Axel Bex

Since 1999 I have been working as a urologist at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI). Within our urology department, I am involved in the treatment of patients with a form of kidney cancer. What I really like about the NKI are the short lines of communication between colleagues. We all have to deal with one type of disease and we have the same goal in mind. This greatly benefits patient care.

After my training as a urologist at the hospital of the University of Essen, Germany, I turned my attention to urological tumors. My special area of focus is renal cell carcinoma, in which I combine high-quality oncological patient care with scientific research. As a team, we investigate the effects of drug treatment before or after the removal of the kidney tumor at national and international level. Our industry-leading research has led to a global network of experts. This allows us to offer patients with kidney cancer the best and most innovative care. This applies to the diagnosis, treatment and aftercare of kidney cancer.

I lead the multidisciplinary kidney cancer focus group within the Netherlands Cancer Institute, am chair of the Dutch renal cell carcinoma guideline and am international vice-chair of the kidney cancer guideline of the European Society of Urology (EAU). Together with the AUMC, OLVG and Spaarne hospital, we have set up the Kidney Cancer Network Amsterdam (NKNA) to be able to offer patients with kidney cancer optimal tailor-made care through joint multidisciplinary discussions. Within this network, I treat all stages of kidney cancer and I am one of the kidney cancer surgeons where I perform keyhole surgery using the Da Vinci surgical robot, among other things. I have more than 25 years of surgery experience and perform 150 procedures on the kidney every year. Since 2019, I have been working part-time at the NKI and the rest of the time as the clinical head of a kidney cancer clinic at the Royal Free Hospital, London, one of the largest kidney cancer units in Europe. In 2020, I was appointed Professor of Urology at University College London (UCL). My aim is to offer the best treatment for each individual patient through innovative care and research.

Positions and areas of interest:

• Urologist with a focus on kidney cancer and specialized in kidney cancer surgery

• Chair of the focus group on kidney cancer at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek hospital
• Member of the Kidney Cancer Network Amsterdam (NKNA)
• Chairman of the Dutch guideline for renal cell carcinoma
• Vice-President of the Renal Cell Carcinoma Directive of the European Society of Urology (EAU)
• Medical advisor to the Kidney Cancer Association (KCA) patient association
• Medical advisor of the patient association International Kidney Cancer Coalition (IKCC)

Qualifications:

• 2005: PhD on the combination treatment of surgery and drug therapy in renal cell carcinoma at Utrecht University
• 2020: Professor of Urology, University College London (UCL)

Scientific publications:

Scientific publications Pubmed