7:00 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

8:15 a.m.

Normothermic Liver Preservation: Current Status and Future Directions, R. Mark Ghobrial, MD, PhD, FACS, FRCS, Houston Methodist

Liver transplantation is severely limited by the shortage of donor organs and, in addition, many potential donor organs cannot be used because suboptimal livers do not tolerate conventional cold storage. Normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) is an emerging technology that has the potential to transform liver preservation and the field of transplantation. This presentation will discuss the role of NMP as a tool to assess graft viability and its potential impact on liver transplant waiting list mortality.

Learning objectives:

1. Explain the process of NMP.
2. State the current status of NMP and its potential impact on liver transplant outcomes and waiting list mortality.

9:15 a.m.

Lung-in-a-Box: Advances in Lung Transplant Technology, Michael A. Smith, MD, Norton Thoracic Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

For individuals with severe lung disease, a lung transplant is an effective treatment. New advances in lung transplant technology have extended the life of a lung once it has been removed from the donor’s body. This session will discuss the advances in lung transplant technology that aim to increase the supply of donor lungs and maximize transplant outcomes.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe lung-in-a-box technology.
2. Discuss the advantages of using lung-in-a-box.
3. Explain the effect of lung-in-a-box on long-term outcomes.

10:00 a.m.

Break

10:15 a.m.

UPDATES ON HEART FAILURE MANAGEMENT
Jerry Estep, MD, Cleveland Clinic

Innovations in Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) for End-stage Heart Failure

The number of individuals with end-stage heart failure continues to increase, but there has been little change in the availability of organs for cardiac transplantation. Therefore, the demand for LVADs as a bridge to transplantation, destination therapy or bridge to recovery has increased. This session will discuss how LVAD technology has evolved, resulting in improvements in outcomes. It will also review the importance of appropriate patient selection and implementation of a multidisciplinary team approach as keys to improved clinical outcomes.

Learning objectives:

1. Review recent changes in technology, patient selection, management and implant decision making in LVAD therapy.
2. State the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach in the management of LVAD patients to improve morbidity and mortality.

New Allocation Policy for Heart Transplant

In October 2018, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) implemented extensive changes to its adult-heart-allocation policy. The modifications are aimed at better stratifying the most medically urgent heart transplant candidates and addressing geographic disparities that impact access to donor organs. It also takes into account the increasing effectiveness and growing use of mechanical circulatory support devices (MCSDs) used to treat heart disease. This session will describe the principles guiding geographic organ distribution, including the paradigm shift for individuals with MCSDs.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the principles guiding geographic organ distribution.
2. Discuss the paradigm shift for individuals with MCSDs awaiting heart transplantation.
3. Outline changes designed to decrease mortality rates for heart transplant-eligible patients on the waitlist.

11:15 a.m.

New Allocation Systems and Policy Changes for Liver Transplantation, Shivang Mehta, MD, Banner University Medical Center

Allocation of liver donor organs in the United States is a complex and evolving process. New allocation/distribution systems are in development that attempt to more accurately allocate organs. This session will address the major paradigm shifts that are underway to improve the equitable allocation of livers for individuals waiting for a liver transplant. Policy changes addressing geographic disparities without compromising outcomes will also be discussed.

Learning objectives:

1. State ongoing challenges and limitations to the current organ allocation and distribution policy for liver transplants.
2. Review major policy changes in liver allocation, including those addressing geographic disparities.

12:00 p.m.

Luncheon Presentation — An Overview of Optum® (nonaccredited/optional; lunch provided)

1:00 p.m.

Exhibit Hall Grand Opening Dessert Reception

1:30 p.m.

Increasing Kidneys for Transplantation: Decreasing Discards, Matthew Cooper, MD, Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute

Approximately 12 people die each day waiting for a kidney transplant while about 10 kidneys are discarded daily. A recent report that focused on decreasing the number of discarded kidneys provides the first systematic nationwide approach to reducing kidney discards. The “Report of National Kidney Foundation Consensus Conference to Decrease Kidney Discards” is the result of a year-long effort with leading transplantation experts in the United States devoted to solving the kidney utilization problem. This presentation will review the findings of the report and identify its recommendations to increasing the utilization of procured kidneys and providing opportunities for transplantation that are currently falling short of the demand.

Learning objectives:

1. Explain why so many kidneys are discarded.
2. Identify the recommendations published in the “Report of National Kidney Foundation Consensus Conference to Decrease Kidney Discards.”
3. State ways in which the utilization of procured kidneys could be increased to provide opportunities for transplantation.

2:15 p.m.

Liver Transplantation for Patients with Alcoholic Hepatitis, Michael Abecassis, MD, MBA, Northwestern Memorial Hospital

With advances in the prevention and therapy of viral hepatitis, the percentage of patients with alcohol-associated liver disease requiring liver transplantation is increasing with a growing recognition of liver transplantation as a rescue therapy for individuals with severe alcoholic hepatitis (AH) not responding to medical therapy. Treatment guidelines adopted by most liver transplantation centers require a six-month period of alcohol abstinence and counseling prior to candidacy for liver replacement. In many cases individuals with severe AH do not have the luxury of waiting and are unlikely to survive six months. This session will review liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease, discuss the selection process to evaluate eligibility on a case-by-case basis, address specific factors that should be considered during evaluation, and explore whether a mandatory period of abstinence is a predictor of relapse and the ethical considerations surrounding such a requirement for patients’ transplant eligibility.

Learning objectives:

1. Review liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease, including the selection process for transplant eligibility.
2. Identify specific factors that should be addressed when evaluating individuals for liver transplant.
3. Discuss whether a mandatory period of alcohol abstinence is a predictor of relapse.
4. Explore ethical considerations on the eligibility of liver transplant candidates.

3:15 p.m.

Break

3:30 p.m.

Psychosocial Evaluation of Adult Cardiothoracic Transplant Candidates and Candidates for Long-term Mechanical Circulatory Support, Kathleen L. Grady, PhD, RN, MS, FAAN, Northwestern Memorial Hospital

The psychosocial evaluation is well-recognized as an important component of the multifaceted assessment process to determine candidacy for cardiothoracic transplantation and long-term mechanical circulatory support. Due to the lack of a consensus-based set of recommendations for psychosocial assessment during the evaluation, a committee composed of international experts representing the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) and collaborating societies was formed. This committee integrated expert opinion and conducted a comprehensive literature review to support the psychosocial evaluation content and process recommendations. These recommendations are designed to promote consistency across programs in the performance of the psychosocial evaluation. This session will review the recommendations for a psychosocial evaluation and identify factors that could impede recovery, compliance, and a successful postoperative period.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the content and process recommendations for a psychosocial evaluation to determine candidacy for cardiothoracic transplantation and long-term mechanical circulatory support.
2. Identify factors that could impede recovery, compliance and a successful postoperative period.

4:15 p.m.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Treatment Options Outside of Transplant, Christopher J. Sonnenday, MD, MHS, Michigan Medicine

Liver transplantation (LT) is considered the best curative treatment for patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within Milan criteria. Several therapeutic procedures have been proposed as bridging treatments for individuals with HCC awaiting LT. The choice of each treatment is based on: the characteristics of the patient; liver function; comorbidities; and on the number, dimensions, and localization of HCC. This session will describe the various bridging techniques for individuals with HCC awaiting LT and the impact of bridging treatments on the recurrence of HCC and survival after LT, as well as treatment options for individuals when transplant is not an option.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the various bridging techniques for individuals with HCC awaiting LT.
2. Discuss the impact of bridging treatments on the recurrence of HCC and survival after LT.
3. Identify treatment options for HCC when transplant is not an option.

5:00–6:30 p.m.

Complimentary Get-Acquainted Reception — Exhibits Open
Join your colleagues for hors d’oeuvres and beverages. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to gather information and ideas from exhibitors regarding the management of complex medical conditions.

7:00 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast — Exhibits Open

8:00 a.m.

Opening Remarks

8:15 a.m.

CAR T-cell Therapy: A Personalized Immunotherapy Approach to Cancer, Shannon L. Maude, MD, PhD, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

While chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has proven successful in treating certain cancers, severe toxicities have limited its widespread application. This new cancer treatment approach is powerful and does come with serious risks that need to be considered before starting therapy. This session will identify the indications for CAR T-cell therapy and describe the challenges from the toxicities that are unique to CAR T cells. Toxicity management will also be discussed.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe CAR T-cell therapy.
2. Identify the indications for CAR T-cell therapy and individuals that are appropriate candidates.
3. Discuss the challenges of toxicities that are unique to CAR T cells.

9:15 a.m.

Non-HLA Barriers to Blood/Marrow Transplant, Nandita Khera, MD, MPH, Mayo Clinic

Historically, the lack of finding a human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-match has been perceived as the largest barrier to BMT. Many barriers besides a lack of suitably matched donors exist and can have an adverse impact on access and outcomes of BMT. This session will identify key barriers to BMT including barriers that prevent access to care, such as language and cultural differences; illiteracy; and environmental, geographic, genetic, and medical barriers. Ethical dilemmas that confront patients, families and medical practitioners will also be discussed.

Learning objectives:

1. List key barriers to BMT.
2. Discuss the inequalities and disparities in access to transplantation and solutions that may be applied to minimize these.
3. Identify ethical dilemmas to transplantation that patients, families and medical practitioners encounter.

10:00 a.m.

Break — Exhibits Open

10:45 a.m.

Pediatric Blood/Marrow Transplant Overview, Reggie E. Duerst, MD, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

A blood/marrow transplant (BMT) is a treatment for children with certain types of cancer or other diseases. The goal of BMT is to treat or cure disease, which can include various types of pediatric cancers, disorders of the blood and immune system, and a wide variety of other rare disorders and syndromes. This session will highlight the different sources for blood/marrow transplants and discuss the indications, risks, benefits, and outcomes.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the different sources for blood/marrow transplant used to treat or cure disease.
2. List the the wide variety of pediatric cancers, disorders and syndromes that are treated with a BMT.
3. Discuss the indications, risks, benefits and outcomes of BMT.

11:45 a.m.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML): New Therapies after 40 Years! Fiona C. He, MD, University of Minnesota

AML is one of the most aggressive cancers. While other cancers have benefited from new treatments, there has been no encouraging news for most leukemia patients for the past 40 years. With improved biologic understanding of AML and the incorporation of genetic prognostic markers and novel therapeutic options bringing new advancements to the field, individuals with AML have reason to hope. This session will review recent advances and new agents that have been approved for the treatment of AML and discuss the role of biomarkers in AML treatment decisions.

Learning objectives:

1. Review recent advances for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia.
2. Discuss four new agents that have been approved for the treatment of AML.
3. Describe the role of biomarkers in AML treatment decisions.

12:30 p.m.

Lunch (provided)

1:15 p.m.

Multiple Myeloma: What’s New in Treatment Options, Jonathan L. Kaufman, MD, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Over the past decade, treatment options for multiple myeloma have increased substantially. New treatments have resulted in improved survival rates among individuals with multiple myeloma. A BMT, in combination with high-dose chemotherapy, is a treatment option that offers a chance for durable remission for individuals with multiple myeloma. Treatment goals can vary significantly from person to person and can have a substantial impact on the type(s) and duration of treatment individuals receive. This session will outline the diagnostic criteria and review the revised international staging system for myeloma. Current concepts in cytogenetic classification, risk stratification and therapy will also be discussed.

Learning objectives:

1. State current concepts in cytogenetic classification and therapy for myeloma.
2. Discuss risk stratification of myeloma.
3. Review the revised international staging system for myeloma.

2:00 p.m.

Blood/Marrow Transplant for Autoimmune Disease, Matthew Mei, MD, City of Hope

Autoimmune diseases are caused by an overactive immune system that targets the patient’s own cells. Most individuals with autoimmune disorders respond to conventional drug therapies; however, conventional drug therapies are not curative. Although not all autoimmune diseases can be treated with a BMT, the primary concept underlying use of a BMT for these diseases is that ablating and “resetting” the immune system can alter the disease process. This session will discuss the autoimmune diseases that are treated with a BMT, the impact on a patient’s quality of life, treatment-related mortality and morbidity, and overall survival after BMT.

Learning objectives:

1. Identify diseases that can be treated with a BMT.
2. Describe the primary concept underlying use of a BMT for treatment of autoimmune disease.
3. State treatment-related mortality and morbidity, as well as the impact on quality of life for BMT recipients with autoimmune disease.

2:45 p.m.

Opportunistic Infections in the Immunocompromised, Jeffery J. Auletta, MD, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Opportunistic infections are infections that occur more often or are more severe in individuals with weakened immune systems than in people with healthy immune systems. Immunocompromised individuals are at high risk for developing opportunistic infections that can potentially be fatal. This session will discuss causes for immunosuppression and the variety of opportunistic infections—including bacterial, viral and fungal—that immunocompromised individuals can develop.

Learning objectives:

1. Discuss causes for immunosuppression.
2. Provide examples of some of the most common opportunistic bacterial, viral and fungal infections.

3:30 p.m.

Adjourn