In October 2026, as the autumn season ushers in a new chapter of progress and the spirit of excellence is passed on to the next generation, the Urologic Oncology Center of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center was officially established. In line with the hospital's strategic plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), which calls for the development of disease-specific centers, the initiative aims to build a nationally leading and internationally first-class center for urologic cancer diagnosis, treatment, and research. This milestone marks a new stage in the development of urologic oncology at the hospital, characterized by centralized leadership, coordinated operations across two campuses, and integrated development.Twenty-Five Years of Dedication: Building a Strong Foundation and Advancing Into a New Era
The story began in 2002, when Professor Dingwei Ye, a leading figure in the discipline, personally established the Department of Urology at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Over the past 25 years, the team has remained committed to a development philosophy centered on standardized surgery, multidisciplinary team (MDT) care, and the parallel advancement of clinical practice and scientific research. From a newly established department, it has grown into one of China’s largest, most influential, and most far-reaching centers for the diagnosis, treatment, and research of urologic and male reproductive system cancers.
Over the past 25 years, the department has maintained surgery at the core of its practice and continuously advanced its clinical capabilities. Its surgical volumes for prostate and bladder cancer rank first in Shanghai, while its renal cancer surgical volume remains among the highest in China. Minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, and energy-based ablation technologies have continued to advance, with surgical expertise remaining the cornerstone of the discipline’s development.
Over the same period, the department has pioneered innovative treatment models and established a strong national reputation for MDT-based comprehensive care. In 2005, it took the lead in establishing a multidisciplinary urologic oncology team. By integrating multiple specialties around a surgical core, the team has helped achieve internationally advanced survival outcomes for patients with complex, advanced-stage disease. Its achievements have been incorporated into dozens of authoritative clinical guidelines in China and internationally.
The department has also consistently prioritized research and innovation, establishing itself as a national leader in clinical research. It has developed one of China’s largest platforms for research on novel drugs and medical devices in urologic oncology and has led more than 160 international and domestic multicenter clinical trials. Its research has been published in leading international journals, and the team has taken the lead in developing multiple national-level clinical guidelines, diagnostic and treatment standards, and expert consensus statements.
The Shanghai Institute of Urologic Oncology and Fudan University Institute of Prostate Cancer Research were subsequently established within the department’s institutional framework. The discipline has received dozens of major honors, including the First Prize of the Shanghai Science and Technology Progress Award and the First Prize of the Ministry of Education Science and Technology Progress Award.
These achievements represent the department’s accumulated surgical expertise, research strength, and academic heritage—and provide the foundation for the establishment of the Urologic Oncology Center today.
An Integrated Leadership Structure: Two Campuses Working Together to Shape a New Future
Following formal approval by the hospital, the Urologic Oncology Center will adopt a two-tier management structure, with strategic decisions coordinated centrally and implementation carried out by the respective departments. The core organizational structure is as follows.
Center Leadership
Professor Dingwei Ye will serve as Director of the Center, with overall responsibility for its academic development and strategic planning. Professors Bo Dai, Yao Zhu, and Xiaojian Qin will serve as Deputy Directors, assisting with key areas of responsibility.
The Center’s core leadership group will serve as its highest decision-making body, coordinating major decisions across the two clinical departments, establishing diagnostic and treatment standards, optimizing research priorities, and allocating resources.
Two Clinical Departments Across Two Campuses: Shared Foundations and Coordinated Development
Department of Urology (Xuhui Campus): Professor Bo Dai will serve as Department Director.
Department of Comprehensive Urologic Treatment (Pudong Campus): Professor Yao Zhu will serve as Department Director.
Both clinical departments will maintain urologic oncology surgery as a core area of practice. They will share the technical expertise and professional ethos inherited from the original Department of Urology, while benefiting from common academic platforms and resources for development.
The Center will implement integrated and standardized management across both departments, including unified diagnostic and treatment protocols, surgical quality standards, quality-control systems, and academic branding. By leveraging complementary strengths and deepening coordination between the two campuses, the Center aims to establish a high-quality service system covering the entire continuum of urologic cancer care.
Striving for Excellence: Embracing a New Mission and Opening a New Chapter
At this new historical starting point, the Urologic Oncology Center will continue to uphold the discipline’s founding principles. Its vision is to become an internationally leading center for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, and research of urologic cancers. To achieve this goal, it will prioritize four areas of development.
First, maintaining its surgical core. The Center will promote consistent improvements in surgical techniques and clinical quality management across both campuses, further consolidating its leading position in urologic oncology surgery.
Second, deepening comprehensive care. Building on its surgical foundation, the Center will integrate multidisciplinary treatment approaches to strengthen whole-course disease management and improve patient survival outcomes.
Third, reinforcing its leadership in clinical research. By coordinating patient resources, biospecimens, and research platforms across both campuses, the Center will develop a higher-level platform for clinical innovation and translational research.
Fourth, integrating its academic brand. The Center will consolidate and optimize resources for academic conferences, research publications, and external collaborations, continuously expanding its international academic influence.
With strong momentum and new opportunities ahead, the time has come to set sail and move forward with determination. With significant responsibilities ahead, continued effort and commitment will be essential.
The entire team at the Urologic Oncology Center of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center will take this establishment as a new starting point, remain true to the founding mission of medicine, and embrace its responsibility to advance the discipline. Through close collaboration and sustained dedication, the Center will strive to elevate urologic oncology in China to new heights and make an even greater contribution to the Healthy China initiative.
