Sponsored by Convatec

Evidence on Intermittent Catheterisation Problems, Choices and Solutions: Gentle Protection. Confident Living.

Join us for a dynamic lunch symposium featuring an international panel of experts from diverse fields, including neurourology, surgical urology, material science, continence care, spinal cord rehabilitation, multiple sclerosis, psychology, and lived experience. This esteemed panel will explore new evidence on FeelClean Technology™ and evidence based educational and well-being tools.

Key topics will include

• Material Science Insights: Introduction of newly published methodologies and results on uroepithelium damage by leading material scientists.

• Nursing Perspectives: Discuss IC Clinical Practice Principles endorsed by 6 major professional organizations, charities, and industry partners which act as a foundation for HCP and users alike to understand essentials of IC. Review of packet that includes practical tools that aid in assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation of IC.

• Psychological Needs: An introduction to unmet psychological needs and a new, comprehensive emotional well-being program by an expert therapist.

The panel will discuss the potential clinical impact of these innovations, with real-time audience participation through interactive voting. This symposium offers valuable insights and newly developed resources for healthcare professionals who recommend intermittent catheterisation to their patients, enhancing both clinical practice and patient care.

Moderators

Ased Ali, UK
Chris Harding, UK
Diane Newman, USA

Speaker/Moderator Information

Ased Ali
Urologist. Moderator
Wakefield, UK

With over 20 years of experience, his subspecialties interests include neuro-urology, incontinence, and urinary tract infection (UTI). He holds a PhD focussed on UTI supported by a Wellcome Trust fellowship and has led multiple national and international research studies. He has served as a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) reviewer for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), a guideline author for the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), an advisor to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and is a member of the NHS ‘Getting it Right First Time’ (GIRFT) expert working group for functional and reconstructive urology.
He is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a former member of the executive committee of the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) for Female, Neurological and Urodynamic Urology.

Christopher Harding
Urologist. Moderator
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK

Professor Chris is a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Urology at Newcastle University. He trained at the University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge, Kings College London and Freeman Hospital Newcastle. He has a particular interest in bladder dysfunction, continence, neurourology, urinary tract infections, mesh complications and clinical research.
He is Chair of the NIHR National Benign Urology group and Urology lead for the Department of Health Modernising Scientific Careers programme. He is also current Chair of the European Association of Urology Guidelines Panel for Female Non-Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and also past Chairman of the executive committee of the British Association of Urological Surgeons Female Neurological and Urodynamic Urology subsection. He sits on the International Continence Society Urodynamics, Conservative Management of Male LUTS and Mesh Complications Committees.

In 2020 he was awarded the BAUS Golden Telescope for “a significant and lasting contribution to Urology”.

Diane K Newman
Nurse. Moderator
Pennsylvania, United States

Diane K. Newman, DNP, FAAN, BCB-PMD is Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She is also Medical Director of Digital Science Press. For over 35 years, she has practiced as a nurse practitioner in urology, specializing in the evaluation, treatment, and conservative management of urinary incontinence and related pelvic disorders including the use of catheters and other devices managing bladder dysfunction.

Research includes urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, catheters, and other devices for bladder dysfunction. Dr Newman is currently involved in translational research including Principal Investigator of the NIH NIDDK Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Research Consortium, PENN+PLUS Clinical Research Center. She is co-investigator on NIA An integrated exercise and bladder training intervention to reduce falls in older women with urinary incontinence and the NIH Pelvic Floor Disorders Network Clinical Sites.

Dr. Newman is internationally known speaker and has educated nurses and other health care professionals on conservative treatments for lower urinary tract dysfunction having authored more than 100 publications in peer reviewed medical and nursing journals, dozens of book chapters , seventeen books and textbooks on urinary incontinence, guides for clinicians, resource books for patients and caregivers.

Andrei Krassioukov
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Speaker
Vancouver, Canada

Andrei Krassioukov is Professor, Endowed Chair at the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Medicine, and associate director and scientist at the International Collaboration on Repair Discovery (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada and staff physician at the GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre, spinal cord injury program, Vancouver.

Prof. Krassioukov is the first Canadian physician elected President (2018-2022) of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA). His research and clinical work are focused on autonomic dysfunctions following spinal cord injury and other neurodegenerative conditions. Exploring the effect of intermittent catheterization on individuals with SCI, specifically regarding the presence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and episodes of life-threatening autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a major direction of his research.

Research in his lab is supported by grants from the Canadian Institute for Health Research, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Rick Hansen Foundation, PRAXIS Institute, H. Craig Neilsen Foundation, Department of Defence USA, Wings for Life, and many others. He has published over 350 peer-reviewed manuscripts, books, chapters, and reviews and is recognised by numerous international awards including the inaugural Alan Brown Award from ASIA, a medal by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and Senior International Scholar Award, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Angie Rantell
Nurse. Speaker
London, UK

Dr Angie Rantell PhD, RCN ALNP gained a BSc (Hons) in Nursing Studies in 2003. She started working in the field of women’s health, first as a staff nurse and then as a sister on a Gynaecology, breast care and early pregnancy ward.
Since 2007, Angie has been working in the Urogynaecology Department at King’s College Hospital and is a Consultant nurse / nurse cystoscopist. She is actively involved in research and was awarded a PhD in Urogynaecology in 2019 investigating sexual function in women with overactive bladder. In 2019 Angie was also awarded RCN credentialing for advanced level nursing practice. She also works as a Senior lecturer (Professional Practice) in Physiotherapy delivering a multidisciplinary master’s program in Pelvic health at Brunel University.
To date she has published over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals and has written book chapters and contributed to National and International guidelines. As well as her clinical and research activities she provides advice to governmental bodies throughout the UK. She is currently the Co-Chair for the ACP, chair of the Allied Health Professional’s group within BSUG’s, a member of the Nursing and Education committees for ICS and the past chair of the Nursing and Midwifery special interest group within IUGA.

Emmanuel Jean Chartier-Kastler
Urologist. Speaker
Paris, France

Pr Emmanuel Chartier-Kastler, MD, PhD, FEBU Medical school, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France is accredited as Professor of Urology, Department of Urology, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France, since 2001. He is the current chief of the department and leading the functional urology programme, including female and male urinary incontinence diagnosis and management, female pelvic floor disorder, urological malformations and neurourology.

Pr Chartier-Kastler is a past active member of the board of the French Association of Urology (AFU), past General Secretary (2004-2007) , past Chair of the scientific committee, past member of the AFU Neurourology Committee and active member of the French speaking group of Neurourology (GENULF). He is involved in major international congresses of urology as a speaker / Chair. He was involved in the French consensus conference regarding urinary nosocomial infections (2004) and was an active member of the committee for conservative treatment in the neuropathic area during the International Consultation on Incontinence (ICI) from 1998 to 2004. He has chaired the ICS NeuroUrology Promotion Committee (2014-2020).
Pr Chartier-Kastler has published over 450 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters related to urology, especially f incontinence and neuro-urology. With Pr Giuliano (chair) and Pr Denys , he is leading a public research unit dedicated to neuropharmacology of the bladder and sexual dysfunction.

Jane Burns
Research Scientist. Speaker
Belfast, UK

Dr. Jane Burns, PhD is a Pharmacist and Research Fellow at the School of Pharmacy in Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). After obtaining an MPharm degree in Pharmacy and >10 years’ experience in community and hospital pharmacy, Jane completed her PhD in medical device related complications, ‘Combatting device-associated, healthcare-associated infections with innovative anti-biofouling and anti-blocking technologies’.

Jane’s expertise lies in microbiology, biocompatibility, characterisation, development of formulations and models in line with ISO guidelines. Her current research focuses on improving the performance of medical devices and complications associated with intermittent catheterisation.

Dr Burns has authored research papers and presented nationally and internationally.

Matthew Wiley
Speaker
Belfast, UK

Dr. Matthew Wylie (PhD) is a Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Materials Science at the School of Pharmacy in Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). He graduated with a MPharm (1st Class Honours) degree in Pharmacy from QUB in 2013. After completing his pre-registration training year in community pharmacy and registering as a pharmacist with the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland, Matthew returned to the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast to study for a PhD in 'Preventative strategies against microbial contamination of medical devices and surfaces’. Matthew’s postdoctoral career included two EPSRC and MRC-funded projects developing functional coatings for medical devices, including urinary catheters and endotracheal tubes.
His current research focuses on the design and characterisation of novel biomaterials and polymeric functional coatings to improve performance of medical devices and implants, as well drug delivery applications. Much of this research is focused on development of stimuli-responsive polymeric materials which can sense or react to their environment to trigger desirable outputs such as controlled drug delivery, swelling, material actuation, or degradation. He has published over 40 peer-reviewed publications, including 15 journal articles, 3 book chapters and several international conference presentations.

Piet L Eelen
Nurse. Speaker
Melsbroek, Belgium

Mr. Piet Eelen, RN, MSc is Clinical Nurse Specialist Multiple Sclerosis working in the National Multiple Sclerosis Center of Melsbroek, Belgium since 1981. He has a post-bachelor degree in Nursing Management, Continence Nursing and Rehabilitation Nursing. In his clinical practice he has a special interest in rehabilitation nursing, disease modifying therapies, continence management and lifestyle factors in MS.

Piet Eelen organizes education and development for the hospital nursing staff and organizes educational meetings for MS-Nurses and neurology nurses in Belgium. He participates and collaborates with national and international associations (BVNV, ECTRIMS, RIMS, EANN, ICS and EAUN) and is an invited speaker and member of advisory boards organized by pharma industry. Piet (co-)published articles on Nursing care in MS, bladder management in MS, bowel management in MS, energy management in MS, telemedicine in MS and management of side effects of DMT’s. He also participates and organizes research projects in MS Nursing.

Since 2012 he is the chair of the Belgian Association of MS-Nurses. From 2017 until 2023 he was board member of Rehabilitation in MS (RIMS) and coordinator of the Special Interest Groups on Bladder and Bowel disorders. Since 2020 he is chair of the MS-Nurse-Pro Syllabus committee of the European MS Platform (EMSP).

Stefania Musco
Urologist. Speaker
Firenze, Italy

Dr Stefania Musco, Consultant Neuro-Urologist took her medical degree in 2001 from Campus Biomedico University in Rome. In November 2006 she got her specialization in Urology with full marks from Tor Vergata University in Rome. Since 2016 she has been employed as urologist consultant in Neuro-Urology Dept. at Careggi University Hospital in Florence.

Member of ICS since 2010, she was involved in the local organizing committee in Florence for the ICS annual meeting in 2017. Dr Musco has been a board of trustees member of the Italian Urodynamic Society (SIUD) since 2018 and currently she has been in charge as SIUD Secretary. Presently, she is also secretary of the International Neuro-Urology Society.

Since 2015 Dr Musco has been collaborating as panel associate and currently she is nominated as panel member for the Neuro-Urology EAU guideline. She is author of 40 papers listed on PubMed, 50 on Scopus ( h-index 14). She has been reviewer for Eur Urol, Neurourol Urodyn, BJU International, BMC urology and several other indexed Journals.

Dr Musco has participated in many national and international congresses, courses and training. Her main areas of interest are Neuro-urology, urodynamics, diagnosis and treatment of female and male urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction.

Steve Kearley
Patient Advocate. Speaker
Oklahoma, United States

Steve Kearley is an experienced patient advocate with a goal of making a positive impact on the lives of people with disabilities. His career has included.

• 1999- 2008 Economics Teacher, Eisenhower HS, TX, USA
• 2008 - 2018 from Manager to VP Sales & Partner J&R Medical & RSI Medical, TX , USA
• 2018 – Present Executive Patient Advocate, 180 Medical, OK, USA

Steve’s story
On September 30, 1988, my Senior year of high school, my life changed forever. While riding in the back of a friend’s car, we suddenly lost control. I was tossed around like a rag doll as the car rolled over until we ended up at the bottom of a ditch with the car flipped on its side. Immediately, I was paralyzed from the neck down.

However, I did not let that day or any day since defeat me. I am now a C6/C7 quadriplegic, living life to the fullest. I have the honor of helping others facing similar challenges overcome the obstacles of life through peer support, product education, and community involvement.

Sula Windgassen
Psychologist. Speaker
London, UK

Dr Sula Windgassen is a leading health psychologist and psychotherapist using psychology to improve chronic illness, chronic stress and trauma. Regularly, featured in the media (Women’s Health, Psychologies Magazine, iNews & Guardian) Dr Sula explains complex mind-body science in a way that can be implemented into daily life for those with women’s health issues, gut disorders and other chronic conditions like endometriosis, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. After completing five degrees with two doctoral qualifications including a PhD in Psychological Medicine, Dr Sula has gone on to publish in leading academic journals including the BMJ and Lancet Gastroenterology, direct a specialised clinical health psychology practice and is working on a new book. Dr Sula is now focussed on making mind-body science and practice accessible to as many as possible through her online membership platform with live weekly calls on Body Mind Connect.