Pearls & Perspectives: Advancing Erectile Dysfunction Research, with Nicholas Deebel, MD

Welcome back to Pearls and Perspectives!

In this episode of Pearls & Perspectives, host Amy Pearlman, MD, is joined by Larry Lipshultz, MD, and Northwestern University andrology fellow Nicholas A. Deebel, MD, for a conversation recorded at the 2026 American Urological Association Annual Meeting. The discussion spans career development, program building, and emerging research in men's health, highlighting both the practical and investigative sides of academic andrology.

Deebel reflects on his decision to join the University of South Alabama after fellowship, where he will launch the institution's first men's health and fertility program. Drawing on decades of experience, Lipshultz shares practical advice for physicians establishing new andrology practices, emphasizing the importance of developing in-house clinical infrastructure. The conversation explores why creating an independent andrology laboratory can provide greater quality control, support innovation, expand educational opportunities, and position a growing program for long-term success.

The conversation also explores Deebel's ongoing clinical trial (NCT07537855) evaluating intracavernosal incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin) as a potential treatment for mild to moderate erectile dysfunction.¹ Deebel reviews the proposed biologic mechanism, the rationale for pairing the therapy with tadalafil (Cialis), and how the crossover study was designed to address limitations of previous international research.

REFERENCE

1. Efficacy of Intracavernosal Xeomin With Tadalafil for Mild-Moderate Erectile Dysfunction. ClinicalTrials.gov. Last updated May 11, 2026. Accessed June 30, 2026. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07537855