Skip to main content

Full Schedule

Full Schedule

  • Tuesday, October 22, 2024
  • 6:45 AM – 8:00 AM US PDT
    Volunteer Breakfast
    This invitation only breakfast is for those currently serving as a committee member on one of the following ASHI Committees: ARB, ACHI, Awards, Audit, Bylaws, Directors’ Affairs, Education, External Affairs, Finance, International Affairs, Info Technology, Leadership Development, Marketing, Membership, NCAC, Program Planning, Publications, PT Committee, QAS, STIC, or Technologists’ Affairs Committee.
  • 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM US PDT
    Service Awards Presentation
    Speaker: Madison Austin – UAB Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Lab
    Speaker: Patricia Campbell, MBChB, FRCPC – Alberta Precision Labs (Retired)
    Moderator: Anne Halpin, PhD, A(ACHI) – University of Alberta
    Moderator: Luis Hidalgo, PhD, F(ACHI) – University of Wisconsin HLA Laboratory
    Moderator: Carey Killion, BS, MT(ASCP), CHS(ACHI) – KSL Diagnostics
    ASHI sponsors several awards to recognize scientific accomplishments and contributions to the fields of histocompatibility and immunogenetics, and service to the society. Join us in awarding the 2024 recipients for the Distinguished Scientist, Outstanding Technologist and the J. Marilyn MacQueen Rising Star.
  • 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM US PDT
    Keynote Address: ABO Histocompatibility: New Tools to Explore ABH Antigens and ABO Antibodies in the Transplant Setting
    Speaker: Lori West, Professor – University of Alberta
    Moderator: Anne Halpin, PhD, A(ACHI) – University of Alberta
    Chair: Rob Liwski, MD, PhD, FRCPC, F(ACHI) – Dalhousie University
    Understanding ABO-histocompatibility will allow improved risk assessment for ABO-incompatible organ transplantation. This presentation will cover emerging glycomics tools to improve accuracy of risk assessment. The ABO glycan microarray and ABO single antigen bead luminex assay for detection and precise characterization of ABO subtype specific antibodies will be especially helpful. Additionally, ABO subtype-specific monoclonal antibodies and ABO genotyping will allow full donor and recipient profile and tissue-specific antigen expression. These tools can accompany crucial information generated by HLA risk assessment.
  • 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM US PDT
    AM Break
  • 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM US PDT
    Scholar Presentations
    Speaker: Chang Liu, MD, PhD, A(ACHI) – Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
    Speaker: Ned Van Eps, PhD – Thermo Fisher Scientific - One Lambda
    Co-Chair: Abeer Madbouly, PhD – NMDP
    Chair: Ryan Pena, MD, PhD, MS, F(ACHI) – Tufts University School of Medicine
  • 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM US PDT
    Plenary I: New Horizons in Cardiothoracic Transplantation
    Speaker: Meghan Aversa, MD, MS, FRCPC – University Health Network
    Speaker: Jon Kobashigawa, MD – Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
    Speaker: Joseph Turek, MD, PhD – Duke Medical Center
    Moderator: Elaine Chou-Wu, PhD, F(ACHI) – Bloodworks NW
    Moderator: Adriana Zeevi, PhD – University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    Co-Chair: Howie Gebel, PhD – Emory University Hospital
    Co-Chair: Annette Jackson, PhD – Duke University
    Leaders in the field of thoracic transplantation will speak on cutting-edge procedures, discuss new and existing biomarkers, and describe current approaches to optimize outcomes for heart and lung transplant candidates. Furthermore, advances in the operating room procedures as well as   post-transplant tools to monitor allograft health will be discussed. Additionally, new studies in lung transplantation that focus on approaches to overcome histocompatibility barriers and increase donor options for HLA sensitized candidates will be presented
  • 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM US PDT
    ASHI Lunch
  • 12:40 PM – 1:35 PM US PDT
    User Group Meeting: Thermo Fisher Scientific: New Molecular Assays: From Validation to Reimbursement
  • 1:40 PM – 2:35 PM US PDT
    User Group Meeting: GenDx - Advancing Transplant Medicine: The Impact of Nanopore Sequencing on HLA & SLA (Swine) Typing
  • 1:40 PM – 2:35 PM US PDT
    User Group Meeting: Werfen: Exploring New Frontiers in Transplantation Testing.
  • 2:45 PM – 4:15 PM US PDT
    Abstract I: Preclinical Discovery and Innovation
    Speaker: Robert Bray, PhD., F(ACHI), HCLD/CC(ABB) – Emory University
    Speaker: Matthew Cusick, PhD F(ACHI) – University of Michigan
    Speaker: Shi-Yuan (Tina) Meng, PhD – Thermo Fisher Scientific
    Speaker: Anna Morris
    Speaker: Omar Moussa, MSc, PhD, F(ACHI) – Medical University of South Carolina
    Moderator: Ahmed Mostafa
    Moderator: Jenny Tran, PhD – Vancouver Coastal Health
    Co-Chair: Abeer Madbouly, PhD – NMDP
    Co-Chair: Ryan Pena, MD, PhD, MS, F(ACHI) – Tufts University School of Medicine
  • 2:45 PM – 4:15 PM US PDT
    Abstract II: Expanding the HLA Toolbox
    Speaker: Timothy Emery, BSc – Australian Red Cross Lifeblood - SATIS
    Speaker: Robert Frick, MD – Stanford University - Stanford Health Care
    Speaker: Cathy Gebhart, MB(ASCP), PhD, F(ACHI) – LifeLink Foundation
    Speaker: Sarah Johnson, Clinical Laboratory Scientist – Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network
    Speaker: Anna Morris
    Speaker: Michiko Taniguchi, HLA Associate Director – Temple University Hospital
    Moderator: Rajdeep Das, MD, PhD, FIBMS – University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
    Moderator: Ruth Koester, PhD, F(ACHI) – Labcorp
    Co-Chair: Abeer Madbouly, PhD – NMDP
    Co-Chair: Ryan Pena, MD, PhD, MS, F(ACHI) – Tufts University School of Medicine
  • 2:45 PM – 4:15 PM US PDT
    Workshop 1: Back to Basics: Deep Dive into Antigenicity, Immunogenicity, and Alloantibody Formation
    Speaker: Helen Goodridge, PhD – Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
    Speaker: Alba Grifoni, PhD – La Jolla Institute for Immunology
    Speaker: David Nemazee
    Co-Chair: Carey Killion, BS, MT(ASCP), CHS(ACHI) – KSL Diagnostics
    With multiple approaches to assess HLA eplets and molecular mismatches, there is intense interest in improving the sensitivity and biological relevance of these models by identifying those most likely to stimulate an alloimmune response. This is widely being called “immunogenicity,” but the definitions and biology of antigenic vs. immunogenic properties need to be considered as we move forward. This session will cover features of antigens that make them more or less able to be recognized by T/B cells, then discuss the role of antigen presenting cells and their activation state as determinants of adaptive immune activation. Lastly, we will translate these premises to the biology of B cells and alloantibody production.
  • 4:15 PM – 4:45 PM US PDT
    PM Break
  • 4:45 PM – 6:15 PM US PDT
    Abstract III: Adaptive Immunity and Transplant Outcomes
    Speaker: Amit Kalra, MBBS, MSc – University of Calgary
    Speaker: Alberto Lima, PhD – Federal University of Paraná
    Speaker: Rebecca Sosa, PhD, F(ACHI) – UCLA Immunogenetics Center
    Speaker: Xiaohai (Sam) Zhang, PhD – Cedars Sinai Medical Center
    Moderator: Matthew Najor, PhD, F(ACHI) – University of Michigan Medicine
    Moderator: David Pinelli, PhD, F(ACHI) – Northwestern University
    Co-Chair: Abeer Madbouly, PhD – NMDP
    Co-Chair: Ryan Pena, MD, PhD, MS, F(ACHI) – Tufts University School of Medicine
  • 4:45 PM – 6:15 PM US PDT
    Workshop 2: Tools for HLA Antibody Analysis: Pulling Back the Curtain
    Speaker: Robert Bray, PhD., F(ACHI), HCLD/CC(ABB) – Emory University
    Speaker: Megan Jeracki, CHS(ACHI) – Stanford Blood Center
    Speaker: Yan Li
    Speaker: Jean Luc Taupin, PharmD, PhD – hôpital Saint-Louis
    Co-Chair: Howie Gebel, PhD – Emory University Hospital
    Co-Chair: Annette Jackson, PhD – Duke University
    This workshop will include a “LIVE HLA antibody analysis challenge” to compare new and developing analytical tools with the goal of improving analytical validity within HLA antibody testing and DSA assignments. Speakers will be challenged with the same single antigen bead csv files and discuss their results “live” during the workshop. We will engage the speakers and audience in active discussion on improved accuracy and the practicality of implementation into clinical workflows.
  • 4:45 PM – 6:15 PM US PDT
    Workshop 3: AABB/ASHI Symposium: Exploring Transplant Uncertainties/Conundrums in ABO
    Speaker: Dorry Segev, MD, PhD, FACS – NYU Langone Health
    Speaker: Amena Usami, MD, F(ACHI) – UC San Diego Health
    Moderator: Robert Achram
    Moderator: Lori West, Professor – University of Alberta
    Co-Chair: Anne Halpin, PhD, A(ACHI) – University of Alberta
    Co-Chair: Chang Liu, MD, PhD, A(ACHI) – Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
    Co-Chair: Ryan Pena, MD, PhD, MS, F(ACHI) – Tufts University School of Medicine
    This workshop is designed to review policy and practice related to ABO-incompatible transplantation. ABO-histocompatibility and the current methods used to determine ABO immune risk assessment will be reviewed. The session will finish with a panel discussion related to current practice and potential future directions of ABO-incompatible practice in renal and pediatric heart transplantation.
  • 6:15 PM – 7:15 PM US PDT
    Director's in Training Reception
    This invitation only reception is for Director in Training attendees to network with other DITs and members of the ASHI Board. Enjoy light fare and beverages.
  • 6:15 PM – 8:15 PM US PDT
    Poster Reception with Exhibits
  • 6:45 PM – 7:45 PM US PDT
    International Reception
    This invitation only reception is for International attendees of the ASHI Annual Meeting to mingle and learn more about the meeting and the society.
  • 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM US PDT
    ARB/Inspector's Reception
    This invitation only reception is ASHI's thank you to all of our hard-working inspectors. Enjoy time with your colleagues and light fare and beverages.