BCAN and Conquer Cancer Support Innovative Research in Advanced Bladder Cancer

May 27, 2026

$200,000 grant supports research exploring how diet and the gut microbiome may improve treatment outcomes for advanced bladder cancer

Bethesda, MD – Today, in collaboration with Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN) announced Brendan Guercio, MD as the recipient of the 2026 Conquer Cancer–Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Career Development Award (CDA).

Dr. Guercio is an Assistant Professor and Director of Genitourinary Medical Oncology at the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester. As a clinical-translational investigator, his research focuses on how nutrition and the gut microbiome influence treatment outcomes for patients with genitourinary cancers.

The Conquer Cancer-BCAN CDA will further Dr. Guercio’s research into whether what people with advanced bladder cancer eat — and the makeup of their gut bacteria — affects how well the standard first-line treatment, enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab (EVP), works. By studying patients’ diets, stool samples and gut microbiomes, researchers will investigate whether higher fiber intake and healthier gut bacteria are linked to longer periods without cancer growth.

“People with advanced bladder cancer urgently need treatments that work better and are easier to tolerate,” said Meri-Margaret Deoudes, CEO of BCAN. “Research like Dr. Guercio’s explores how factors such as diet and the microbiome may improve outcomes and reduce side effects, helping create better todays and more tomorrows for patients and families.”

“We are incredibly proud to collaborate with BCAN to invest in Dr. Guercio’s pioneering work,” said Elliott Gaskins, Chief Philanthropy Officer of Conquer Cancer. “Investing in bright, early-career scientists is essential to finding better treatments for individuals facing advanced bladder cancer. We are excited to see how this work will directly improve patient outcomes and quality of life.”

Dr. Guercio said, “This impactful award will allow me to pursue novel questions I believe could change how we care for people with advanced bladder cancer — not only how to make our most effective treatments work even better, but how to spare patients the side effects that too often cut therapy short.”

Dr. Guercio earned a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience, graduating summa cum laude from the University of Rochester and received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He was the recipient of a 2024 BCAN Career Development Award and a 2021 BCAN Young Investigator Award.

This $200,000 Conquer Cancer–Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network Career Development Award is part of the more than $13 million BCAN has invested to advance bladder cancer research and improve outcomes for patients and families.

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The Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network, or BCAN, was founded in 2005 and provides patients with the critical information and community support they need to thrive today – and champions innovative research and responsive national policy to inspire hope for tomorrow.

Contact:
Mark Story
Vice President of Communications and Marketing
Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network
[email protected]