During this two-day, multidisciplinary conference, actively practicing researchers, physicians, surgeons, and clinical experts from Winship Cancer Institute and Emory Transplant Center will highlight academic and clinical research that has resulted in cutting-edge transplant technology and a commitment to providing superior-quality patient outcomes. Current clinical initiatives to improve the safety and effectiveness of solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation will be shared.

Conference Format

You will learn about improvements in donor selection for hematopoietic stem cells, graft and mobilization; less-toxic conditional regimens that permit application of stem cell transplantation to a wider range of patients; the use of stem cell transplantation for new indications, such as sickle cell anemia and germ cell cancer; new understandings of regulation immune responses posttransplant; updates in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) allocation rules; emerging trends in organ transplant to expand the donor pool, as well as improve transplant outcomes; and the development of new transplant therapies to prevent organ failure through continuous transplant research.

After completion of this activity, the participant should be able to:

• Discuss the role of randomized studies and the registry database in transplant research, and describe what we have learned from these studies that have aided in the advancement of transplantation.
• Describe barriers to transplantation, including lack of communication and collaboration among referring physicians and transplant centers, and the impact these have on patient outcomes.
• Explain the principles that drive autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation, including treatment modalities for hematologic malignancies and nonmalignant bone marrow diseases, as well as the management of their side effects.
• Identify emerging trends in organ transplantation, focusing on eliminating racial disparity in transplant access, the role of paired donor exchange in transplanting sensitized patients and expanding the donor pool.
• Review the next generation of immunosuppression that is designed to minimize its use and improve the outcomes of transplantation.
• List diseases that lead to liver transplantation and discuss effective treatment strategies for these conditions.
• Recognize the importance of posttransplant management to improve patient outcomes.
• Discuss the role of donor selection, HLA typing, and strategies to reduce graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Who Should Attend*

This conference is designed for health care professionals who care for patients and/or manage their health care benefits, as well as those who have an interest in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, solid organ transplantation or oncology.

• Case Managers
• Nurses/Oncology Nurses/Transplant Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Managed Care Professionals
• Medical Directors
• Physicians
• Physician Assistants
• Social Workers
• Transplant Coordinators
• Hematopoietic Transplant Coordinators
• Medical Management Staff
• Reinsurance Managers
• Utilization Review Staff
• Other Health Care Professionals Committed to Managing and Improving Patient Care

* Refer to the Continuing Education page for a listing of certifications that have been applied for and/or approved for this conference.

About Emory Transplant Center and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

The Emory Transplant Center in Atlanta ranks among the best facilities in the Southeast for organ transplantation. Their transplant specialists are committed to providing patients with superior quality outcomes, access to innovative transplant technology and to developing new transplant therapies, through continuous transplant research, to prevent organ failure.

Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University is Georgia’s oldest and largest BMT program, and the only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center in Georgia. Patients have access to cutting-edge institutional and national clinical trials, as well as world-renowned experts in blood disorders and cancer. Through the discoveries made possible by a dedicated team of many of the nation’s best physicians and researchers, Winship works toward a future when science triumphs over cancer.