April 2025

ASHI on the Hill

The first quarter of 2025 has brought another chapter in the ever-shifting federal landscape, with President Trump assuming office and Republicans now having majorities in both chambers of Congress.

ASHI is working to build new and maintain existing relationships with federal policymakers as we work to advance our federal policy priorities. In a significant development welcomed by ASHI, a federal judge struck down the LDT Final Rule on March 31^st, ruling that the FDA does not have authority to regulate LDTs as medical devices. Read More

New ASHI-U Module: 4.15 Specimen Collection, Processing, and Storage

ASHI-U has released a new module to enhance your knowledge of specimen collection, processing, and storage. Learn how specimens are collected, including the purpose of additives in blood collection tubes, how to apply acceptance and rejection criteria, and how to transport and store specimens properly.

Authored by Carolyn Hurley, PhD, F(ACHI) from Georgetown University, and Jeremy Sherill, CHS (ACHI) from Gift of Life Michigan. Date Prepared: December 11, 2024.



Visit ASHI-U today to learn more!

Celebrate Lab Week with Fresh Deals on New Arrivals in the ASHI Store!

Very soon we will be celebrating Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 20 - 26, 2025. Browse our latest collection of items that will generate new awareness and excitement about the laboratory medicine profession! Order now to receive your items before April 20th! Limited time discount - 15% off of orders over $30 with promo code 2025LABWEEK. Ends tomorrow!

Call for Board Nominations

The ASHI Leadership Development Taskforce encourages ASHI members to nominate candidates for the available board positions. If there are candidates whom you feel would be an asset to the ASHI Board of Directors, please have the nominee complete and submit this nomination form. All nominations must be accompanied by the signatures of at least 10 full or honorary members in good standing. Emailed endorsements are accepted.

During the week of April 7, the Leadership Development Taskforce will forward its preliminary slate of candidates to the ASHI membership. This will allow members more time to submit additional nominations by the April 14th deadline.

Call for ASHI Award Nominations

Each year the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics sponsors 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 Jeana Hoffman. The nomination deadline for all ASHI awards is May 19, 2025. To view former award winners, please click here.

More information about three special scientific awards can be found here or by attending this April 3rd webinar.

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

Educational Initiatives Webinar:

Refining and Updating Serologic Antigens in 2025

If you missed the latest Educational Initiatives webinar, don’t worry—you can still catch it on ASHI-U! This insightful session, led by Marcelo Fernandez Vina, PhD, F(ACHI), explored the limitations of current HLA nomenclature for serologically defined antigens and introduced proposed updates to enhance clinical applications in histocompatibility testing and transplantation practices. Participants learned about:

• Criteria for defining serologically recognized HLA antigens and their molecularly typed counterparts.
• Validation methods for new serologic designations using solid-phase and flow cytometric assays.
• The clinical impact of HLA nomenclature updates and their effect on transplantation practices.

Watch the webinar and earn credits on ASHI-U today!

Discover New Career Opportunities with the ASHI Career Center

Looking for your next career move in histocompatibility and immunogenetics? The ASHI Career Center is your go-to resource! Browse job listings from across the field, resume writing, and connect with potential employers—all in one place. Visit the ASHI Career Center today and take the next step in your professional journey: ASHI Career Center.

Unlock Unlimited Access to ASHI University with an ASHI Membership!

As of January 1, 2025, ASHI University (ASHI U) modules are now $45 each. However, ASHI members enjoy unlimited access to all modules - at no additional cost!

For those regularly using ASHI U, an ASHI membership quickly pays for itself. Plus, members unlock exclusive benefits and resources to enhance their learning.

Why settle for just one module at $45 when an ASHI membership gives you access to everything? Join ASHI today and maximize your educational opportunities!

See if you are eligible for one of our ASHI discount programs.

Send questions to

info@ashi-hla.org.

Are you an early-career researcher or an innovator in histocompatibility, immunogenetics, or transplant immunology? ASHI offers two exciting opportunities to support and recognize groundbreaking work in these fields!

🔹 Early Career Investigator Award (ECIA) – Provides up to $40,000 for impactful basic or translational research in transplantation, cancer, autoimmunity, infectious disease, and more. Learn about eligibility, application strategies, and funding benefits in this webinar.

🔹 Innovation Scholarship Award (ICA) – Honors outstanding contributions in research, educational initiatives, and bioinformatics. Three recipients will receive a $1,500 honorarium. Attend our webinar to learn more about the award categories and application process.

The webinar includes expert insights, application tips, and live Q&A. Don’t miss this opportunity to be recognized for your innovative work!

The Science and Technology Initiatives Committee (STIC) is pleased to continue highlighting a key initiative aimed at promoting relevant external research funding opportunities within the ASHI community. We hope to spark the translation of your scientific ideas into productive, funded research projects that advance knowledge in immunogenetics, histocompatibility, and transplantation biology. Requests for applications (RFAs) will be highlighted routinely as new opportunities are announced. Highlighted grants will span all eligible career levels, as well as basic, translational, and clinical science.

Click here to view the opportunities!

Coffee & Compatibility, hosts Eric, Kelley, and Jeremy welcome Dr. Geoffry Funk, OPO CEO, to discuss the revolutionary concept of Normothermic Regional Perfusion (NRP). NRP is transforming organ allocation while stirring debate within the transplant community. Dr. Funk breaks down what NRP is, how it works, and why it’s generating both excitement and controversy.

Catch the full conversation on our YouTube channel: ASHI HLA.

Don't forget to subscribe to ASHI HLA today to stay updated on future episodes and more exciting content!

2025 HT-1 Survey Shipment – April 9th

Based on the new schedule, the HT-1 survey will ship on Wednesday, April 9^th.

2025 EMO-1 Submission Deadline – April 11th

EMO-1 results are due Friday, April 11th. Instructions are on the EMO result entry page in the PT Data Center. For additional guidance, an EMO Result Entry Tutorial is on the PT page of the ASHI website.

Editing PT Results (prior to the deadline)

If “Edit” is chosen after submitting PT results, labs must click “SUBMIT” again even if no changes were made or the status changes to “Saved” instead of “Submitted”.

2024 VXM-2 Report

The last report of 2024 - virtual crossmatch (VXM-2) - will be released later this month. 

Send a picture or two of the view from your laboratory and ASHI Quarterly readers will join the mystery challenge for a chance to win ASHI swag. Send pictures to info@ashi-hla.org.

Are you a Senior Technologist, Supervisor, or Manager who is looking to share knowledge, experience, and advice with those seeking mentorship? Consider signing up to be a mentor! Mentors must have at least 3 years of HLA experience and be a current member of ASHI.

Learn More

Click here to view the communication about the 2025 ACHI exams. The application window for the September Laboratory Director Exam is now open through June 1.

Please note that the application window for the November CHA/CHS/CHT exams is August 1 - September 30.

ASHI Volunteer Spotlight

"Volunteering has provided learning opportunities that go beyond my daily responsibilities, and I have gained new insights from the different perspectives of other committee members."

Check out our featured volunteer spotlight, Dr. Heather Dunckley! 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.