May 2024

Update from the Laboratory Professionals Recruitment Initiative Taskforce

The Laboratory Professionals Recruitment Initiative (LPRI) taskforce continues its efforts to promote and raise awareness of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (HLA) labs, particularly targeting educational institutions. This update highlights recent activities and plans regarding outreach efforts to North Carolina NAACLS MLS programs and representation at the upcoming ASCP meeting in Chicago.

Key Points:

1.    Invitation to ASHI Educational Workshop:

• Invitations were sent to four NAACLS MLS programs in North Carolina to attend the ASHI Educational Workshop in Raleigh-Durham, NC (June 6-8).
• Confirmation received from one program director regarding the distribution of workshop information to students.
• Lynden Gault, a LPRI committee member, will be present at the workshop to assist students on the event day, providing support and information about HLA labs.

2.    ASCP Meeting Representation:

• The ASHI Board has approved sending two representatives to the ASCP Annual Meeting in Chicago, scheduled for September 3-6.
• The ASHI Board is in communication with ASCP leadership and will submit a request for waiver of fees to support the representation and a small booth.

3.    Next Steps:

• Follow up with the remaining NAACLS MLS programs to encourage student participation in the ASHI Educational Workshop.
• Finalize plans for representation at the ASCP meeting, including determining the feasibility of having a booth and outlining objectives for participation.

The Laboratory Professionals Recruitment Initiative remains committed to fostering awareness of HLA labs and engaging with the broader laboratory community. Through targeted outreach efforts and participation in industry events like the ASHI Educational Workshop and ASCP meeting, we aim to showcase the vital role of HLA labs and attract talent to this specialized field.

Early Career Investigator Award (ECIA) 

The aim of the Early Career Investigator Award 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.

Click here for eligibility criteria, application process, proposal review criteria, and more.

_____________________________

Innovation Scholarship Award (ISA)

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 at the ASHI Annual Meeting.

Click here for award categories, application checklist, and selection criteria.

_____________________________

Michael Schmiederer Research Support Award (MSRSA)

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 ASHI members an award of $15,000 for one year of 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 W. Schmiederer, PhD, S(ACHI).

Click here for eligibility criteria, application process, and more.

_____________________________

Completed applications and questions can be sent to ASHI Headquarters at info@ashi-hla.org. Please put the name of the specific award in the subject line.

The application deadline is August 1, 2024. Information on all three awards can be found here. Thank you.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will host a webinar today to provide an overview of the Final Rule: Medical Devices; Laboratory Developed Tests.

During the webinar, the FDA will:

• Provide an overview of the final rule amending the FDA's regulations to make it explicit that in vitro diagnostic products (IVDs) are devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act including when the manufacturer of the IVD is a laboratory; and
• Describe the phaseout of the FDA's general enforcement discretion approach to laboratory developed tests (LDTs).

Click here for more information including the link to join the webinar.

Check out the Committee Corner below for details!

Hosted by the Membership Committee

The ASHI Membership Committee invites you to attend this 30-minute orientation that will assist new members in understanding various aspects of their membership benefits. New members can expect to learn how to navigate the ASHI website and the many educational and networking opportunities that are available with their membership. Registration is open to all ASHI members. Take advantage of all the benefits that come with being an ASHI member!

Agenda:

• ASHI History and Headquarters Staff
• Website Navigation
• Committees and Volunteering
• Accreditation
• ASHI University

Click here to register

Join us for a webinar delving into the challenges and breakthroughs in adoptive cell therapy:

1. Discuss some of the major challenges in the adoptive cell therapy field. The use of T cell-based therapies has significantly improved the outcomes of several B and plasma cell malignancies, however major side effects including cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity as well as lack of efficacy beyond a few cancer types remain major challenges
2. Learn about recent advances in the use of NK cell-based adoptive cell therapies.
3. Discuss how to use synthetic biology tools to improve NK cell therapies.

In this session, we'll cover major advances and novel approaches in NK cell-based immunotherapy.

Click here to register

Hosted by the Technologists' Affairs Committee

Click here to register

2024 AC-1 Survey

The AC-1 survey shipped on Tuesday, May 7th. (AO modules shipped May 6^th.)

Upcoming AC Webinar – May 16th

The PT Committee will present a webinar tutorial Thursday, May 16th on AC result entry in the new software and a Q&A session with PT Committee members. Register today!

2024 HT-1 Submission Deadline – May 17th

The result submission deadline for the HT-1 survey is Friday, May 17, but labs are encouraged to submit by May 10^th so submission issues can be resolved before the deadline. In addition, testing your login today can help to avoid last minute access issues which could prevent timely submission. Detailed instructions are in the PT Data Center and a recording of the HT webinar is available on the PT page of the ASHI website.

Coffee & Compatibility

Organ allocation in the U.S.



Organ expert Larry Suplee joined Coffee & Compatibility to discuss the strengths of the U.S. organ allocation system and explore future improvements.

Click here to listen and receive CECs.

LAST Call for ASHI Award Nominations

Each year the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) sponsors several awards to recognize scientific accomplishments and contributions to the fields of histocompatibility and immunogenetics as well as service to the Society. ASHI is currently accepting nominations for the following awards:

• J. Marilyn MacQueen Rising Star Award
• Distinguished Service Award
• Bernard Amos Distinguished Scientist Award
• Rose Payne Award
• Outstanding Technologist Award

Send nominations and supporting information to Katherine Giovetsis. The nomination deadline for all ASHI awards is this Friday, May 17, 2024. To view former award winners, please click here.

More information to come about three special scientific awards:

• Early Career Investigator Award
• Innovation Scholarship Awards
• Michael Schmiederer Research Science Award

Consider becoming a peer reviewer for Human Immunology, ASHI’s scientific journal! If you have enough specialist knowledge to provide constructive criticism or consider yourself an expert in your field, we invite you to learn more about the benefits of being a reviewer and the reviewer resources available, by visiting www.elsevier.com/reviewer.

Click here to get started today. 

"Laboratories must have a written agreement for histocompatibility testing with each transplant program they serve. Does this include HPC transplant programs?"

Click here to view the Accreditation Review Board's response.

ASHI Volunteer Spotlight

"Volunteering helps make our great society even better."

Check out our featured volunteer spotlight, Dr. Bill Hoffman! Read More

ASHI Member Spotlight

"The first ASHI meeting I attended was a regional...It was such an amazing experience to meet other technologists."

Check out our featured member spotlight, Sharlie Brown!

Read More

Would you like to be featured as our next ASHI Member or Volunteer Spotlight? Click the links below to answer a few questions about your member/volunteer experience. For more information, or if you would like to nominate someone to be highlighted as our next spotlight, contact Cathy Landolt at clandolt@ashi-hla.org.