2026-2027 Schedule
2026-2027 schedule at-a-glance
June 30, 2026– HLA Gene Editing: A New Frontier in the Treatment of Autoimmune Disease – presented by Brian Freed PhD, FACHI, ClinImmune Center for Clinical Immunology, Aurora, CO
Participants will learn how targeted CRISPR/Cas9 editing of a single amino acid within the HLA‑DRB1 molecule can alter its peptide‑binding repertoire, including self‑peptides implicated in autoimmune disease.
August 25, 2026– HLA-B27: A Case for Molecular Mimicry – presented by Michael Paley, MD, PhD, Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, St. Louis, MO
Participants will learn how HLA‑B*27 contributes to anterior uveitis, ankylosing spondylitis, and reactive arthritis by presenting bacterial and self‑derived peptides to pathogenic CD8⁺ T. They will hear about emerging evidence on how HLA molecules shape autoimmune responses through antigen presentation pathways that link infection to chronic inflammation.
September 15, 2026 – CDC versus Flow Cytometric Crossmatch in Modern Clinical Practice: Is There Still a Role for CDC? – presented by Peter Jindra, PhD, FACHI, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
From this lecture, participants will learn how to compare the clinical utility of complement‑dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and flow cytometric crossmatch (FCXM) in modern transplant practice and describe scenarios in which using both provides added diagnostic insight. They will also hear of lessons learned from ASHI proficiency testing and virtual crossmatch challenges to better understand whether CDC crossmatch retains a meaningful role in contemporary HLA laboratory workflows.
September 22, 2026– The Life of a B-cell – presentedby Nicole Valenzuela, PhD, FACHI, NorDx Clinical Laboratories / MaineHealth, Scarborough, ME
This lecture will provide a comprehensive overview of B‑cell biology, emphasizing the pathways that lead to alloantibody production and their clinical consequences. Learners will review foundational B‑cell immunology, examine the mechanisms driving HLA antibody formation, and explore the effector functions that contribute to antibody‑mediated rejection (AMR). By integrating these concepts with real‑world clinical practice, the session will equip participants to apply immunologic principles to patient management, including surveillance strategies and therapeutic interventions.
October 6, 2026 – Getting the Most Out of the HLA Serotype Database – presented by William Lane, MD, PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Pathology, Boston, MA
Participants will learn how to use Serotype.org and its available tools, and gain a clear understanding of how serotypes are defined by key amino‑acid residues that form antibody‑recognizable epitopes. The session will explain how these residue patterns create distinct serological specificities and how structural data supports serotype assignment for alleles lacking serologic results, improving prediction of antibody reactivity and transplant compatibility.
October 13, 2026 – Putting It All Together: From HLA Typing to Clinical Decisions – presented by Ina Skaljic, PhD, FACHI, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Through engaging antibody case studies and other illustrative examples, participants will develop a deeper understanding of the importance of the tests performed in HLA laboratories and how each component contributes to comprehensive patient assessment and informed clinical recommendations in transplantation.
October 20, 2026– HLA Allele and Haplotype Frequency Estimates in US Populations –presented byLoren Gragert, PhD, FACHI, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
This lecture will review a large-scale analysis of HLA haplotype diversity in the United States, based on high resolution genotyping of more than 9.6 million registry donors across 21 population groups. The study provides nine locus HLA allele and haplotype frequency estimates, highlights population specific patterns of diversity and demonstrates how next generation sequencing refines our understanding of class I and class II haplotypes. These data, now publicly available, support improved donor selection, transplant matching, and research in immunogenetics and histocompatibility.
November 3, 2026 – The Life of a T-cell – presented by Gerald P. Morris, MD, PhD, AACHI, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
This lecture introduces the fundamentals of human T‑cell biology, with a focus on the major T‑cell subsets and how their distinct functions shape the immune response following organ transplantation. Participants will learn how helper, cytotoxic, and regulatory T‑cell populations develop, recognize antigen, and drive either graft injury or graft protection. The session provides a foundational framework for understanding T‑cell–mediated immunity in the transplant setting.
November 17, 2026 – Understanding B-cell Memory – presented by Esme Dijke, PhD, FACHI, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada
This lecture will provide an introduction to human memory B cell biology, focusing on how memory B cells develop after sensitizing events such as pregnancy, transfusion, or prior transplants. Participants will learn how these long-lived cells persist in the immune system, rapidly generate antibody responses upon re-exposure to donor antigens, and influence outcomes in organ transplantation.
December 1, 2026 – Antibody Testing: Strengths and Pitfalls of Solid-Phase Assays –presented by Reut Hod Dvorai, PhD, FACHI, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
This lecture will provide an overview of solid phase HLA antibody assays used in transplant immunology, highlighting their major strengths as well as the limitations that can complicate interpretation. Through discussion of instructive cases, participants will learn how these assays detect HLA specific antibodies, what factors influence signal strength, and how issues such as denatured antigen, epitope density, and assay interference can lead to misleading results. The session emphasizes practical strategies for recognizing pitfalls and integrating solid phase data into accurate, clinically meaningful assessments.
December 8, 2026 – MHC Basics: Why Histocompatibility Matters in Clinical Practice –presented by Ahmed Mostafa, MD, PhD, FACHI, Saskatchewan Health Authority – St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon, SK
Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) sit at the crossroads of immunology and modern medicine, influencing everything from transplant success to autoimmune disease risk and even drug hypersensitivity. This lecture will highlight the core genetics and immunologic principles behind HLA and will connect them directly to the daily work of typing, antibody assessment, and compatibility evaluation. Participants will learn how histocompatibility influences transplant outcomes and how laboratory data drives decision‑making for clinicians and transplant teams.
December 15, 2026– A Practical Guide to HLA Antibody Specificity Interpretation – presented by H. Cliff Sullivan, MD, FACHI, and Anna Morris, PhD, FACHI, Emory University HLA Laboratory, Atlanta, GA
This foundational lecture will introduce newcomers to the essentials of HLA antibody interpretation, guiding technologists through practical, clinically grounded approaches to defining antibody specificity, applying eplet analysis meaningfully, and leveraging the key tools and resources used in today’s HLA laboratory.
January 5, 2027 – Regular T‑cells (Tregs): What Are They and Why Are They Important in Transplantation and Autoimmunity – presented by Gerald P. Morris, MD, PhD, AACHI, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
This lecture will introduce the biology and function of regulatory T cells, highlighting how these specialized immune cells maintain tolerance, prevent harmful inflammation, and shape clinical outcomes in both transplantation and autoimmune disease. Participants will learn how Tregs develop, how they suppress immune responses, and why their presence or dysfunction can affect graft survival, rejection risk, and the progression of autoimmune conditions.
January 12, 2027 – Blame It on the NK Cells – presented by Luis Hidalgo, PhD, FACHI, University of Alabama Comprehensive Transplant Institute, Birmingham, AB
This lecture will introduce the biology and function of natural killer (NK) cells and will highlight the growing body of evidence for their key role in antibody‑mediated rejection (ABMR) in organ transplantation. Participants will learn how NK‑cell activation contributes to graft injury, why their role is increasingly recognized as pivotal in ABMR pathogenesis, and which emerging or potential therapies aim to target NK‑cell–driven mechanisms to improve transplant outcomes.
January 19, 2027 – Antibody Mediated Rejection in Liver Transplant: Are you Serious? – presented by Jacqueline O’Leary, MD, MPH, Dallas VA Medical Center and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
This lecture will explore why the liver is uniquely resilient to antibody mediated rejection (AMR) and what it means when that natural resistance breaks down. The speaker will review the definitive diagnostic criteria for acute AMR, the proposed framework for chronic AMR, and the distinct ways HLA class I and class II antibodies affect liver grafts. The session will also address practical questions clinicians and laboratorians face, such as, how much antibody is enough to cause injury, what levels raise concern, and how HLA laboratories can better support hepatologists in interpreting complex antibody data and applying it meaningfully in patient care.
February 2, 2027 – Virtual Crossmatching Through the Lenses of the OPTN – presented by Kelley Hitchman, PhD, FACHI, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX
This lecture will provide a practical, policy‑focused look at virtual crossmatching (VXM) as viewed through current OPTN expectations and trends. The speaker will review recent CLIA/CMS updates related to histocompatibility testing, outline the OPTN bylaws that define crossmatch and virtual crossmatch requirements, and examine national patterns in how transplant programs are applying physical versus virtual crossmatching in clinical decision‑making.
February 9, 2027 – Squeezing the Juice Out of the Flow Cytometric Crossmatch. A Novel GO 2x Halifaster Multiplex Protocol to Improve B Cell and T Cell Flow Crossmatch Interpretation – presented by Robert Liwski, MD, PhD, FRCPC, AACHI, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Participants will learn about the GO 2× Halifaster multiplex protocol, a streamlined and higher resolution method for interpreting B cell and T cell flow cytometric crossmatches. Attendees will see how optimized gating, multiplexing, and refined analytical thresholds reduce ambiguity, sharpen signal discrimination, and improve confidence in identifying clinically meaningful donor specific antibody binding.
February 16, 2027 – Modernizing Histocompatibility Testing for Organ Allocation: The Role of Virtual Crossmatching Through an OPO Lens – presented bySam Ho, PhD, FACHI, Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, Itasca, IL
Virtual crossmatching (VXM) has transformed the landscape of organ allocation by enabling faster, more informed decision‑making without the delays associated with physical donor samples. Since regulatory bodies formally recognized VXM as an acceptable and reliable method, its use has expanded rapidly. For organ procurement organizations (OPOs), VXM offers clear advantages: it accelerates the allocation process, reduces logistical barriers, minimizes cold ischemia time, and supports more efficient donor management. This lecture will explore how VXM is reshaping modern histocompatibility testing, what OPOs need from HLA laboratories to optimize allocation workflows, and how labs can adapt to increasing expectations for speed, precision, and real‑time communication.
February 23, 2027 – From Complement Mediated Interference to the Peanut Butter Effect: Optimizing HLA Antibody Single Antigen Bead Testing and Interpretation – presented by Robert Liwski, MD, PhD, FRCPC, AACHI, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
This talk will explore the full spectrum of challenges in HLA antibody single antigen bead testing, from complement mediated interference to the so called “peanut butter effect.” Attendees will learn practical strategies to optimize assay setup, troubleshoot unexpected reactivity patterns, and strengthen interpretation of complex antibody profiles to support more confident clinical decision making in transplantation.
March 9, 2027 – HLA Typing: From Serology to High Resolution Genomics – presented by Michael Gautreaux, PhD, FACHI, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
This introductory lecture offers new HLA technologists a concise and insightful overview of the evolution of HLA typing, from foundational serologic assays to cutting-edge high-resolution genomic techniques. Given by an expert who has witnessed every major technological advancement firsthand, the session will detail the advantages and limitations of each approach. Participants will gain a clear understanding of why modern laboratories depend on advanced sequencing for precision and clinical relevance, while also appreciating the enduring importance of HLA serology. This knowledge will empower newcomers to grasp the origins of current practices and see how each method integrates into the broader context of immunogenetics and transplantation.