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Conference Program

APHIA 2026 JOINT CONFERENCE OF THE 19TH INTERNATIONAL HISTOCOMPATIBILITY WORKSHOP - "DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INNOVATION"

Mon 25th May 2026 Tue 26th May 2026 Wed 27th May 2026 Thu 28th May 2026
Registration Open Registration Open
HAEMATOPOIETIC CELL TRANSPLANTATION PLENARY SESSION 1 SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION PLENARY SESSION 5 BIOINFORMATICS PLENARY SESSION 9
Prof Effie Petersdorf Assoc Prof Lloyd D’Orsogna Dr James Robinson
Dr Dianne De Santis - Characterisation of the extended MHC haplotypes in related individuals Narelle Watson - Organ Match update Dr Kazutoyo Osoegawa - HLA Serotypes
Abstract Session 1 Abstract Session 5 Dr Nicholas Brown - Informatics tools for clinical HLA laboratory data
COFFEE AND TEA BREAK [10:00 - 10:30] COFFEE AND TEA BREAK [10:00 - 10:30] COFFEE AND TEA BREAK [10:15 - 10:45]
HAEMATOPOIETIC CELL TRANSPLANTATION PLENARY SESSION 2 SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION PLENARY SESSION 6 BEST ABSTRACT SESSION
Prof Medhat Askar - A strategic systems thinking topic: The Global Minimal Standards for Histocompatibility Testing: Democratization of Best Practices Assoc Prof Lucy Sullivan - Non-HLA Antibody Testing: Still a Research Tool or Ready for Prime Time? CLOSING CEREMONY
Prof Luca Vago - Mechanisms of Immune Escape and Relapse after allogeneic HCT Dr Eric Spierings - Molecular Matching: The Epitope Pathway to Equity in Transplantation.
Prof Nada Hamad - Advancing EDI in BMT: From Principles to Practice Prof Raja Rajalingam - Innovative Histocompatibility Strategies Enhance Equity and Efficiency in Kidney Allocation: Evidence from 10-Year Outcomes of 2,600 Transplants
Abstract Session 2 Abstract Session 6
LUNCH BREAK [12:15 - 13:00] LUNCH BREAK [12:15 - 13:00]
IMMUNCOR/WERFEN SYMPOSIUM ONE LAMBDA/THERMOFISHER SYMPOSIUM
IMMUNCOR/WERFEN Abstract ONE LAMBDA/THERMOFISHER Abstract
CELLULAR THERAPY PLENARY SESSION 3 IMMUNOGENETICS PLENARY SESSION 7
Prof Nattiya Hirankarn - Advancing the Frontiers of Immunotherapy: HLA-Restricted NeoAg Vaccines and CAR T-Cell Innovation in Cancer and SLE Dr Anne Halpin - ABO histocompatibility: Tools for immune risk assessment
Prof Suradej Hongeng Dr Surakameth Mahasirimongkol
Abstract Session 3 Dr Ritu Aggarwal - Beyond the Classical: The Role of Non-Classical HLA Molecules in Cancer
CAREDX VENDOR PITCH Abstract Session 7
COFFEE AND TEA BREAK [15:00- 15:30] COFFEE AND TEA BREAK [15:00- 15:30]
GENDX VENDOR PITCH TBG BIOTECHNOLOGY VENDOR PITCH
IMMUNOGENETICS PLENARY SESSION 4 INFECTION AND IMMUNITY PLENARY SESSION 8
Dr Uma Kanga: Long non coding RNAs and non classical HLA : possible markers to predict rejection Dr Nicole Mifsud - The immunopeptidomic landscape in transplantation
Prof Paul Norman Dr Katsushi Tokunaga - Genomic Variants and Disease Associations
Registration Opens (16:00 - 17:30) GenDx Abstract Dr Pierre-Antoine Gourraud - From HLA to Biomedical Data warehouse : an unexpected journey in data-driven medicine
TX MILLER STUDENT AWARD Abstract Session Abstract Session 8
OPENING CEREMONY [17:30 - 18:30] WINE & CHEESE POSTER SESSION [17:30 - 19:00]
WELCOME
Prof Nada Hamad - Equity with an Intersectional lens in Bone Marrow Transplantation
WELCOME COCKTAIL [18:30 - 20:30] INVITED SPEAKERS DINNER CONFERENCE DINNER
Monday, 25th May 2026
Registration Opens (16:00 - 17:30)
OPENING CEREMONY [17:30 - 18:30]
WELCOME
Prof Nada Hamad - Equity with an Intersectional lens in Bone Marrow Transplantation
WELCOME COCKTAIL [18:30 - 20:30]
Tuesday, 26th May 2026
Registration Open
HAEMATOPOIETIC CELL TRANSPLANTATION PLENARY SESSION 1
Prof Effie Petersdorf
Dr Dianne De Santis - Characterisation of the extended MHC haplotypes in related individuals
Abstract Session 1
COFFEE AND TEA BREAK [10:00 - 10:30]
HAEMATOPOIETIC CELL TRANSPLANTATION PLENARY SESSION 2
Prof Medhat Askar - A strategic systems thinking topic: The Global Minimal Standards for Histocompatibility Testing: Democratization of Best Practices
Prof Luca Vago - Mechanisms of Immune Escape and Relapse after allogeneic HCT
Prof Nada Hamad - Advancing EDI in BMT: From Principles to Practice
Abstract Session 2
LUNCH BREAK [12:15 - 13:00]
IMMUNCOR/WERFEN SYMPOSIUM
IMMUNCOR/WERFEN Abstract
CELLULAR THERAPY PLENARY SESSION 3
Prof Nattiya Hirankarn - Advancing the Frontiers of Immunotherapy: HLA-Restricted NeoAg Vaccines and CAR T-Cell Innovation in Cancer and SLE
Prof Suradej Hongeng
Abstract Session 3
CAREDX VENDOR PITCH
COFFEE AND TEA BREAK [15:00- 15:30]
GENDX VENDOR PITCH
IMMUNOGENETICS PLENARY SESSION 4
Dr Uma Kanga: Long non coding RNAs and non classical HLA : possible markers to predict rejection
Prof Paul Norman
GenDx Abstract
TX MILLER STUDENT AWARD Abstract Session
WINE & CHEESE POSTER SESSION [17:30 - 19:00]
INVITED SPEAKERS DINNER
Wednesday, 27th May 2026
Registration Open
SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION PLENARY SESSION 5
Assoc Prof Lloyd D’Orsogna
Narelle Watson - Organ Match update
Abstract Session 5
COFFEE AND TEA BREAK [10:00 - 10:30]
SOLID ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION PLENARY SESSION 6
Assoc Prof Lucy Sullivan - Non-HLA Antibody Testing: Still a Research Tool or Ready for Prime Time?
Dr Eric Spierings - Molecular Matching: The Epitope Pathway to Equity in Transplantation.
Prof Raja Rajalingam - Innovative Histocompatibility Strategies Enhance Equity and Efficiency in Kidney Allocation: Evidence from 10-Year Outcomes of 2,600 Transplants
Abstract Session 6
LUNCH BREAK [12:15 - 13:00]
ONE LAMBDA/THERMOFISHER SYMPOSIUM
ONE LAMBDA/THERMOFISHER Abstract
IMMUNOGENETICS PLENARY SESSION 7
Dr Anne Halpin - ABO histocompatibility: Tools for immune risk assessment
Dr Surakameth Mahasirimongkol
Dr Ritu Aggarwal - Beyond the Classical: The Role of Non-Classical HLA Molecules in Cancer
Abstract Session 7
COFFEE AND TEA BREAK [15:00- 15:30]
TBG BIOTECHNOLOGY VENDOR PITCH
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY PLENARY SESSION 8
Dr Nicole Mifsud - The immunopeptidomic landscape in transplantation
Dr Katsushi Tokunaga - Genomic Variants and Disease Associations
Dr Pierre-Antoine Gourraud - From HLA to Biomedical Data warehouse : an unexpected journey in data-driven medicine
Abstract Session 8
CONFERENCE DINNER
Thursday, 28th May 2026
BIOINFORMATICS PLENARY SESSION 9
Dr James Robinson
Dr Kazutoyo Osoegawa - HLA Serotypes
Dr Nicholas Brown - Informatics tools for clinical HLA laboratory data
COFFEE AND TEA BREAK [10:15 - 10:45]
BEST ABSTRACT SESSION
CLOSING CEREMONY

Invited Speakers & Presentations

Monday, 25th May 2026
Prof Nada Hamad (Opening Ceremony)
Equity with an Intersectional lens in Bone Marrow Transplantation
Tuesday, 26th May 2026
Prof Effie Petersdorf
Presentation title to be announced
Dr Dianne De Santis
Characterisation of the extended MHC haplotypes in related individuals
Prof Medhat Askar
A strategic systems thinking topic: The Global Minimal Standards for Histocompatibility Testing: Democratization of Best Practices
Prof Luca Vago
Mechanisms of Immune Escape and Relapse after allogeneic HCT
Prof Nada Hamad
Advancing EDI in BMT: From Principles to Practice
Prof Nattiya Hirankarn
Advancing the Frontiers of Immunotherapy: HLA-Restricted NeoAg Vaccines and CAR T-Cell Innovation in Cancer and SLE
Prof Suradej Hongeng
Presentation title to be announced
Dr Uma Kanga
Long non coding RNAs and non classical HLA: possible markers to predict rejection
Prof Paul Norman
Presentation title to be announced
Wednesday, 27th May 2026
Assoc Prof Lloyd D’Orsogna
Presentation title to be announced
Narelle Watson
Organ Match update
Assoc Prof Lucy Sullivan
Non-HLA Antibody Testing: Still a Research Tool or Ready for Prime Time?
Dr Eric Spierings
Molecular Matching: The Epitope Pathway to Equity in Transplantation
Prof Raja Rajalingam
Innovative Histocompatibility Strategies Enhance Equity and Efficiency in Kidney Allocation: Evidence from 10-Year Outcomes of 2,600 Transplants
Dr Anne Halpin
ABO histocompatibility: Tools for immune risk assessment
Dr Surakameth Mahasirimongkol
Presentation title to be announced
Dr Ritu Aggarwal
Beyond the Classical: The Role of Non-Classical HLA Molecules in Cancer
Dr Nicole Mifsud
The immunopeptidomic landscape in transplantation
Dr Katsushi Tokunaga
Genomic Variants and Disease Associations
Dr Pierre-Antoine Gourraud
From HLA to Biomedical Data warehouse: an unexpected journey in data-driven medicine
Thursday, 28th May 2026
Dr James Robinson
Presentation title to be announced
Dr Kazutoyo Osoegawa
HLA Serotypes
Dr Nicholas Brown
Informatics tools for clinical HLA laboratory data