Downstate Urology Research Featured at National AUA Meeting

By Office of the President | Jun 2, 2026

Faculty, trainees, and collaborators from our Department of Urology made a strong showing at the 2026 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., presenting eight research abstracts on topics including urinary health, men’s health, diabetes-related bladder conditions, device safety, and population health.

Several studies examined the relationship between urologic conditions and broader health issues such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses, reflecting the growing recognition that urinary and sexual health are closely connected to overall health and well-being.

The department’s research efforts were led by Jeffrey P. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D., FACS, newly minted Distinguished Service Professor, Chair of Urology, and Director of the M.D./Ph.D. program, who served as the senior author on multiple studies. An internationally recognized expert in urology and medical education, Dr. Weiss has helped build a culture of scholarship, mentorship, and collaboration within the department while advancing research that addresses questions directly relevant to patient care.

Key collaborators included Jason Lazar, M.D., Ph.D., MPH, Executive Vice Dean of the College of Medicine, Distinguished Teaching Professor and Clinical Assistant Dean, and Nicholas T. Karanikolas, M.D., FACS, Associate Professor of Urology and Chief of Uro-Oncology at the Brooklyn VA Medical Center.

The meeting also reflected Downstate’s longstanding international collaboration with Karel Everaert, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Urology at Ghent University in Belgium and Head of the Functional Urology Team. Several trainees from Ghent have participated in research and educational exchanges at Downstate, including the current visiting scholar, Laure Van de Steen, M.D., Department of Urology at Ghent University. 

Research was presented by medical students Robert Adler, Michael Daly, Myles Goliger, Michael Kozlov, Oliver Menken, James Noyes, Matthew Antonellis, a 2026 College of Medicine graduate, and Esther Auerbach of the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine/New York Medical College partnership. Downstate Urology resident Justin Ingram, M.D., MPH, who earned his medical and public health degrees at Downstate, also presented his work.

The department received additional recognition when Andrew Winer, M.D., FACS, Associate Professor of Urology and Residency Program Director, was named the 2026 AUA Young Urologist of the Year, an honor recognizing emerging leadership and contributions to the specialty.

The annual Downstate Urology reunion drew one of its largest turnouts in recent years, reflecting the department’s strong alumni and professional network. The presentations, collaborations, and national recognition highlighted the department’s continued contributions to urologic research, education, and patient care while strengthening Downstate’s presence within academic medicine.

Downstate Presentations at AUA 2026: (Create a sidebar for this information; it goes with Urology

• Polyuria and Urgency Correlates in Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
  Menken OB, Daly M, Antonellis M, Heaney C, Gray K, Karanikolas N, Weiss JP
• One and Done? Comparing Post-procedural Complication Rates for Reusable Versus Disposable Cystoscopes
  Mishail B, Kozlov M, West M, Goliger M, Levy B, Noyes J, Schulman A, Weiss J
• Seeing Clearly: No Association Between PDE5 Inhibitors and Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in Erectile Dysfunction Patients: A TriNetX Study
  Kozlov M, Goliger M, James A, Adler R, Lin C, Ingram J, Winer A, Karanikolas N, Canellos E, Weiss JP
• From Blood Sugar to Bladder Health: GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Are Associated with Lower Urinary Complication Risk in Diabetes
  Adler R, Antonellis M, Kozlov M, Goliger M, Weiss JP
• Beyond Dry Eyes: Associations with Urinary and Renal Morbidity in Sjögren’s Syndrome
  Adler R, Goliger M, Kozlov M, Antonellis M, Weiss JP
• Age-Stratified Association Between Inflammatory Penile Disorders and Penile Cancer: A Tenfold Increased Risk Across All Age Groups
  Kozlov M, Goliger M, Auerbach E, Adler R, James A, Lin C, Ingram J, Winer A, Karanikolas N, Weiss JP
• When the Heart Wakes You Up at Night: Insights from Invasive Hemodynamic Assessment
  Van De Steen L, Hazique M, Van Den Ende M, Bou Kheir G, Herve F, De Backer T, Everaert K, Weiss J, Lazar J
• Sex-Specific Cardiovascular and Metabolic Correlates of Nocturnal Polyuria: Findings from the EpiNP Study
  Van De Steen L, Everaert K, Lazar J, Weiss JP

Tags: Urology