Bladder cancer is a common malignancy in certain parts of North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa, squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder is the predominant histological subtype and is associated with urinary schistosomiasis due to infection with the parasite Schistosoma haematobium. Very little research on the etiology or early detection of bladder cancer has been conducted in the sub-Saharan African setting. Therefore, researchers from IARC and partner institutions initiated the Bladder Cancer Epidemiology and Early Detection in Africa (BEED) study.