This full day workshop will be held primarily to train laboratory inspectors, but anybody is welcome to attend. The morning session will be designed as an intensive course on how to perform laboratory inspections in general, and specifically for laboratories doing different types of testing. The afternoon session will feature a talk on the top 10 citations and common deficiencies as well as an update on ASHI's travel policy. A round table exercise will be held to discuss real life inspector scenarios.
This session will provide broad perspectives on the history, contemporary era, and future of immunogenetics. It will open with historical perspectives on the immunogenetics of disease, followed by modern immunogenetic perspectives on Type-1-Diabetes, infectious disease, and adverse drug reactions. The second half of the session will showcase new approaches for understanding the evolution and organization of the HLA region, the impact of archaic gene variants on the immunity of modern humans, and novel insights into KIR-HLA and CD8-NK cell interactions.
This invitation only reception is to welcome ASHI's Annual Meeting first time attendees and new members of ASHI as of September 1, 2023.
In this session, key leaders in the field of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics will navigate us through the history and evolution of our society, detailing how our mission to serve transplant patients required us to move beyond less-than-optimal methodologies, understand the challenging biology and overcome clinical obstacles through multidisciplinary collaborative efforts.
Celebrate the kickoff of the 50th Annual Meeting while visiting with ASHI Exhibitors, poster presenters. Enjoy light fare and drinks while you make new connections.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
This invitation only reception is for International attendees of the ASHI Annual Meeting to mingle and learn more about the meeting and the society.
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.
While ASHI is disappointed that we are unable to hold the GenDx Tulip Run as we have in previous years, ASHI and GenDx still want to give attendees the option of a Wednesday morning workout that supports a local OPO, OneLegacy. Even if you've never experienced a Richard Simmons "Sweatin' to the Oldies" workout, Arttie, our talented Richard Simmons impersonator, is sure to get you revved up, laughing and most importantly..sweatin'! In the spirit of competition, there will be prizes awarded to the best dressed, most spirited, and supreme dancer.
The Rose Payne Award was established in 1984 to honor a great scientist and to recognize her long-standing contributions to the field of immunogenetics and her support in the development of the society.
The Science and Technology Initiatives Committee better known as STIC will award three individuals for the Early Career Investigator, the Innovation Scholarship and the Michael Schmiederer Research Science Award
Speaker: James Mathew, PhD – Northwestern University
This plenary session will discuss the pivotal role of HLA in cancer immunotherapy, highlighting the latest research and therapeutic innovations. The first presentation will explore the intricate relationships between HLA genotypes and the neoantigen landscape, revealing how these factors influence immune responses, affect cancer risk, and determine treatment outcomes. The second speaker will introduce the novel peptide-centric (PC)-CAR T cells that target intracellular tumor antigens, thereby expanding the therapeutic potential for solid tumors, with the first PC-CAR entering clinical trials in 2024. Given the essential role of HLA in peptide presentation, the loss of HLA in cancer would be detrimental. The third presentation will focus on the detection and implications of tumor-specific HLA gene downregulation, using advanced in situ immunohistochemistry to enhance our understanding of antigen presentation and resistance mechanisms in cancer immunotherapies. Prepare to be inspired by the transformative potential of these discoveries at the intersection of cancer biology, HLA, and immunotherapy!
Workshop 4, titled "Let’s Get Real, We are Virtually There", will focus on the important topic of Best Practices in HLA Antibody Interpretation and Virtual Crossmatching. Following on the success of Workshop 7 last year, and building on it, we plan to present three interesting HLA antibody cases to all ASHI members who registered for the annual meeting. Each case will include detailed clinical history, sensitization background, and HLA antibody SAB assay results, including raw Luminex csv files. This will allow you to analyze and interpret the antibodies as you would for your patients. However, here’s the twist: for each case, we will also request that you perform virtual crossmatches based on your antibody interpretations. We aim to gather the antibody interpretations and virtual crossmatch results from interested participants. These collective findings will be collated and analyzed for presentation during the workshop. We encourage many of you to share your insights and participate in this interactive, educational and informative session, which promises to be both informative and fun. Your contributions will be invaluable as we continue to develop Best Practices in HLA antibody Interpretation and Virtual Crossmatching.
This session will review historical and current processes for achieving standardized Nomenclature of HLA factors. The need for periodic updates will be discussed, with special focus on current gaps resulting from outdated serological nomenclature The rationale for developing criteria for the definition of HLA antigens in silico will be presented. The resulting updates in assigning serologic antigens corresponding to the vast majority of HLA alleles defined by molecular methods will be presented. Implementation of these updates for their use in Clinical Histocompatibility practices will be discussed.
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Histocompatibility Committee applies evolving science and technology in transplant immunology to develop, implement, and inform OPTN bylaws, policies, and clinical guidance for organ donation and transplantation. At this year's Combined Directors' and Technologists' Forum, OPTN Histocompatibility Chair Dr. Gerald Morris will provide an important update on behalf of the committee.
The Directors Forum is a session geared toward doctoral members in attendance at the Annual Meeting. The agenda includes updates from the Directors’ Affairs, National Clinical Affairs, and the Science and Technology Initiatives Committees. This informational session also provides an opportunity for networking.
The Laboratory Professionals Forum is a session geared toward non-doctoral members of all levels in attendance at the Annual Meeting. The agenda includes updates from the Technologist Affairs Committee, other associated committees, current methods and new technologies, and other topics relevant to our work. This informational session also provides an opportunity for networking.
The Paul I. Terasaki Clinical Science Award was established in 2003 to honor an individual, group, or institution in recognition of significant accomplishments an/or contributions to the fields of clinical transplantation, histocompatibility, and immunogenetics. This award was made possible by a grant from the Paul I. Terasaki Foundation. In recognition of the scientific contributions to the field of immunogenetics and transplantation immunology made by Dr. Bernard Amos, the "Distinguished Scientist Award" has been renamed the "Bernard Amos Distinguished Scientist Award" This award was established in 2001 to honor a distinguished ASHI scientist, who like Dr. Amos, has made significant contributions to our field.
This plenary session will discuss the advances in Hematopoietic Stem Cell transplantation (HSCT). In this session we will hear how HCST started, what the needs were, the groups of patient in which they were used and how the requirements and applications changed overtime. This presentation will allow us to understand the interplay between HSCT and cellular therapy today. In addition we will learn how the use of HLA mismatched donors can expand the the application of HSCT to more patients with the implementation of novel immunosuppressive therapies. In the final presentation we will learn about state of the art of studies regardingHLA loss as a main mechanism of tumor escape after HCST.
This workshop will delve into multiple aspects of standardizing the workflows of all laboratory managed data, including acquiring, managing, storing, reporting, messaging, and discarding data. The speakers and panelists will touch on some recommended HLA and antibody data standards, examples of best practices as well as practices to avoid when handling laboratory/clinical data.
Co-Chair: Anne Halpin
Co-Chair: James Lan
Co-Chair: Rob Liwski, MD, PhD, FRCPC, F(ACHI) – Dalhousie University
Co-Chair: Cathi Murphey
Moderator: Trish Campbell
Moderator: Jenny Tran, PhD – Vancouver Coastal Health
Speaker: Paul Keown, MD, DSc, MBA, FACP, FASN, FAST, FRCP, FRCPC, FRCPath, FRSC, FRSB – University of British Columbia
Speaker: Ana Konvalinka, MD, PhD, FRCPC – University Health Network, University of Toronto
Speaker: James Lan
This session will highlight three precision medicine approaches aimed at understanding, preventing, and treating alloimmune injury which remains a dominant cause of long-term kidney allograft loss. Presenter 1 will demonstrate novel approaches to understand the functional properties of donor specific antibodies and their interaction with the kidney allograft tissue. Presenter 2 will show the clinical utility of using molecular mismatch analysis to risk stratify and guide the selection of induction therapy. Presenter 3 will discuss the approach and activities undertaken to incorporate molecular matching in local and national kidney allocation systems in Canada.
Coffee and Compatibility is a monthly ASHI Podcast discussing current topics and expert opinions relating to transplantation, histocompatibility and immunogenetics. The podcast will include personal interviews from the American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) members, ASHI leadership, intriguing ASHI personalities, and discussions of current trends in transplantation.
As the field of cellular therapies evolves, allogeneic therapies are quickly growing and becoming very attractive due to the plethora of available cell sources and the flexibility of building off-the-shelf cell banks. However, histocompatibility between the cell donors and therapy recipients plays an important factor. In particular, the role of HLA matching is unclear in impacting the success of multiple cellular therapies, when to account for it, when to avoid and when to take particular considerations. This session will touch on some recent advances in allogeneic cellular therapies and discuss some important histocompatibility issues cellular therapy developers and testing labs are facing through the experiences of some esteemed experts in the field.
Xenotransplantation, long regarded as the perpetual future of organ transplantation, has recently undergone a notable resurgence. In the past five years, we have seen the clinical application of heart and kidney xenografts in human recipients. If successful, this approach has the potential to not only alleviate the critical shortage of transplantable organs but also present new challenges and opportunities for the transplantation and histocompatibility communities. Key among these challenges is determining how to select and effectively match patients with genetically engineered pig donors. In this session, we will examine the clinical need for xenotransplantation, the complexities and challenges of using pigs as organ donors, current strategies for assessing histocompatibility in the context of xenotransplantation, and future directions for xenocompatibility testing.