UPMC and University of Pittsburgh at the 2026 American Transplant Congress
July 23, 2026
Faculty and trainees from UPMC, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, and the University of Pittsburgh spoke and presented their latest research at the 2026 American Transplant Congress (ATC) June 20 to 24 in Boston. Below is a list of activities organized alphabetically by presenting speaker/author.
Harsimar Ahuja, BS, MS
Oral Presentation
136
Title: Creating a Patient Decision Tool for Kidney Xenotransplantation
Co-authors: S. Mohan, N. Elias, T. Kawai, J. A. Fishman, K. Safa, D. K. Cooper, J. Madsen, S. Shah, K. Ladin, W. W. Williams
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Emerging Areas of Transplantation: Xenotransplantation, Uterine and Reproductive Health Considerations
Poster Presentation
C084
Title: Navigating Unknown Risk: Patient Decision-Making in Xenotransplantation
Co-authors: S. Mohan, N. Elias, T. Kawai, K. Safa, J. A. Fishman, J. Madsen, D. K. Cooper, S. Shah, K. Ladin, W. W. Williams
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Emerging Areas of Transplantation
Jonathan Albert, MD
Moderator
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Cytomegalovirus Infections
Elissa Bardhi, BA
Oral Presentation
1299
Title: Do Recipient’s B Cells Recognize Donor Antigen on Graft-Derived Extracellular Vesicles?
Co-authors: J. S. Powell, W. Shufesky, R. Chen, A. Larregina, A. Morelli
Session: Plenary - Wednesday Plenary Session
Karen Barr, MD
Oral Presentation
697
Title: Frailty and Prehabilitation—Real-World Approaches to Building a Prehabilitation Program for Transplant Candidates
Session: Interactive Symposium - From Evidence to Action: Best Practices Implementation for Optimizing Care of our Frail and Geriatric Transplant Patients
Scott Biggins, MD
Moderator
Session: In-Depth - Paradigm Shifts in Liver Transplant: How Technology Redefines Success, Failure and Candidacy
Oral Presentation
263
Title: Liver Transplant Indications: Is it time to Revisit?
Session: Meet the Expert - Liver Transplant Evaluation in Adult Patients-Optimizing Outcomes and Equity
Moderator
262
Session: Meet the Expert - Liver Transplant Evaluation in Adult Patients-Optimizing Outcomes and Equity
Oral Presentation
1276
Title: Continuous Distribution: What Are Drivers of Early Positive Outcomes and What Are Next Steps in Implementation.
Session: Interactive Symposium - Keeping Up with Developments in Organ Allocation Policy: What's Recently Been Done and What's to Come
Aravind Cherukuri, MD, PhD
Moderator
569
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Innovations in Desensitization and Antibody Mediated Rejection
Vamsee Chirumamilla, MD
Poster Presentation
A142
Title: Proteinuria in a Kidney Transplant Patient: The Alloimmune Connection
Co-authors: K. O’Brien, A. Cherukuri
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session – Kidney Complications: Immune Mediated Late Graft Failure
Tulio L. Correa, MD
Poster Presentation
B383
Title: Safety and Early Outcomes of Non-Liver Organ Transplantation from HBV NAT-Positive Donors to HBV-Negative Recipients
Co-authors: A. Wu, A. Tevar, M. Keebler, E. Horn, F. P. Silveira
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Viral Infectious Diseases (e.g. COVID-19, HIV)
Antu Das, PhD
Oral Presentation
1141
Title: Shifting Fibroblasts Populations in Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction Are Driven by Alloimmune Cytotoxicity and a Potential E3 Ligase Ubiquitination Pathway
Co-authors: C. Zou, X. Wang, E. Lyons, K. Devonshire, J. F. McDyer
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Mechanisms of Injury and Fibrosis in the Lung Allograft
Berkay Demirors, MD
Oral Presentation
421
Title: Targeting Innate Allorecognition via CD47-SIRPa Prolongs Cardiac Allograft Survival in Presensitized Recipients
Co-authors: G. Zhang, L. Halesha, N. Feizi, C. Lin, A. Williams, P. Randawa, K. Abou-Daya, A. Cherukuri, F. Sacirbegovic, M. Oberbarnscheidt
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Innate Immune Mechanisms that Balance Rejection vs Tolerance
Mohamed Ezzelarab, MD
Moderator
194
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Tissue Engineering, Cellular, and Regenerative Medicine
Leah Georgiades, PharmD
Poster Presentation
A102
Title: Antithymocyte Globulin Dose Capping Due to Body Weight and Risk of Rejection After Kidney Transplant
Co-authors: A. Tevar, K. Shimko
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Kidney Immunosuppression: Induction Therapy
Michael Green, MD, MPH
Moderator
109
Session: In-Depth - The Vaccine Essentials: What Every Transplant Team Must Know
Moderator
131
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Cytomegalovirus Infections
Avantika Gupta, MPharm
Poster Presentation
D035
Title: Drug Metabolizing Capacity of Pig Livers Appear Different as Compared to Human Livers
Co-authors: E. Wang, I. H. Shaik, R. Venkataramanan
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Basic Science: Xenotransplantation
Ghady Haidar, MD
Moderator
Session: Interactive Symposium - Human Herpesvirus 8 in Transplantation: Clinical Challenges, Treatment Strategies, and Donor-Derived Transmission
Rachel Hyzny, BA
Oral Presentation
1224
Title: Structural Barriers to Post-Donation Care: Predictors of Loss to Follow-Up After Living Kidney and Liver Donation
Co-authors: E. V. Thomas, D. McMichael, N. Cao, M. Molinari, H. Wiberg, V. Gunabushanam, A. Ganoza, A. Cherukuri, K. Soliman, A. Tevar
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Non-Organ Specific: Optimizing Access to and Outcomes in Transplantation
Sridula Kallakuri, B.Sc
Poster Presentation
B015
Title: Dysregulated Treg Repair Responses in Chronic Rejection After Transplantation
Co-authors: J. Warunek, C. Lin, L. R. Mathews, H. Spencer, P. Heberlig, H. R. Turnquist
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Basic Science: Chronic Organ Rejection (excluding AMR)
Beverly Kosmach-Park, DNP, RN, FAAN
Oral Presentation
52
Title: Multidisciplinary Care Models in Pediatric Transplantation
Session: In-Depth - Multidisciplinary Approach to Pediatric Transplant Patient
Oral Presentation
196
Title: Seal the Deal! AST Transition Readiness Assessment Checklist Validation
Session: Campfire Sessions - Seal the Deal! AST Transition Readiness Assessment Checklist Validation
Oral Presentation
562
Title: Transitioning Pediatric Intestine Transplant Recipients to Adult Intestinal Care: Outcomes of a Structured Transition of Care Program
Co-authors: S. Legge, G. Mazariegos, R. Cruz
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Beyond Handoffs: APP & Allied Health-Led Transition Interventions to Improve Continuity in Transplant Care
Juhi Kumar, MD, MPH
Poster Presentation
B228
Title: Outcomes in Pediatric Kidney Retransplants
Co-authors: J. Perkins, A. Kazi, C. Lindner, S. Ranabothu, L. Harshman, S. Bartosh, J. Smith, R. M. Engen
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Kidney: Pediatrics
Of note: Dr. Kumar and colleagues research was recognized as a Poster of Distinction at this year’s conference
Cindy Avalos-de Leon, PhD
Poster Presentation
D374
Title: Differential Responses of Liver versus Lymphoid Tissue DC to Small Extracellular Vesicles Generated by Hepatic I/R Injury
Co-authors: A. F. Zahorchak, S. Mitsufuji, B. Ramaswami, H. O. Yazdani, Y. Hadjyannis, G. Camirand, D. A. Geller, A. W. Thomson
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Late Breaking: Basic Science
Poster Presentation
D374
Title: Differential Responses of Liver versus Lymphoid Tissue DC to Small Extracellular Vesicles Generated by Hepatic I/R Injury
Co-authors: A. F. Zahorchak, S. Mitsufuji, B. Ramaswami, H. O. Yazdani, Y. Hadjyannis, G. Camirand, D. A. Geller, A. W. Thomson
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Late Breaking: Basic Science
Mohit Madken, MD
Poster Presentation
A137
Title: Temporal Patterns of Kidney Allograft Biopsies Before and After Belatacept Initiation: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Co-authors: V. Chirumamilla, K. Soliman, N. Shah, M. Cruz-Peralta, S. Wright, H. Morford, C. M. Puttarajappa
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Kidney Immunosuppression: Novel Regimens and Drug Minimization
George Mazariegos, MD
Oral Presentation
200
Title: Pro – Multi-Visceral (i.e., Gastric Transplant Inclusion) Should Be Advocated for Patients With Chronic Dysmotility
Session: Hot Topic Debate - How to Stomach It: Management of Patients with Dysmotility with Intestinal Transplantation
Marian Michaels, MD, MPH
Oral Presentation
119
Title: Breaking Barriers, Building Confidence: Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy
Session: In-Depth - The Vaccine Essentials: What Every Transplant Team Must Know
Moderator
108
Session: In-Depth - The Vaccine Essentials: What Every Transplant Team Must Know
Moderator
772
Session: Interactive Symposium - Shots that Count: Live Virus Vaccination After Transplant in Children
Adrian Morelli, MD, PhD
Oral Presentation
895
Title: Unraveling the Molecular Biology of Extracellular Vesicles: Lessons for Transplantation
Session: Interactive Symposium - Extracellular Vesicles: Messengers of Immunity, Injury, and Repair in Transplantation
Afsana Naaz, MD
Oral Presentation
848
Title: Alloimmunity Generated Injury Signals Control Local Chemokine Levels in Areas of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy
Co-authors: M. Ellison, M. A. Wood-Trageser, J. Warunek, Y. Huang, L. R. Mathews, A. Zeevi, K. I. Abou-Daya, H. R. Turnquist
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Vascular and Lymphatic Cell Biology in Chronic Rejection
Mylarappa Ningappa, PhD
Oral Presentation
1212
Title: Single Cell Spatial Molecular Imaging Defines Immune Cell Composition in Rejection-Relevant Lobular Regions in Liver Transplant Rejection
Co-authors: S. Kang, G. Catherine K, B. W Higgs, L. Schmitt, G. Mazariegos, K. Soltys, C. Ashokkumar, R. Sindhi
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Liver: Immunosuppression and Rejection
Martin Oberbarnscheidt, MD, PhD
Moderator
1103
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Interrogating Signaling Pathways in Allorecognition
Jessica Orris, PhD
Moderator
193
Session: Campfire Sessions - Seal the Deal! AST Transition Readiness Assessment Checklist Validation
Kathryn C. O’Brien, DO
Poster Presentation
A806
Title: Microvascular Inflammation (MVI) in the Crosshairs: Do Allo- or Autoantibodies Shape Kidney Allograft Pathology?
Co-authors: V. Chirumamilla, A. Cherukuri
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session – Kidney: Acute Cellular Rejection
Shambhavi Parab, MS
Poster Presentation
B067
Title: Treprostinil Minimizes Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of Liver After Circulatory Death Donation- Evidence Using Normothermic Machine Perfusion
Co-authors: Y. Nigmet, A. Gupta, I. Shaik, P. Randhawa, A. Humar, R. Venkataramanan, C. Hughes
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Basic Science: Machine Perfusion and Organ Rehabilitation
Chethan Puttarajappa, MD, MS
Poster Presentation
B185
Title: Prioritizing EBV Matching for Pediatric Kidney Transplant Candidates
Co-authors: X. Zhang, H. Morford, S. Amaral, E. M. Sonnenberg, P. Reese, V. S. Potluri
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Kidney: Deceased Donor Allocation
Poster Presentation
C181
Title: Relationship Between the Race-Free CKD-EPI 2021 eGFR Equation and Measured GFR in Living Kidney Donor Candidates
Co-authors: H. M. Rowe, I. Neckermann, H. Morford, S. Nat
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Kidney: Living Donor – Other
Parmjeet Randhawa, MD
Poster Presentation
A090
Title: Difficulties & Nuances in the Histologic Recognition and Reporting of Chronic Active T-Cell Mediated Rejection (ca-TCMR) in the Kidney
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Kidney Complications: Immune Mediated Late Graft Failure
Oral Presentation
246
Title: Pathology is important but not the final word
Title: Session: Interactive Symposium - What is New on BK Virus - From the Guidelines to the Bedside
Poster Presentation
C102
Title: Molecular Correlates of Microvascular Inflammation without Complement Deposition in Heart Allograft Biopsies (I.S.H.L.T. 2005 PAMR 1h+ Category)
Co-authors: M. Keebler, E. Horn, R. Sriwattanakomen
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Heart: Immunosuppression and Rejection
Oral Presentation
1284
Title: The 'scope' of MVI : Histopathology and beyond
Session: Interactive Symposium - The Role of Microvascular Inflammation in Kidney Transplantation
Vrishketan Sethi, MD
Poster Presentation
A173
Title: Drug Overdose Mortality Decline and Liver Transplants From Donation After Brain Death Donors
Co-authors: M. Molinari.
Session: Poster Abstract Session – Liver: Expanding the Donor Pool
Fernanda Silveira, MD
Oral Presentation
1292
Top Fungal Papers
Session: Interactive Symposium - Top Papers in Transplant Infectious Diseases
Rakesh Sindhi, MD
Oral Presentation
60
Title: Spatial Proteomics Using Imaging Mass Cytometry - Insights Into Liver Transplant Injury
Session: In-Depth - Notable Advances in Single Cell and Spatial Proteomics: Potential to Enable Precision in Transplantation
Poster Presentation
A402
Title: Zonal Progression of Injury During Acute Liver Allograft Rejection Associates with Inflammatory Reprogramming of Tolerogenic Macrophages After Liver Transplantation
Co-authors: S. Kang, M. Ningappa, C. Ashokkumar, B. W. Higgs, G. W. Mazariegos, K. W. Soltys, L. K. Schmitt, C. K. Gestrich
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Late Breaking: Clinical and Translational
Poster Presentation
B305
Title: Relapse-Associated Progenitor Programs and Immune-Surveillant States in Unresectable Hepatoblastoma (HB) Requiring Liver Transplantation (LT)
Co-authors: Z. Mesrizadeh, M. Ningappa, G. Catherine K, L. Schmitt, G. Mazariegos, C. Ashokkumar, S. Subramaniam
Session: Poster Abstract Session - Liver: Hepatic Malignancies
Oral Presentation
1208
Title: Allospecific T-Cytotoxic Memory Cells May Identify Stable Liver Transplant Recipients on Suboptimal Tacrolimus Immunosuppression
Co-authors: T. Fazzolare, K. Soltys, G. Mazariegos, A. Ganoza, A. Khanna, G. Bond, S. Horslen, S. Cote, P. Morgan, M. Ningappa, C. Ashokkumar
Session: Emerging Discoveries Oral Abstract Session - Liver: Immunosuppression and Rejection
Oral Presentation
1239
Title: A new breed: Biomarkers for diagnosing rejection beyond counting apoptotic bodies
Session: Interactive Symposium - Chasing Our Tail: Are We Over-diagnosing and Over-treating Low-grade Rejection following Intestinal Transplantation?
Faizan Syed, MD
Moderator
Interactive Symposium – Transforming the Obesity Challenge into a Transplant Opportunity
Paul Szabolcs, MD
Poster Presentation
D270
Title: Tandem Lung and Bone Marrow Transplant Leads to Immunity and Tolerance in an Adult CGD Patient
Co-authors: X. Chen, M. Michaels, N. Hogue, S. McIntyre, S. Hannan, E. Garchar, J. E. Levenson, J. F. McDyer
Session: Poster Abstract Session – Lung: All Topics
