HLA 101: Connecting the Dots for Transfusion and Transplant (25EL-505)

Please note: AABB reserves the right to make updates to this program.

• Educational Track: Technical/Clinical
• Topics: Blood Donation & Collection, Patient Transfusion
• Intended Audience: Directors, Hospital Blood Banks, Hospitals, Medical Directors, Physicians, Residents/Fellows, Students (MD, MT, SBB), Technologists, Transfusion Safety Officers
• Teaching Level: Advanced, Basic, Intermediate

• Director/Moderator: Herleen Rai, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Division of Transfusion Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  Speakers:

  • H. Cliff Sullivan, MD, F(ACHI), Associate Professor, Co-Director, HLA Laboratory, Director, Cellular Therapy Laboratory, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
  • Deanna Fang, MD, Associate Director of Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory, Associate Director of the Coagulation Laboratory, University of California San Diego (UCSD), San Diego, CA
  • Indira Guleria, PhD Diplomate (ABHI), CABP(H), Director, Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (HLA), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

• Program Description

  This program offers a deep dive into the critical role of HLA in transfusion medicine and transplant care. The program will introduce participants to the key concepts of HLA, including how it impacts platelet refractoriness and transplant compatibility. Attendees will explore common challenges in applying HLAS knowledge to patient care and learn how to address gaps that can affect treatment outcomes. The program will emphasize practical applications, using case studies to link theoretical knowledge to real-world clinical scenarios.

  This 60-minute eCast will feature lecture-style presentations with interactive, case-based discussions. Participants will first be introduced to the foundational concepts and latest testing methodologies. Then, through case studies involving transfusion support and transplant mismatches, attendees will apply the knowledge learned in practical scenarios, helping to solidify clinical and translational insights.

  Learning Objectives

  After participating in this educational activity, participants should be able to:

  • Define the basics of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) and describe its clinical relevance.
  • Identify common knowledge gaps in HLA knowledge and their impact on patient care.
  • Apply HLA testing methods and clinical insights in real world cases.

  Registration

  Registration includes access to both the live and on-demand version of this eCast.

  If you are a facility interested in participating in this eCast, simply complete the Group Viewing registration form and AABB will provide detailed instructions to share with your team approximately one week prior to the live program (each team member to register for the program utilizing a promocode). For single viewers, simply click on the Register button below to register.

  Please note: registration for the live eCast will close 1 hour prior to the eCast start time. If you register after this time, you will receive access to the on-demand eCast when it is available.

  Single Viewer	Register
  Group Viewing	Register

  Continuing Education Credit

  This activity is eligible for one (1) continuing education credit/contact hour for Physicians, Nurses (including California-based nursing professionals through CBRN), California Lab Personnel, Florida Lab Personnel and General Participation credit. AABB reserves the right to reduce or increase the number of credits granted based on the final activity duration. For more information on each credit type please visit our Continuing Education Credits webpage.

  There is no financial support for this activity.

  

  In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) and CME Outfitters, LLC. CME Outfitters LLC. is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

  Physicians (ACCME): CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this live activity for a maximum of one (1) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. CME Outfitters, LLC, designates this enduring activity for a maximum of one (1) AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  Claiming Credit
  Live Activity - Upon completion of the live activity, you will receive instructions to complete your evaluation, which is necessary to claim credit and receive your certificate of attendance/completion (credit must be claimed by the date provided in the instructions). The evaluation can be found by logging into the AABB Education Platform.

  Enduring Activity - Once the enduring (on-demand) program is available, you will receive instructions to access the AABB Education Platform. Upon completion of viewing the enduring activity, you will need to complete the evaluation, which is necessary to claim credit and receive your certificate of completion (credit must be claimed by the date provided in the AABB Education Platform).

  Program & Credit Expiration Dates:

  • Live Activity Program Date: February 12, 2025; Credit Expiration Date: March 12, 2025
  • Enduring Activity Program Dates: February 12, 2025 – February 11, 2028; Credit Expiration Date: February 11, 2028

  Disclosure Declaration

  It is the policy of CME Outfitters, LLC, and the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, and scientific rigor and integrity in all of their CE activities. Faculty must disclose to the participants any relationships with commercial companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. CME Outfitters, LLC, has evaluated, identified, and mitigated any potential conflicts of interest through a rigorous content validation procedure, use of evidence-based data/research, and a multidisciplinary peer review process. The following information is for participant information only. It is not assumed that the presence of such relationships will have a negative impact on the presentations.

  Disclosures for the planners of this event can be found here. Disclosures for the program faculty, peer reviewers, and CME Outfitters, LLC. personnel are provided at the beginning of the program.

  Faculty Biographies

  Dr. Deanna Fang is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Pathology at the University of California, San Diego. She holds dual leadership roles as the Associate Director of both the Immunogenetics and Transplantation Laboratory and the Coagulation Laboratory at UCSD. Previously, she served as Associate Director of Transfusion Medicine within the same institution. Dr. Fang earned her medical degree from St. Louis University School of Medicine, followed by a residency in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the University of Utah. She further specialized through fellowships in Medical Microbiology, Transfusion Medicine, and Clinical Immunogenetics at the University of Utah, University of Minnesota, and UCLA, respectively. With a diverse career that has included roles at ARUP Laboratories, Mayo Clinic, and UCLA, Dr. Fang has built a significant portfolio of research, publications, and clinical expertise. She was also recognized as a "Top Five" honoree in the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s 2019 40 Under Forty list, underscoring her contributions to the field. In addition to her clinical and research work, Dr. Fang is passionate about trainee education and mentorship.

  
  

  Dr. Indira Guleria is an Immunologist and Immunogenetics with over 20 years of experience in the field. Dr. Guleria is Director of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (HLA) at BIDMC. Dr. Guleria’s primary research involves studying the mechanisms of transplant tolerance, and the role of various costimulatory molecules involved. She is also interested in deciphering the mechanisms of platelet refractoriness including the role of HLA antibodies and HLA epitopes in this process. Dr. Guleria has also been a leader in providing education to fellows, residents, and faculty and has helped develop professional educational programs that aim to enhance knowledge, skill, abilities, and competency of the participants across the hospital and beyond. She currently serves as chair of ASHI Education Initiatives committee, co-leader of AABB’s Current and Emerging Technologies Committee and a member of the Cellular Therapies Section Coordinating Committee.

  
  

  Dr. Herleen (Sofi) Rai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and serves as Associate Director of the Clinical Pathology Residency Training Program. Dr. Rai obtained her MD from Ross University School of Medicine and completed her residency training in Clinical Pathology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine/ University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. This was followed by a two-year fellowship in Transfusion Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a faculty member of the Division of Transfusion Medicine, her areas of interest include stem cell and immune effector cell therapies, with a focus on apheresis collection and manufacturing. She serves as the Associate Medical Director for Apheresis at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and has recently joined AABB’s e-Learning Committee.

  
  

  Dr. H. Cliff Sullivan, MD, F(ACHI), serves as an Associate Professor at Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. His clinical appointments include Co-Director of the Histocompatibility and Molecular Immunogenetics Laboratory and Laboratory Director of the Stem Cell and Cellular Therapy Laboratory and the. Additionally, he assists in staffing the Transfusion Medicine Service at Emory University Hospital. Dr. Sullivan's training journey includes a B.A. from Emory University's College of Arts and Sciences in 2006 and earning an M.D. from Emory University School of Medicine in 2011. His postgraduate training encompasses Anatomic and Clinical Pathology residency, a Transfusion Medicine fellowship led by Dr. Cassandra Josephson, and a Histocompatibility (HLA) fellowship guided by Drs. Howard M. Gebel and Robert A. Bray. Dr. Sullivan is actively involved in numerous committees, both nationally and institutionally, contributing to advancements in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. He has held leadership roles in the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Association (AMA), and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Furthermore, he has demonstrated a passion for education by actively engaging in teaching medical students, residents, and fellows. He hopes that this edition serves as a valuable educational tool for those interested in learning the various facets of Transfusion Medicine.