Just Released - Transplantation Journal - July Issue

Expanding donation rates is a theme for many researchers - in this issue, options are raised with NASH in older donors, some donor melanomas, and understanding the limits of cardiac ischemia. The impact of simultaneous Liver kidney allocation policies in the US is examined. The continuing toll of COVID is emphasized in relation to risks of fungal infection, even though interest has waned. TTS and DICG examine the vexed issues of transplantation for migrants and refugees - stranded in so many ways. Reviews provide some excellent thought-provoking articles on both cognate and innate cellular mechanisms. Excellent reading for renewing and recharging over the northern summer.


Table of Contents

In View

Research Highlights

Expert Insight

Meeting Report

Commentaries

Reviews



Meeting Report - TTS Symposium at FOCiS 2024

The "New Frontiers in B Cell/Antibody Responses" Member Society Symposium at FOCIS 2024 was held on June 18, 2024. The symposium provided a comprehensive exploration of cutting-edge topics in transplantation immunology, specifically focusing on xenotransplantation, desensitization, and tissue-based immune responses. Featuring a series of impactful presentations, the session was organized by The Transplantation Society (TTS), the American Society of Transplantation (AST), and the American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI); and chaired by Dr. Nicole Valenzuela, from UCLA; and Dr. Anoma Nellore from the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Talks included Dr. Mohammad Mohiuddin’s insights into endothelial injury and antibody-mediated rejection in xenotransplantation and Dr. Massimo Mangiola’s discussion on histocompatibility testing for xenotransplantation. Dr. Marlena Habal provided a comprehensive overview on desensitization, and Dr. Sebastiaan Heidt discussed the innovative use of CAR-T cell therapy for desensitizing highly sensitized transplant patients using CHAR T cells recognising specific B cell targets. The session also featured Dr. Anoma Nellore's engaging work on memory B Cells in mucosal immunity, and Dr. Nicole Valenzuela concluded the session with her work highlighting the critical role of endothelial cells in initiating alloimmune responses.

The session was not only well-attended with over 50 participants but also benefited from a diverse set of perspectives, including significant contributions from young investigators and broad geographical representation.

(from left to right) Elaine Reed, Fadi Issa, and Jonathan Maltzman
Marlena Habal (left), pictured with symposium chairs Anoma Nellore and Nicole Valenzuela, presents "Desensitization: Bench to Bedside"
(from left to right) - Jonathan Maltzman, Muhammad Mohiuddin, Nicole Valenzuela, Anoma Nellore, Marlena Habal, Sebastiaan Heidt, Massimo Mangiola, and Elaine Reed

ASHI Research Grants

American Society for Histocompatibility & Immunigenetics Scientific Awards

ASHI has three scientific awards to recognize and financially support early-career investigators, innovation scholars, and research. Learn more about each award including eligibility, project scope, and application details and deadlines.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: AUGUST 1, 2024

EARLY CAREER INVESTIGATOR AWARD

The aim of the Early Career Investigator Award (ECIA) is to support future research leaders who are committed to conducting impactful basic or translational science research. This program offers ASHI members an award of up to $40,000 for research related to histocompatibility or immunogenetics in various disciplines such transplantation, cancer, autoimmunity, infectious disease, disease association, or pharmacogenomics.

INNOVATION SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

The goal of the Innovation Scholarship Award is to recognize and further a significant body of work in the fields of HLA, immunogenetics and/or transplant immunology as demonstrated by publications, educational initiatives and/or developed translational tools and analyses. Each of three recipients will receive a $1500 honorarium. These awards will be presented in the ASHI annual meeting when distinguished candidates are identified.

MICHAEL SCHMIEDERER RESEARCH SUPPORT AWARD

The aim of the Michael Schmiederer Research Support Award (MSRSA) is to support impactful clinical research in the fields of histocompatibility and immunogenetics. This program offers an ASHI member a $15,000 one-year grant for research related to various clinical disciplines such as transplantation, cancer, autoimmunity, infectious disease, disease association, or pharmacogenomics. The award is sponsored by Labcorp in memory of a beloved coworker, Michael Schmiederer, PhD, S(ACHI).

July 1, 2024 - Abstract Deadline - 5th Summit on Stem Cell Derived Islets

TTS 2024 By-Elections for Vice President

With his selection as the new Editor-in-Chief of Transplantation Journals (starting January 1, 2025), Stefan Tullius has decided to step down as TTS Vice President. Consequently, we are holding a by-election for the position of TTS Vice President for a period of two years. Below are the three candidate nominated for the position.

Voting is well underway!

Vice President Candidates
Deadline to vote is July 9, 2024 @23:59

Gabriel Gondolesi

Argentina
Biography

Gabriel Gondolesi, Argentina

Prof. Gabriel E. Gondolesi, MD, MAAC, FACS, was born in Tandil on 6/11/1968. Graduated from UNLP. Surgical Resident in La Plata. Fellow in Liver Transplantation (LT) at the Favaloro Foundation - FF (1997-1999), and in Multiorgan Transplantation at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York (1999-2001). Associate Professor in LT and Chief of Intestinal Transplantation (2001-2005). In 2006, he returned to FF; performed the first adult and pediatric intestinal transplants, the first Hepato-Pulmonary transplant, and the first LT with LD for colon cancer metastasis successfully in Argentina; the first Liver-Intestinal transplant, the first Domino + Split LT in LatAm, and the first LT with grafts from two living donors (LD) in the Americas. Health Researcher at CONICET. Author of 160 publications, director of 7 theses. Doctor Honoris Causa from the Universidad San Francisco Javier de Chuquisaca (2012). Received 20 national and international awards. Served as Chairman of the 2015 ISBTS and CO-Chairman of TTS2022, Past-President of IRTA, Senior treasurer of TTS, Member of the WHO Donation and Transplantation Working Group. Winner of the Konex Award in Surgery 2023.

Dorry Segev

United States
Biography

Dorry Segev, United States

Dorry Segev is Professor of Surgery and Population Health at NYU, and founding director of the NYU Center for Surgical and Transplant Applied Research. He has worked in transplantation for two decades, fulfilling important roles in UNOS/OPTN, SRTR, ASTS, AST, and TTS. In addition to serving as TTS Councilor, Dr. Segev created and chaired the TTS Global Data Harmonization committee, served on the program planning committee for many past TTS Congresses, co-chaired the TTS Masterclass Series, and recently served on the 2023 TTS Council Cape Town Strategic Planning Retreat, the 2023 TTS Meetings Advisory Committee, and the 2024 TTS Finance Committee. He was responsible for the first US HIV-to-HIV transplants, receiving official recognition from US President Barack Obama. He was also the first to demonstrate poor immunogenicity to COVID vaccines in the immunocompromised, for which he received a Letter of Commendation from Dr. Anthony Fauci. His research includes kidney exchange, desensitization, long-term donor risk, racial and geographic disparities, artificial intelligence, and post-transplant outcomes. He has published over 900 peer-reviewed articles, is ranked #1 worldwide in transplant expertise and influence by ExpertScape, and is one of select few transplant surgeons appointed to the National Academy of Medicine. He received Foreign Policy Magazine's prestigious Global Thinker Award, and was named an Innovator of the Year by TIME Magazine. He strongly prioritizes mentorship, and is the only surgeon in the US funded by an NIH/NIAID Mentoring Grant for this purpose. He most values TTS’s role in developing the next generation of transplant professionals.

Peter Stock

United States
Biography

Peter Stock, United States

Peter Stock, MD, PhD, Professor of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, has long served the transplant community, and remains clinically active in pancreas, liver, and kidney transplantation. He has extensive experience in the surgeon-scientist role, with NIH funding in the areas of cellular transplantation and solid organ transplantation in the HIV-infected transplant recipient. Dr. Stock has served the TTS in following capacities: TTS Education Committee (2011-1014); TTS Councilor (2017-2021), (2023-current); IPITA Councilor (2011-2015); Chair of the TTS ethics committee (2019-2023); TTS India Relations Committee; and the TTS COVID-19 Task Force (2020-current). He has served as President of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (2014-2015) and is currently chair of the UNOS International Ad Hoc Committee.  As the US James IVth travelling surgical fellow (2000), visits to transplant programs in Australia (Sydney), South Africa (Cape Town), India (Chennai), China (Hong Kong), Korea (Seoul), and UK (Oxford) set the foundation for ongoing relationships that will facilitate moving the agenda of the TTS forward. As a potential vice president and current counselor, he will utilize his global experience and network to focus on the clinical translation of the 2024 WHO resolution directed at expanding access and facilitating the development of transplantation (solid organ and cellular) in resource constrained areas.


Transplantation Journal Highlights

Transplantation - Social Media Content

Blood Gene Signature as a Biomarker for Subclinical Kidney Allograft Rejection: Where Are We?
The observation decades ago that inflammatory injuries because of an alloimmune response might be present even in the absence of concomitant clinical impairment in allograft function conduced to the later definition of subclinical rejection. Many studies have investigated the different subclinical rejections defined according to the Banff classification (subclinical T cell–mediated rejection and antibody-mediated rejection), overall concluding that these episodes worsened long-term allograft function and survival.
Contemporary Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy as a Bridge or Alternative to Transplantation
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), which were introduced as a bridge to heart transplantation, are now an established alternative to heart transplantation (HT) for patients with advanced heart failure. These devices have undergone significant technological advancements over the years, and contemporary LVADs prolong life substantially in patients dependent on inotropic therapy or in those with severe ambulatory advanced heart failure with a median survival that exceeds 5 y, and most patients benefit from a doubling in functional capacity, even among those intended as destination therapy because of ineligibility for transplantation.

Transplantation Direct - Social Media Content

Absence of IL-6 Receptor Blockade Effect on the Outcomes of Transplant Glomerulopathy in the Absence of Anti-HLA Donor-specific Antibodies
Transplant glomerulopathy (TG) is the hallmark of chronic antibody-mediated rejection but often occurs without anti-HLA donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) in the assumption that other DSAs may be the effectors of the tissue injury. Recently, we reported a positive effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor blocker tocilizumab (TCZ) in TG/DSA+. In the present study, we investigate the effect of TCZ in a cohort of TG cases without detectable anti-HLA DSAs.

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