothelial cancers. His research interests include minimally invasive and image-guided treatments, functional prostate imaging and focal therapy for prostate cancer.


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A/Prof Celi Varol
CEO
Medlogical Innovations

Case selection and treatment planning

1:55 PM - 2:10 PM

Biography

A/Prof Celi Varol graduated from Adelaide University Medical School and completed his Urology training in Sydney, Australia. He completed a further 2-year fellowship programme in advanced Uro-Oncology and Laparoscopy in Switzerland and Germany. He was the former Director of Urology in both University of Sydney - Nepean Hospital campus and Macquarie University Hospital. He has established several robotic programs over the years and his early adoption to focal therapy in 2013, resulted in A/Prof Celi Varol establishing the Australian government backed Medical Technology company in 2017. Medlogical Innovations Pty Ltd was created, which resulted in the invention of ProFocalTM - Cooled Laser Focal Therapy system. The success of the pivotal 100 patient trial completed in December 2022 has lead to global interest for its use in men with early stage Prostate Cancer. ProFocal is a custom engineered technology platform, for prostate tissue ablation. It has already won multiple local and international awards and soon to be commercialised for general use.


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A/Professor John Yaxley
Urologist
Wesley Urology Clinic

Irreversible Electroporation

2:10 PM - 2:15 PM

Biography

A/Professor John Yaxley is one of Australia's most experienced urological surgeons in the management of prostate cancer, including robotic radical prostatectomy, brachytherapy and focal therapy. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland with over 150 peer reviewed published manuscripts, including the world’s first randomised trial comparing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy to the open surgical technique. A/Prof Yaxley is currently involved in the academic teaching program of medical students and is also a surgical supervisor for urology training registrars at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital.


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Professor Arvin George
Urologist
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

HIFU and Cryoablation

2:15 PM - 2:20 PM

Biography

Dr. Arvin George is a urologic surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and management of genitourinary cancers. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Urology and Director of Prostate Cancer Programs at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. After obtaining his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, he completed his Urology Residency at the Smith Institute for Urology, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. He also completed his Endourology fellowship in New York gaining additional subspecialty expertise in robotic, laparoscopic, and percutaneous surgery. Subsequently, he completed a Urologic Oncology fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. Dr. George’s clinical practice includes both surgical and non-operative management of prostate, kidney, and upper tract urothelial cancers. His research interests include minimally invasive and image-guided treatments, functional prostate imaging and focal therapy for prostate cancer.


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Dr Isaac Thangasamy
Nepean Hospital

Focal Laser Ablation

2:25 PM - 2:30 PM

Biography

Dr Isaac Thangasamy is a urologist and senior lecturer at the University of Sydney Medical School with a special interest in prostate cancer diagnostics and minimally invasive therapies. He has been involved as a clinician and researcher in focal laser therapy trials for localized prostate cancer and is currently leading the development of prospective trials in this area. Dr Thangasamy also leads the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) Prostate Cancer Biobank. Outside of work, he enjoys going to live music gigs, spending time with his family, and is a proud father of four.


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Dr Ahmed Saeed Goolam
Urologist
Sydney Urological Associates

Case presentation and panel discussion

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Biography

After completing his training in New South Wales, Ahmed completed a Fellowship in Robotic Surgery and Urologic Oncology at the University of Miami and Sylvester Cancer Care Centres in Miami, Florida, USA. His training included robotic surgery for prostate, bladder and kidney cancers as well as dealing with complex and locally advanced cancers. This training complements his rigorous training in Endourology and general urology. Dr Goolam continues to be involved in teaching, research and education by working in two teaching hospitals. He contributes to research at all his operating hospitals and is part of the Nepean Urology Research Group.


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Dr Nick Mehan
Urologist
Sydney Urology Group

Hands On - Pro-focal Group (participants will be divided into small groups)

3:15 PM - 4:15 PM

Biography

Dr. Mehan is a Urological Surgeon who is appointed at Nepean Hospital in Sydney. Nick completed his specialist Urology training in Australia across multiple hospitals in NSW. He completed 2 years of post-fellowship training in robotic surgery and laser prostate enucleation (HoLEP) at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. Dr. Mehan has a clinical practice focussed on prostate cancer including focal therapy and salvage radical prostatectomy. He was an investigator on the first in-human trial of ProFocal laser therapy for clinically localised prostate cancer at Nepean Hospital.


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Dr Nan Wang
Synergy Radiology

Imaging post ablation – Identifying failures

4:15 PM - 4:30 PM

Biography

Dr Nan Wang is a Consultant Radiologist and Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). He completed his radiology training at Liverpool Hospital, followed by a fellowship in Body Oncology Imaging and Research at theMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dr Wang served as a Staff Specialist at Liverpool Hospital from 2018 to 2021. His clinical and academic interests lie in advanced oncologic imaging, and he is actively involved in radiology education and multidisciplinary cancer care.


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Professor Arvin George
Urologist
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Managing treatment failure

4:30 PM - 4:45 PM

Biography

Dr. Arvin George is a urologic surgeon specializing in the diagnosis and management of genitourinary cancers. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Urology and Director of Prostate Cancer Programs at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. After obtaining his medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, he completed his Urology Residency at the Smith Institute for Urology, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. He also completed his Endourology fellowship in New York gaining additional subspecialty expertise in robotic, laparoscopic, and percutaneous surgery. Subsequently, he completed a Urologic Oncology fellowship at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. Dr. George’s clinical practice includes both surgical and non-operative management of prostate, kidney, and upper tract urothelial cancers. His research interests include minimally invasive and image-guided treatments, functional prostate imaging and focal therapy for prostate cancer.


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Dr Nick Mehan
Urologist
Sydney Urology Group

Salvage prostatectomy post ablative therapy

4:45 PM - 5:00 PM

Biography

Dr. Mehan is a Urological Surgeon who is appointed at Nepean Hospital in Sydney. Nick completed his specialist Urology training in Australia across multiple hospitals in NSW. He completed 2 years of post-fellowship training in robotic surgery and laser prostate enucleation (HoLEP) at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London. Dr. Mehan has a clinical practice focussed on prostate cancer including focal therapy and salvage radical prostatectomy. He was an investigator on the first in-human trial of ProFocal laser therapy for clinically localised prostate cancer at Nepean Hospital.


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A/Professor John Yaxley
Urologist
Wesley Urology Clinic

Radio recurrent prostate cancer – Role of focal therapy

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM

Biography

A/Professor John Yaxley is one of Australia's most experienced urological surgeons in the management of prostate cancer, including robotic radical prostatectomy, brachytherapy and focal therapy. He is an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland with over 150 peer reviewed published manuscripts, including the world’s first randomised trial comparing robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy to the open surgical technique. A/Prof Yaxley is currently involved in the academic teaching program of medical students and is also a surgical supervisor for urology training registrars at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital.


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A/Prof Celi Varol
CEO
Medlogical Innovations

How to set-up a focal therapy programme

5:15 PM - 5:30 PM

Biography

A/Prof Celi Varol graduated from Adelaide University Medical School and completed his Urology training in Sydney, Australia. He completed a further 2-year fellowship programme in advanced Uro-Oncology and Laparoscopy in Switzerland and Germany. He was the former Director of Urology in both University of Sydney - Nepean Hospital campus and Macquarie University Hospital. He has established several robotic programs over the years and his early adoption to focal therapy in 2013, resulted in A/Prof Celi Varol establishing the Australian government backed Medical Technology company in 2017. Medlogical Innovations Pty Ltd was created, which resulted in the invention of ProFocalTM - Cooled Laser Focal Therapy system. The success of the pivotal 100 patient trial completed in December 2022 has lead to global interest for its use in men with early stage Prostate Cancer. ProFocal is a custom engineered technology platform, for prostate tissue ablation. It has already won multiple local and international awards and soon to be commercialised for general use.


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Question & Answer

Question & Answer/Discussion

5:30 PM - 5:45 PM

Biography


Session Chair

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Nick Mehan
Urologist
Sydney Urology Group

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Fairleigh Reeves
Urologist
Royal Melbourne Hospital

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