Association of Clinical Scientists

Introduction

See Program Alert on Program Page

The Association of Clinical Scientists has scheduled its 2021 Annual Meeting for Thursday, May 13 and Friday, May 14. with each day’s program beginning at 1:00 p.m. CDT. The Program Committee, chaired by Jonathan B. Hoyne, PhD, has developed an excellent program for the two half days. This meeting will be open to all, Association of Clinical Scientists members and non-members alike, and registration details can be found here.  ACCENT credit will be available.  Registration details can be found here.

The Thursday program, which has a theme of “Emerging Technologies in Clinical Laboratory Medicine,” begins with the Claude P. Brown Memorial Lecture, presented by Faisal Khan, PhD, University of Calgary, on Towards Improved Outcomes of Hematological Malignancies: Three Approaches of Precision Medicine. This will be followed by two additional presentations (see Program). 

The Thursday program then features short papers solicited from young scientists under the auspices of the Association’s Young Fellows Section. Abstract instructions for all young scientists, age 45 or younger can be found here.

The theme for the Friday session is “COVID-19 Surveillance in Public Health.” The program begins with the Abraham J. Gitlitz Memorial Lecture, presented by Maria Elena Bottazzi, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, on International Efforts in Combatting COVID19: Behind the Scenes of How to Develop a COVID-19 Vaccine Suitable for Global Access. It will be followed by two additional lectures that will address the public health response in the US. Following these presentations, at approximately 4:00 pm CDT, the Association will then hold its annual Business Meeting, to which all are invited, regardless of whether an ACS member or not.

The Association’s Annual Awards, which had previously been selected by the Awards Committee, but were not presented in Banff due to the cancellation of the 2020 meeting, will be presented virtually over the two days. On Thursday, just prior to the young scientist session, the Young Clinical Scientist Award will be presented to Amanda Haynes, D.O., Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA. On Friday, the Clinical Scientist of the Year Award will be presented to Keri J. Donaldson, MD, MSCE, Prescient Medicine and Penn State University, and, the F.W. Sunderman, Jr. Diploma of Honor will be presented to Robert W. Hardy, PhD., University of Alabama, Birmingham.

This exciting 2021 program follows up on the success of the Association’s first ever virtual symposium on November 13, 2020 which featured a program on Problems and Challenges with COVID19 Laboratory Testing.

Members of the Program Committee for the 2021 Annual Meeting include Jonathan B. Hoyne, PhD (Chair), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville; Joshua A. Bornhorst, PhD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester; Chris Crutchfield, PhD, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Evanston, IL; Keri J. Donaldson, MD, MSCE, Prescient Medicine and Penn State University, Hershey, PA;  Alexander Feldman, MD, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL; Shuko Harada, MD, University of Alabama, Birmingham; Robert Hardy, PhD, University of Alabama, Birmingham; Charles D. Hawker, PhD, MBA, ARUP Laboratories (retired); M. John Hicks, MD, PhD, DDS, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston; Stephen M. Roper, PhD, Washington University, St. Louis; Consolato M. Sergi, MD, PhD, University of Alberta; and Roland Valdes, Jr., PhD, University of Louisville.

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Program

Due to a sudden family emergency, Dr. Oakeson had to cancel. An outstanding substitute presentation by Dr. Jill Weatherhead is listed below.

Final Program (all times CDT)

Thursday, May 13     Theme: Emerging Technologies in Clinical Laboratory Medicine

1:00 pm	Claude P. Brown Memorial Lecture Faisal Khan, PhD, University of Calgary, “Towards Improved Outcomes of Hematological Malignancies: Three Approaches of Precision Medicine.”
1:40 pm	Q&A
1:50 pm	David Murray, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic, “The journey to replace immunofixation with mass spectroscopy for plasma cell disorders.”
2:30 pm	Q&A
2:40 pm	James Broach, PhD, Penn State Cancer Institute, “Comprehensive identification of structural variants, the dark matter of cancer genomics.”
3:20 pm	Q&A
3:30 pm	Presentation of Young Clinical Scientist Award by Myra Wilkerson, MD, Awards Chair, to Amanda Haynes, DO.
3:40 pm	George G Chen, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, Estrogen receptor alpha-mediated autophagy promotes the survival of papillary thyroid cancer via enhancing the levels of ERK1/2 and reactive oxygen species but inhibiting NRF2.
3:55 pm	Deblina Mukherjee, St. George’s University School of Medicine, St. George’s, Grenada, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Paterson, NJ, and St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson, NJ, Regression of COVID-19 ICFR to CFR for the United States and Europe.
4:05 pm	Q&A
4:10 pm	Erica Fatica, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Clinical laboratory testing for macro-aspartate aminotransferase (macroAST): 8 years of experience.
4:20 pm	Q&A
4:25 pm	Norah Alghamdi, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, A proposed novel biomarker for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
4:35 pm	Q&A
4:40 pm	Devereaux Sellers, Department of Pathology, The MetroHealth System, Cleveland, OH, and Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, Stark disparities between multiplex bead-based technology vs. immunofluorescence assay.
4:50 pm	Q&A
4:55 pm	Brenda Mai, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, A Case Report of Fetal Thrombotic Vasculopathy in a COVID Placenta.
5:05 pm	Q&A
5:10 pm	Prasenjit Mitra, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India, Molecular aspects of lead toxicity.
5:20 pm	Q&A
5:25 pm	Taru Goyal, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India, Assessment of circulating mir-20b, mir-155 and mir-221 in occupationally cadmium exposed workers.
5:35 pm	Q&A
5:40 pm	Program concludes

Friday, May 14     Theme: COVID-19 Surveillance in Public Health

1:00 pm	Abraham J. Gitlitz Memorial Lecture Maria Elena Bottazzi, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, “International Efforts in Combatting COVID19: Behind the Scenes of How to Develop a COVID-19 Vaccine Suitable for Global Access.”
1:50 pm	Q&A
2:00 pm	Presentation of FW Sunderman, Jr. Diploma of Honor by Myra Wilkerson, MD, Awards Chair, to Robert W. Hardy, PhD.
2:10 pm	Michael Pentella, PhD, D(ABMM), University of Iowa, College of Public Health, “The Collaboration of Clinical and Public Health Laboratories to Provide COVID Testing Services.”
2:50 pm	Q&A
3:00 pm	Presentation of Clinical Scientist of the Year Award by Myra Wilkerson, MD, Awards Chair, to Keri J. Donaldson, MD, MSCE.
3:10 pm	Jill E. Weatherhead MD, PhD, CTropMed, Baylor College of Medicine, “Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Vulnerable Immigrant Communities in the United States.”
3:50 pm	Q&A
4:00 pm	ACS 2021 Annual Business Meeting, Keri J. Donaldson, MD, MSCE, presiding. (all Members and non-members are invited to attend)
5:00 pm (approx.)	Program concludes

Speaker Profiles

Thursday, May 13: Session Theme: “Emerging Technologies in Clinical Laboratory Medicine”
	Faisal M. Khan, PhD, University of Calgary, Claude P. Brown Memorial Lecture “Towards Improved Outcomes of Hematological Malignancies: Three Approaches of Precision Medicine.” Dr. Faisal M. Khan is an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary. In his clinical role, Dr. Khan works as the Clinical Director of Hematology Translational Lab, the Associate Clinical Director of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetic Lab (HIL) and as Scientific Lead of Molecular Pathology Program in Alberta Precision Labs. Dr. Khan obtained his PhD in Human Molecular Genetics in India in 2006. He completed his postdoctoral training and clinical fellowship at the University of Calgary. Dr. Khan is a certified Diplomate of American Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ABHI). Dr. Khan has more than 21 years of experience in Transplant Immunology, Cancer Genomics and Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Based on his research, Dr. Khan has published 87 research articles in scientific journals like Science, Blood, and Blood Advances. His research has been recognized by several awards including American Society of Hematology (ASH) Achievement Awards in 2013, 2015 and 2018.
	David Murray, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic, “The Journey to Replace Immunofixation with Mass Spectroscopy for Plasma Cell Disorders.” Dr. Murray is a physician scientist who oversees the clinical protein immunology laboratory at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Before attending medical school, he spent 10 years performing research related to macromolecules for Dow Corning and Eastman Chemical Company.  He is also a board certified anatomical and clinical pathologist.  His research goals center on the adoption of proteomics into the clinical lab.  His work had resulted in over 60 peer reviewed articles, 38 patents and a novel mass spectroscopic proteomic assays adapted into the clinical laboratory. Dr. Murray is Consultant, Division of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and an Assistant Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology. He holds a PhD in polymer chemistry from the University of Akron and an MD from East Tennessee State University. He completed a residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
	James Broach, PhD, Penn State Cancer Institute, “Comprehensive identification of structural variants, the dark matter of cancer genomics.” Dr. Broach is Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State College of Medicine and Director of the Institute for Personalized Medicine. Dr. Broach was Professor of Molecular Biology at Princeton University from 1984-2012, where he served as Associate Director of the Lewis Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics and Co-Director of the Center for Computational Biology. Dr. Broach has served as Chair of the Genomics, Computational Biology and Technology Study Section at NIH as well as chair of numerous special emphasis genomics panels. He was Co-Founder and Director of Research for Cadus Pharmaceuticals from 1992 to 2000. Dr. Broach is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Broach has published more than 175 articles in the area of molecular biology and genomics and holds a number of patents in drug discovery technologies.
Friday, May 14: Session Theme: “COVID-19 Surveillance in Public Health”
	Maria Elena Bottazzi, PhD, FASTMH, Baylor College of Medicine, Abraham J. Gitlitz Memorial Lecture, “International Efforts in Combatting COVID19: Behind the Scenes of How to Develop a COVID-19 Vaccine Suitable for Global Access.” Dr. Bottazzi is Associate Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine, Professor of Pediatrics and Co-director of Texas Children’s Center for Vaccine Development at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She is an internationally recognized tropical infectious disease vaccinologist and global health advocate with two decades pioneering and leading the advancement of a vaccine portfolio from discovery to clinical trials for diseases, such as coronavirus, hookworm, schistosomiasis, and Chagas, all neglected diseases that affect disproportionally the world’s poorest populations. She also has established innovative partnerships in Latin America, Middle East and South East Asia, making significant contributions to innovative educational/research programs and catalyze policies and disseminate science information to reach a diverse set of audiences. As a global thought-leader she has received national and international highly regarded awards, has more than 150 scientific papers and participated in more than 250 conferences worldwide. She is a Member of the National Academy of Science of Honduras and an Emerging Leader in Health and Medicine of the National Academy of Medicine in the US.  Dr. Bottazzi currently serves as Co-chair of the Vaccines and Therapeutics Taskforce of the Lancet Commission on COVID-19.
	Michael A. Pentella PhD, MS, SM(ASCP), CIC, DABMM, University of Iowa, College of Public Health, “The Collaboration of Clinical and Public Health Laboratories to Provide COVID Testing Services.” Dr. Pentella is a Clinical Professor at the University of Iowa, College of Public Health and Director of the Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory.  His experience spans over forty years in clinical microbiology and public health laboratories.  He is certified as an American Board of Medical Microbiology Diplomate, a specialist in microbiology through the American Society for Clinical Pathology, and certified in infection control through the Association of Professionals in Infection Control.  Dr. Pentella is a member of the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Antibiotic Resistance Lab Workgroup, the APHL Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee (chair), and the APHL Influenza Committee. He has made several contributions that have improved the practice of clinical microbiology.  He has written over 50 articles and fifteen book chapters.
	Kelly Oakeson PhD, Utah Public Health Laboratory, Salt Lake City, UT, “Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants.” Dr. Oakeson, is the Utah Public Health Laboratory chief scientist for next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics.  He received both his bachelor’s and Ph.D. from the University of Utah.  He joined the Utah Public Health lab in 2016.  Under his leadership, Utah PHL has become a leader in public health in the utilization of next-generation sequencing for disease surveillance and detection.  Utah PHL is the CDC Mountain Region’s Bioinformatics regional resource.  He is part of the APHL Infectious Disease and Food Safety Committee.
	Jill E. Weatherhead, MD, PhD, CTropMed, Baylor College of Medicine, “Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Vulnerable Immigrant Communities in the United States.” Dr. Jill Weatherhead is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine in the Sections of Pediatric Tropical Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Adult Infectious Diseases at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). She obtained her MD from Michigan State University and her PhD from Baylor College of Medicine where she also completed her clinical residency and fellowship in combined adult and pediatric infectious diseases. Dr. Weatherhead serves as the Director of Medical Education at the National School of Tropical Medicine (NSTM) at BCM as well as the clinic director for the Adult and Pediatric Tropical Medicine Clinic. She provides clinical care within the Harris Country Health System which is a safety net system that services uninsured people living in Houston, TX. During the COVID pandemic she has called attention to the disproportionate effects COVID-19 has had on vulnerable communities in the US and the importance of vaccine rollout in hard-hit communities.

Speaker Abstracts

Invited Speakers

Faisal M. Khan, PhD, University of Calgary
Towards Improved Outcomes in Hematologic Malignancies: Three Approaches of Precision Medicine

Prognosis of hematological malignancies like Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and B cell NonHodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) is far from ideal, primarily due to frequent relapse and/or failure of treatment. Management of relapse is ineffective, whereas preemptive treatment of impending relapse is effective. However, existing approaches for early and reliable detection of impending relapse of malignancy are not successful. Building upon the research of several years, our team at University of Calgary is studying three synchronized approaches to identify most effective treatment strategy for AML/B-cell NHL and provide early and accurate prediction of leukemia relapse.

David Murray, MD, PhD, Mayo Clinic
The Journey to Replace Immunofixation with Mass Spectroscopy for Plasma Cell Disorders

This presentation will focus on the development, validation and implementation of a MALDI-TOF MS method as a replacement for traditional immunofixation electrophoreses for isotyping monoclonal proteins. The journey began in 2014 with studies involving high resolution LC-Q-TOF MS of tryptic peptides and intact immunoglobulin light chains with a goal of a serum based minimum residual disease detection in multiple myeloma patients. Subsequently, the method was adapted to a MALDI-TOF MS platform and coupled to IgG, IgA, IgM and kappa and lambda immunoenrichment termed Mass-Fix at Mayo Clinic. This was a key step which afforded the ideas of using the method in all aspects of multiple myeloma. Several studies involving both clinical and analytical performance of the assay demonstrated improvement over traditional electrophoretic analysis. Several patient cases will be presented to demonstrate these improvements which include increased specificity, improved sensitivity and the detection of M-proteins with light chain glysoylation. The detection of light chain glycosylation was found to be a risk factor for the development of plasma cell disorders. Several challenges and hurdles were experienced during the automation and implementation of the assay. Currently, our lab has performed more than 50,000 assays by the Mass-Fix method.

James Broach, PhD, Penn State Cancer Institute
Comprehensive Identification of Structural Variants, the Dark Matter of Cancer Genomics

Genomic analysis of tumors has stimulated major advances in cancer diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, shifting the focus from morphological and histochemical characterization to consideration of the landscape of driver mutations in the tumor. To date such consideration has focused on somatic mutations comprising single nucleotide changes or small insertions or deletions. We have recently applied optical genomic imaging (OGM) to a variety of human tumors and showed that OGM can detect structural variants (SVs), including deletions, insertions, duplications, inversions and translocations, that are not easily detectable using standard methods of whole genome analysis. Our studies of more than 100 cases of Acute Myeloid Leukemia indicated that OGM identified all the clinically relevant SVs and copy number variants reported by standard cytogenetic methods, such as cytological karyotyping, fluorescent in situ hybridization and microarrays. Importantly, OGM identified clinically relevant SVs in a number of cases that had been missed by the routine methods and refined the underlying genomic structure reported by traditional cytogenomic testing in many other cases. We also applied OGM to Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) associated head and neck cancers, predominantly oropharyngeal carcinomas. We found the virus had integrated into the host genome in two thirds of the tumors examined but resided solely extrachromosomally in the other third. Focal amplification of the virus and the genomics sequences surrounding it often occurred subsequent to integration. In all cases, viral integration correlated with pervasive genome-wide somatic alterations, including multiple insertions, deletions, translocations, inversions and point mutations. Few or no somatic structural variants were present in tumors with only episomal HPV. In sum, our studies have shown that OGM identifies numerous somatic mutations that current genomic analysis methods fail to reveal and this capability can improve diagnostic and prognostic efforts when applied to a variety of cancers.

Maria Elena Bottazzi, PhD, Texas Children’s Center, Baylor College of Medicine
International Efforts in Combatting COVID19: Behind the Scenes of How to Develop a COVID-19 Vaccine Suitable for Global Access.

For the last two decades, the National School of Tropical Medicine and its Center for Vaccine Development in Houston, Texas has operated with the mission to develop and test new low-cost and effective vaccines against emerging and neglected tropical diseases, build capacity for vaccine development locally and with foreign nations and guide and influence vaccine policy and advocacy. This approach relies on the need for international diplomacy, solidarity, and cooperation. This presentation will provide a behind the scenes vignette and an overview of the vaccine development process as well as a review of the coronavirus vaccine development landscape. Finally, it will highlight a case study of how a COVID-19 vaccine, suitable for global access, was developed and is currently advancing towards achieving emergency use authorization for distribution and access this summer.

Michael A. Pentella PhD, MS, SM(ASCP), CIC, DABMM, University of Iowa, College of Public Health
The Collaboration of Clinical and Public Health Laboratories to Provide COVID Testing Services.

The risk of an emerging pathogen evolving into a pandemic is always present but, fortunately, it is a very rare event. The experience of COVID-19 is unprecedented and has reinforced to us the importance of preparedness for the rare event to prevent the devastation that the pandemic can cause. In considering COVID-19, never before has laboratory testing played such a vital role nor been in such high demand. As in past pandemics, there are several phases from the occurrence of a few human infections through widespread human infection, to the post peak phase, and eventual post pandemic phase. These phases must be considered when determining the need for laboratory testing. During past emerging infections, public health and clinical laboratories have worked in unison for effective care of the patient and prevention of further cases. For SARS-CoV-2 to make testing available to everyone who needed to be tested has taken the collaboration of clinical and public health laboratories to provide life-saving testing services. This was most critical at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when few tests were available. Later, in the post peak phase, public health laboratories are dependent on clinical laboratories for samples to perform sequencing needed to track emergence of variants. Building statewide laboratory networks is a key factor in emergency preparedness efforts to respond to all phases of the pandemic, as well as outbreaks and epidemics. Leadership from public health laboratories is essential to build and maintain the network. Clinical laboratories must recognize their role in the network. The ongoing collaboration of clinical and public health laboratories to form a network best serves the patients and the population.

Kelly Oakeson, PhD, Utah Public Health Laboratory
Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants.

With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, the SARS-CoV-2 is spreading and replicating and, as expected, mutating, evolving, and adapting. These variants lead to the rise of new lineages of SARS-CoV-2 that are more transmissible, can be resistant to medical interventions, and cause more severe illness. These new lineages or variants of concern pose new challenges for public health laboratories as they race to increase the genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 to detect variants of concern. The Utah Public Health Laboratory has been sequencing SARS-CoV-2 since the Pandemic started and is taking on the challenges of detecting variants of concern, including the issues of developing and validating whole-genome sequencing for SARS-CoV-2.

After listening to the presentation, the audience will understand the role that public health laboratories serve in the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.

Submitted Abstracts

Deblina Mukherjee¹, Michael Lamacchia^1,2 and Vincent A. DeBari ^1,3, ¹St. George’s University School of Medicine, St. George’s, Grenada, ²St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Paterson, NJ, and St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson, NJ, Regression of COVID-19 ICFR to CFR for the United States and Europe.

Of obvious interest in the study of an epidemic is the case fatality rate (CFR), defined as the number of deaths divided by the number of cases, expressed as a percent.  However, the actual CFR can only be computed after an epidemic has run its course and the total number of deaths and cases can be accurately ascertained.  We define a metric, the Interim Case Fatality Rate (ICFR) computed as the longitudinal CFR on a bi-weekly basis.  Herein, we examine the ICFR over the period March 1, 2020 when COVID-19 first appeared in substantial numbers to Jan 15, 2021. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether longitudinal changes in ICFR would predict the likely ultimate CFR of COVID-19. We used open public source databases and derived ICFR from point estimates of cases and deaths for geopolitical entities in four regions each of the United States and Europe.  Early in the pandemic, calculated ICFR were plotted and frequently found to represent a variably modal pattern with peak ICFR exceeding 15% in some cases.  However, the curves were found to decrease and regress to relatively constant ICFR values.  We postulated that actual CFR could be estimated when no statistically significant differences in sequential measurements of ICFR for the final monthly (three measurements) period could be detected.  This resulted in estimates of case-weighted CFR [mean (95% confidence interval)] ranging from 1.77% (0.59 to 2.95) for the USA to 2.31% (1.85 to 2.77).  We conclude that this suggests that early estimates of the CFR may provide highly erroneous estimates but that the ICFR may regress to an estimate of the actual CFR.

Upon completion of this activity, the participant should be able to: (1) recognize the variability in the ICFR of different geopolitical entities during the Covid-19 pandemic; (2) observe the manner in which the ICFR regresses to a constant value; and (3) calculate the weighted CFR predicted by this model.

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Erica Fatica, Paige Menk, Darci Block, and Nikola Baumann, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, Clinical laboratory testing for macro-aspartate aminotransferase (macroAST): 8 years of experience.

Macro-aspartate aminotransferase (macroAST) is a high-molecular weight complex that consists of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) bound to immunoglobulins. The macro-complex causes elevations in measured serum AST activity. Although clinically benign, identification of macroAST is important as patients may undergo years of unnecessary diagnostic investigations before macroAST is identified. To our knowledge, we are the only reference laboratory that offers macroAST testing. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the distribution of results obtained, % of positive samples, and patient demographics for macroAST testing during an 8-year period (2013-2021). The macroAST assay involves measuring AST activity in serum before (total) and after polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation (post-PEG). PEG precipitation was performed by incubating samples with 25% PEG solution at a 1:1 ratio followed by centrifugation at room temperature for 5 minutes. The percent of PEG-precipitated AST activity (%PPA) was calculated as [(total – post-PEG)/total] x 100. A %PPA of >80% is positive for macroAST based on initial validation studies using controls and gel filtration chromatography-confirmed macroAST samples. 300 macroAST tests were ordered for 291 unique patients (181F, 110M). Patient ages ranged from 1 month to 93 years old with a median of 35 years (IQR 12-56).  There were 137/300 (45.7%) positive samples, of which 105 (76.6%) were from female patients and 32 (23.4%) were from males. The median(range) of total AST results was 75(15-1196) U/L for macroAST-negative samples and 253(56-954U/L) for macroAST-positive samples. There was a bimodal distribution of %PPA results with a mean±SD %PPA of 31.3%+13.9% for population 1 (negative) and 92.2%+4.8% for population 2 (positive). The results show that almost 50% of physician-ordered macroAST tests were positive with macroAST found more frequently in female patients.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to: (1) Describe the molecular composition and analytical difficulty presented by macroAST; (2) Describe patient demographics and characteristics of patients negative for macroAST; and (3) Describe patient demographics and characteristics of patients positive for macroAST.

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Norah Alghamdi and Roland Valdes, Jr., University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, A proposed novel biomarker for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Our work aims to test the hypothesis that subjects who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have an inherent dysregulation of the corticotropin-axis involving the neuropeptide Urocortin3 (UCN3) and its receptor Corticotropin Releasing Factor Receptor2 (CRFR2). PTSD is a condition that develops after a set of traumatic stressors. UCN3 is a corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-related peptide which plays a role in restoring homeostasis in response to stress via activation its receptor, CRFR2, resulting in mediating/dampening stress sensitivity. The diagnosis of PTSD is currently based on mental disorder criteria which are complex, subjective, and require human judgment. No clinical laboratory test is currently available to aid in this diagnosis, thus having a rapid and inexpensive biomarker test for PTSD would have substantial clinical impact. We hypothesize that in PTSD UCN3 secretion is deficient, causing the inability to cope with stress. Testing our hypothesis requires a high-sensitivity assay able to measure UCN3 in the sub-picogram per milliliter (pg/mL) range. This level of sensitivity is achievable using a combination of high affinity aptamers and monoclonal antibodies. Aptamers are sequenced nucleotides that bind to their targets with high affinity and specificity making them ideal diagnostic reagents. Our focus is to develop a high-sensitivity assay required to measure samples from PTSD subjects available through the Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD Biorepository Brain Bank (VABBB).

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to: (1) describe the PTSD condition and the limitations in current approaches to its diagnosis; (2) discuss the rationale for targeting UCN34 as a biomarker for PTSD; and (3) describe the advantages of using aptamers in developing diagnostic tests.

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Devereaux Sellers^1,2, Taha Keskin^1,2, Linlin Yang^1,2, and Mahesheema Ali^1,2, ¹Department of Pathology, The MetroHealth System, Cleveland, OH, and ² Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, Stark disparities between multiplex bead-based technology vs. immunofluorescence assay.

Objective: To retrospectively examine the outcome of anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) screen by comparing the performance of BioPlex 2200 and immunofluorescence assay (IFA)

Methods: We reviewed ANA performance (Feb 2020 to Jan 2021) on BioPlex 2200 ANA using multiplex florescent beads (antigens dsDNA, chromatin, SSA 60, SSA 52, SSB, Sm, SmRNP, RNP A, RNP 68, Scl-70, Jo-1, ribosomal P, and centromere B) and immunofluorescence assay (using HEp-2)

Results: Total number of cases tested on both multiplex flow and IFA platform were 133 (111 females and 22 males). The prevalence in our population divided by age groups 18 to 44 years (36%); 45 to 64 years (42%); 65 years or older, (22%) has reported lupus. The mean age of the lupus patients at diagnosis is clustering around 53 years. Out of 133 multiplex tests performed, 58 tests were negative and 75 were positive. 47% of the tests performed with a negative result (58 tests) on multiplex flow turned to positive on IFA assay. The breakdown of titers for these tests were: 30% (1:320); 30% (1:160); 15% (1:80); and 26% (1:20). 55% of the tests performed with a positive result (75 tests) on multiplex flow turned to negative on IFA assay. The breakdown of titers for these tests were: 12% (1:1280), 18% (1:320); 6% (1:640); 15% (1:160); 15% (1:40); and 35% (1:80). Upon scrutinizing further, data shows a significant disparity in the dsDNA (27%) and RNP antibodies (51%) of the multiplex positive tests turned to negative on IFA assay.

Conclusion: Our data suggests a disparity between the results obtained from both the platforms. The common notion of IFA being a gold standard is flawed therefore manufacturer’s need to invest in optimizing assays that are less prone to errors. Clinicians should interpret the test results in clinical context that includes history, assessment of signs & symptoms.

Upon completion of this activity, the participant will be able to (1) identify the gaps between multiplex bead-based technology and immunofluorescence assay; (2) compare the performance of multiplex bead-based technology and immunofluorescence assay; and (3) recommend education on the disconnect between a patient’s symptoms versus test results.

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Brenda Mai, Mesk Alrais, Amanda Tchakarov, and Nina Tatevian, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, A case report of fetal thrombotic vasculopathy in a COVID placenta.

The aims and scope of this presentation are to highlight an interesting case report of a third trimester pregnancy with symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) complicated by fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (FTV). COVID-19 has affected patients of all ages and demographics, not excluding pregnant women. The effects of COVID-19 on pregnant women are largely still unknown. Several adverse perinatal outcomes have been reported in COVID-19-positive pregnant women including pre-eclampsia, miscarriage, pre-term labor, and stillbirth. Histopathological examination of COVID-19 placentas can contribute significant data regarding maternal and fetal health and elucidate more findings in this novel disease. A 23-year old female with morbid obesity and scant antenatal care presented to the emergency department complaining of shortness of breath and fever; she was found to be positive for COVID-19. Grossly, her placenta showed no abnormalities. Histological examination of her placenta showed chronic lymphoplasmacytic deciduitis, villous fibrosis, loss of capillarization, extravasation of erythrocytes, chorangiosis, and thrombosis of upstream stem vessels, including large fetal vessels on the chorionic plate. These changes were deemed to be consistent with FTV. FTV is a condition where blood clots cause obstruction of both arteries and veins, causing downstream occlusion, decreasing placental oxygen flow, impairing nutritional exchange, and causing ischemic changes and infarctions in the placental villi. FTV can result in serious fetal sequelae such as miscarriage/stillbirth, fetal intrauterine growth restriction, infarcted organs, neonatal stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, and cerebral palsy. Grossly, thrombosis of chorionic vessels can result in pale and firm placental parenchyma. Microscopically, organizing thrombosis, endothelial cell destruction, avascular fibrinoid necrosis, hemorrhagic endovasculitis, stromal karyorrhexis, fibromuscular sclerosis, fibrosis, and septation are frequent features. In conclusion, this case of FTV in the placenta in a patient with COVID-19 is a significant finding as this can be critical to clinicians for the management of prenatal care for expecting mothers during this pandemic.

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to: (1) identify the gross macroscopic findings in fetal thrombotic vasculopathy (FTV); (2) describe the histopathologic features of FTV; and (3) explain the fetal sequelae of FTV.

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George G Chen, Zhongqin Gong, Lingbin Xue, Jason YK Chan, C Andrew van Hasselt, Alexander C Vlantis, Michael CF Tong.  The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, Estrogen receptor alpha-mediated autophagy promotes the survival of papillary thyroid cancer via enhancing the levels of ERK1/2 and reactive oxygen species but inhibiting NRF2.

An increasing number of publications have indicated that estrogen receptor alpha (ERa) contributes to the development and growth of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). However, the mechanism responsible remains largely unknown. Autophagy, a catabolic process by which cells degrade their own components by targeting them for lysosomal degradation. In this study, we aimed to explore the connections between ERa and autophagy in PTC. Using human PTC tissues, cell lines and mouse tumor models, we demonstrated that ERa could induce autophagy in PTC and that the upregulation of ERK1/2 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) predated the occurrence of autophagy. We also found that the level of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was increased in the ERa-mediated autophagy cells compared with the control. The inhibition of Keap1further enhanced the expression of HO-1 but limited the levels of ROS as well as the autophagy, sensitizing PTC cells to chemotherapeutic agents. On the other hand, the inhibition of NRF2 led to the downregulation of HO-1 and further increase the autophagy, resulting in the tumor cells less sensitive to the chemotherapies. In the mouse tumor model, tumors formed by PTC cells with ERa overexpression grew significantly larger, with enhanced autophagy. The application of methyl-piperidino-pyrazole (MPP), a selective ERa antagonist could markedly reduce the growth of the tumor with decreasing autophagy. Therefore, our results have confirmed that ERa-induced autophagy is a survival factor for PTC. Importantly, it appears that increase of HO-1 in ERa-induced autophagy is a compensatory or control mechanism of the tumor cells to control their growth. These data suggest that there are potential therapeutic targets to arrest the growth of PTC, including ERa, HO-1 and Keap1 and NRF2 (Supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.81972493, the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong SAR, GRF 14109716).

After completing this activity, the learner will be able to (1) appreciate how ERa contributes to growth of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC); (2) discuss the role of HO-1 as a potential target for treatment of PTC; and (3) discuss the role of NRF2 as potential target for treatment of PTC

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Prasenjit Mitra, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India, Molecular aspects of Lead toxicity.

This session will mainly highlight molecular aspects of Lead toxicity. The novel molecular markers that are involved in lead toxicity will be discussed in details. The markers will be classified as genomic and epigenetic markers. Genomic markers would include the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs).  Epigenetic markers would include DNA methylation, Histone modification and miRNAs. The latest molecular mechanism that are being identified would be enlightened. Lead toxicity is a big problem not only in developing countries like India but reports indicate it to be a grave issue even in developed countries like United States. In developed countries, children are more affected than adults, while in developing countries, both children and adults especially the occupationally exposed individuals are at high risk of developing lead toxicity. Earlier World Health Organization recommended a Blood Lead Level (BLL) of 5 µg/dl as a safe level. But the safety levels have changed and now no lead level is considered safe. Lead in children affects nervous system and gradually leads to IQ reduction along with other manifestations. In adults, it is a potent carcinogen. Research should identify novel biomarkers that may aid in the diagnosis and identification of individual at risk on the basis of which mass screening may be done to find the magnitude of the problem.
This session will discuss various molecular markers that have been found to be associated with lead toxicity highlighting their importance to be further evaluated and validated as markers of precision medicine in this public health problem.

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to (1) discuss novel molecular biomarkers that may aid in the help of precision medicine in the field of Lead toxicity; (2) describe various molecular mechanisms involved in Lead toxicity; and (3) discuss the directions for conducting future research studies in this field.

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Taru Goyal, Shailja Sharma, Praveen Sharma, Prasenjit Mitra, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India, Assessment of circulating mir-20b, mir-155 and mir-221 in occupationally cadmium exposed workers.

Cadmium (Cd), a well-known environmental pollutant, can induce several adverse health effects following its accumulation in the human body. Cd is also a potential carcinogen, capable of causing multi-system alterations. The molecular mechanisms by which Cd exerts systemic damage in the human body are under exploration. The present study, aimed to evaluate levels of three candidate miRNAs (miR-20b, miR-155 and miR-221) in individuals exposed to Cd.

The study enrolled 110 individuals from handicraft and welding factories of Jodhpur, who were occupationally exposed to Cd and 97 apparently healthy individuals without any history of occupational exposure. Blood levels of Cd were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS). Circulating miRNA were isolated from serum by Qiagen isolation kit and subsequently converted to cDNA using Qiagen miRCURY LNA RT kit. miRNA expression was assessed using Qiagen miRNA PCR assay in RT-PCR. The median Cd level in the exposed individuals (2.40μg/L) was significantly higher than the non-exposed (0.90μg/L) (p<0.0001). miRNA expression analysis revealed a significant upregulation in the expression of miR-221 in the exposed group with a fold change of 3.22, while miR-20b and miR-155 did not differ significantly between the groups. The findings of our study highlight the importance of miRNA dysregulation in Cd exposed individuals that may contribute to the systemic effects of Cd toxicity. The role of miR-221 and other miRNAs as a potential biomarker of Cd toxicity needs to be further validated in diverse population groups to highlight the possible molecular pathways through which Cd exerts its toxic manifestations.

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to: (1) discuss the status of miRNA expression in Cd toxicity; (2) describe downstream targets of these miRNAs; and (3) discuss future directions for further research studies in the field of epigenetics of Cd toxicity.

Abstract Instructions

Abstracts for the Annual Meeting are no longer being accepted.

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The Annual Meeting was held May 13-14. It is too late to register.

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The Association of Clinical Scientists 2021 Annual Meeting has been accredited by AACC for 7.0 ACCENT Continuing Education Credits.

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Future Meetings

2022

May 11-14, Embassy Suites Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky (sponsored by University of Louisville) Dr. Roland Valdes, Program Chair

Transportation

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is 6.2 miles (13 minutes) from the Embassy Suites Louisville Downtown Hotel. The hotel provides a courtesy shuttle bus to and from the airport. For those that prefer to rent a car, the hotel provides free valet parking. Taxi service ranges from $16.56 to $26.19 (plus tip) depending on time of day and traffic. Uber or Lyft rates are approximately $4-5 lower.

Archive of Past Meetings

Archived Content

Archived Highlights

Chronology of Previous Association Meetings

1. Sept 8, 1954; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC; US Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD (Workshop on Clinical Hemoglobinometry)

2. Nov 19-20, 1954; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA

3. April 1-2, 1955; Kenmore Hotel; Harvard Medical School; New England Deaconess Hospital; Boston, MA

4. Oct 7-8, 1955; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC: US Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD (Workshop on Blood Glucose)

5. Dec 9-10, 1955; Drake Hotel; University of Chicago, Argonne Cancer Research Hospital; Chicago, IL

6. April 6-7, 1956; Raleigh Hotel; Arlington Hospital; Washington, DC (Adoption of Constitution)

7. Oct 5-6, 1956; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC; US Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD (Workshop on Serum Proteins)

8. Dec 7-8, 1956; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Thomas Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA

9. March 1-2, 1957; Sheraton Hotel; Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL

10. July 15, 1957; Royal Army Medical College, London, UK (International Workshop on Hemoglobinometry)

11. Sept 27-28, 1957; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC; US Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD (Workshop on Serum Cations)

12. Dec 13-15, 1957; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Thomas Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA

13. May 9-11, 1958; Sheraton-Lincoln Hotel; Indianapolis General Hospital; Eli Lilly Co; Indianapolis, IN

14. Oct 10-12, 1958; Park-Sheraton Hotel; New York, NY

15. Feb 26-Mar 1, 1959; Holiday Inn; Mobile Infirmary; Mobile, AL

16. Oct 9-11, 1959; Sheraton-Park Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC

17. March 3-5, 1960; DeWitt Clinton Hotel; Wadsworth Laboratory of NY State Health Department; Albany, NY

18. Nov 4-6, 1960; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Exocrine and Endocrine Functions of the Pancreas)

19. April 14-16, 1961; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Thomas Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA

20. Oct 27-29, 1961; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Thyroid and Parathyroid Functions)

21. April 6-8, 1962; Sheraton Hotel; Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL

22. Oct 25-28, 1962; Statler-Hilton Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Hemoglobin, its Precursors and Metabolites)

23. April 25-28, 1963; Sheraton Hotel; Louisville Medico-Chirugical Society; Louisville, KY

24. Oct 24-27, 1963; Statler-Hilton Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Serum Proteins and the Dysproteinemias)

25. May 1-3, 1964; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA

26. Nov 13-15, 1964; Statler-Hilton Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Clinical Pathology of the Serum Electrolytes)

27. April 29-May 2, 1965; Statler-Hilton Hotel; St. Albans Naval Hospital; New York, NY

28. Nov 11-14, 1965; Statler-Hilton Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Clinical Pathology of Infancy)

29. April 29-May 1, 1966; Palmer House; Chicago Board of Health Laboratories; Chicago, IL

30. Oct 20-23, 1966; International Inn; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Laboratory Diagnosis of Liver Diseases)

31. May 4-7, 1967; Robert Meyer Hotel, Orlando, FL; Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL; University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL

32. Nov 2-5, 1967; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Laboratory Diagnosis of Kidney Diseases)

33. May 16-19, 1968; Peck Inn; University of Arkansas Medical School; Little Rock, AR

34. Nov 7-10, 1968; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Laboratory Diagnosis of Diseases Caused by Toxic Agents)

35. April 24-27, 1969; Malaga Inn; Mobile Infirmary; Mobile, AL

36. Nov 6-9, 1969; Mayflower Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Laboratory Diagnosis of Endocrine Disorders)

37. April 23-26, 1970; Ponchartrain Hotel; Wayne State University Medical School; Detroit, MI

38. Nov 6-8, 1970; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Chemical Hematology)

39. April 22-25, 1971; Hotel Sonesta; University of Connecticut Medical School; Hartford, CT

40. Nov 11-14, 1971; Hilton Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Clinical Pathology of the Serum Lipids)

41. April 27-30, 1972; Holiday Inn; Notre Dame University; Ames Co; Elkhart, IN

42. Nov 2-5, 1972; Marriott Motor Hotel; Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL (Clinical Pathology of Respiratory Diseases)

43. May 3-5, 1973; Hawaiian Village Motel; St Joseph’s Hospital; University of South Florida College of Medicine; Tampa, FL

44. Nov 2-4, 1973; Shoreham Hotel; Washington Hospital Center; Washington, DC (Laboratory Diagnosis of Cancer)

45. March 7-10, 1974; La Jolla Village Inn; Scripps Foundation; University of California Medical School; La Jolla, CA

46. Nov 8-10, 1974; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Thomas Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA (Laboratory Diagnosis of Skeletal, Muscular, and Neurological Disorders)

47. May 2-4, 1975; Governors Inn; University of North Carolina Medical School; Chapel Hill, NC

48. Nov 7-9, 1975; Bellevue-Stratford Hotel; Thomas Jefferson Medical School; Philadelphia, PA (Laboratory Diagnosis and Monitoring of Disorders Caused by Drugs and Toxic Agents)

49. April 21-25, 1976; Hyatt Hotel; University of Puerto Rico Medical School; San Juan, PR

50. Nov 5-7, 1976; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC (Clinical Enzymology)

51. March 2-5, 1977; Congress Centre, Monte Carlo, Monaco (International Symposium on Clinical Chemistry and Chemical Toxicology of Metals)

52. April 28-May 1, 1977; Christopher Inn; Battelle Columbus Labs; Ohio State University School of Medicine; Columbus, OH

53. Nov 11-13, 1977; Drake Hotel, Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL (Proteins and Proteinopathies)

54. May 4-7, 1978; Fairmont Hotel; University of California Medical School; San Francisco, CA

55. May 22-24, 1978; Caledonian Hotel; Falconbridge Nikkelwerk; Kristiansand, Norway (Kristiansand Conference on Nickel Toxicology)

56. Nov 3-5, 1978; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC (Clinical Pathology of Cancer of the Endocrine Glands and Target Organs)

57. May 3-6, 1979; Mills-Hyatt House; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston, SC

58. Oct. 11-14, 1979; Benjamin Franklin Hotel; Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA (Biochemical Hematology)

59. May 8-11, 1980; Colonnade Hotel; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA

60. Sept 3-5, 1980; Dragon Hotel; University College of Swansea; Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom (Swansea Conference on Nickel Toxicology)

61. Oct 31-Nov. 2, 1980; Drake Hotel, Chicago, IL (Laboratory Diagnosis and Monitoring of Disorders of the Kidney)

62. May 7-10, 1981; Bay Harbor Inn; St Joseph’s Hospital; University of South Florida College of Medicine; Tampa, FL

63. Oct 29-Nov 1, 1981; Barclay Hotel, Philadelphia, PA (Diagnosis of Disorders of the Fetus, Newborn, and Infant)

64. May 6-9, 1982; Sheraton-Miramar Hotel; UCLA Medical School; Beckman Instruments, Inc; Santa Monica, CA

65. June 17-20, 1982; Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany (International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

66. Nov 11-13, 1982; Drake Hotel, Chicago, IL (Laboratory Diagnosis and Monitoring of Cancer)

67. May 12-15, 1983; Boar’s Head Inn; University of Virginia Medical Center; Charlottesville, VA

68. July 19-22, 1983; Sheraton Centre, Montreal, Canada (Second International Conference on Clinical Chemistry and Chemical Toxicology of Metals)

69. Nov 10-13, 1983; Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC (Clinical Pathology of Liver and Biliary Tract)

70. Feb 20-22, 1984; Hilton Hotel, Vienna, Austria (Second International Congress on Human Tumor Markers)

71. May 3-6, 1984; Hilton Hotel; University of South Alabama Medical School; Mobile, AL

72. Sept 4-7, 1984; PLM-St Jacques Hotel; Société Le Nickel; Paris, France (Nickel Metabolism and Toxicology)

73. Nov 15-18, 1984; Barclay Hotel, Philadelphia, PA (Clinical Pathology of the Reproductive Systems)

74. May 9-12, 1985; Sheraton-Islander Hotel; Brown University Medical School; Newport, RI

75. Oct 9-13, 1985; Galt House Hotel; Audubon Hospital; Louisville, KY (Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disorders)

76. April 23-26, 1986; Ischia, Italy (Third International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

77. May 15-18, 1986; Excelsior Hotel; University of Arkansas Medical School; Little Rock, AR

78. July 28-Aug 1, 1986; University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan (Third International Conference on Clinical Chemistry and Chemical Toxicology of Metals)

79. Nov 13-16, 1986; Colony Square Hotel; Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, GA (Nucleic Acid Probes and Monoclonal Antibodies in Human Disease)

80. May 14-17, 1987; The Charleston Place Hotel; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston, SC

81. Aug 17-21, 1987; Odense University, Denmark (Symposium on Trace Elements in Human Health & Disease)

82. Aug 25-28, 1987; Omni Park Hotel, New York, NY (Fourth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

83. Nov 12-15, 1987; Lincoln Hotel, Tampa, FL (Applied Seminar on Analytical and Clinical Toxicology)

84. May 12-15, 1988; Newporter Resort; UCLA Medical School; Beckman Instruments; Newport Beach, CA

85. May 29-June 3, 1988; Brioni Hotel, Brioni, Yugoslavia (Symposium on Drugs in Competitive Athletics)

86. Sept 5-9, 1988; Hanasaari Centre, Helsinki, Finland (Fourth International Conference on the Metabolism and Toxicology of Nickel)

87. Sept 19-23, 1988; Stockholm, Sweden (Fifth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

88. Nov 10-13, 1988; Parkview-Hilton Hotel, Hartford, CT; University of Connecticut Medical School, Farmington, CT (Applied Seminar on Hematology)

89. May 11-14, 1989; Omni Hotel; University of Virginia Medical School; Charlottesville, VA

90. May 23-26, 1989; Miyako Hotel, Tokyo, Japan (Sixth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

91. November 16-19, 1989; Hershey Hotel, Philadelphia, PA (Applied Seminar on Laboratory Diagnosis of Liver Diseases)

92. May 10-13, 1990; Meridien Hotel; University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine; Vancouver, BC, Canada

93. June 5-8, 1990; Hanasaari Centre, Espoo, Helsinki, Finland (Fourth International Symposium on Trace Elements in Health and Disease)

94. September 10-14, 1990; Hotel Rus, Kiev, Russia (Seventh International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

95. November 7-11, 1990; Clarion Hotel; University of Cincinnati Medical School; Cincinnati, OH (The Laboratory Diagnosis of Disorders of the Fetus, Newborn, and Early Childhood)

96. May 8-12, 1991; Red Lion Hotel; University of Utah Medical School; Salt Lake City, UT

97. September 9-12,1991; Triaena Congress Centre, Athens, Greece (International Congress on Immunoenzymatic Techniques)

98. November 14-17, 1991; Omni Hotel, Jacksonville, FL (Six Major Advances in Laboratory Diagnosis and Clinical Applications)

99. May 13-17, 1992; Sheraton University Inn; Medical School of the State University of New York; Syracuse, NY

100. Sept 6-10, 1992; Vienna, Austria (Ninth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

101. Nov 11-15, 1992; Red Lion Resort; Sansum Medical Foundation; Santa Barbara, CA (Laboratory Diagnosis of Metabolic Disorders, Emphasizing Diabetes Mellitus)

102. May 12-16, 1993; Newport Islander Doubletree Hotel; Brown University Medical School; Newport, RI

103. Sept 6-10, 1993; Bonn, Germany (Tenth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

104. Nov 3-7, 1993; Hilton Hotel; Medical College of Ohio; Toledo, OH (Advances in the Laboratory Diagnosis of Cancer)

105. May 11-15, 1994; Lodge Alley Inn; Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston, SC

106. Nov 16-20, 1994; Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza; University of South Florida College of Medicine; Tampa, FL (Clinical Science of Ageing)

107. May 10-14, 1995; Houston Plaza Hilton Hotel; MD Anderson Cancer Center; University of Texas School of Medicine; Houston, TX

108. June 11-14, 1995; New York Hilton, New York, NY (Twelfth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

109. July 10-13, 1995; University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada (Fifth International Symposium on Toxicology & Clinical Chemistry of Metals)

110. Oct 25-29 1996; Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Redondo Beach, CA (Immunologic Techniques for Diagnosis, Transplantation, and Therapy)

111. May 1-5, 1996; Carolina Inn; University of North Carolina Medical School; Chapel Hill, NC

112. June 16-19, 1996; Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore (Thirteenth International Conference on Human Tumor Markers)

113. Oct 30 - Nov 3 1996; Seelbach Hotel; University of Louisville Medical School; Louisville, KY (Neurologic and Psychiatric Diseases: Molecular Basis and Diagnostic Approaches)

114. May 7-11, 1997; University Park Hotel; University of Utah School of Medicine; ARUP Laboratories; Salt Lake City, UT

115. November 5-9, 1997; Emory Conference Hotel; Emory University School of Medicine; Atlanta, GA (Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases)

116. April 29 - May 3, 1998; Biltmore Hotel; Brown University School of Medicine; Providence, RI

117. October 21-23, 1998; Doubletree Hotel; Jefferson Medical College; Philadelphia, PA (Clinical Science in the New Millennium)

118. October 5-9, 1999; Fawcett Center Hotel; Ohio State University Medical School; Columbus, OH

119. Nov 3-7, 1999; Radisson Hotel La Jolla; University of California at San Diego; Scripps Research Institute; La Jolla, CA (Molecular and Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology)

120. May 17-20, 2000; Partridge Inn; Medical College of Georgia; Augusta, GA Hemoglobinopathies)

121. May 9-12, 2001; The Carolina Inn; The University of North Carolina School of Medicine; Chapel Hill, NC (Applications of Molecular Biology in Laboratory Diagnosis)

122. May 8-11, 2002; Hotel Monaco; The University of Utah School of Medicine; ARUP Laboratories, Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Medicine, Fitness Training, and Related Topics)

123. May 7-11, 2003; TradeWinds Resort, University of South Florida College of Medicine; University of Tampa, St Petersburg, FL (Metabolic Diseases)

124. May 12-16, 2004; Warwick Hotel; University of Texas College of Medicine; The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; Houston, TX (Infectious Diseases and Pulmonary Pathology; Informatics in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine)

125. May 11-15, 2005; Somerset Inn; William Beaumont Hospital, Troy and Royal Oak, MI (Diagnostic Applications of Molecular Biology)

126. May 17-21, 2006; Amelia Island Plantation Resort and University of Florida Medical School, Amelia Island (Diseases of the Reproductive Organs; Prevention of Medical Errors)

127. May 16-20, 2007; Hershey Lodge Conference Center, Penn State University Medical School, Geisinger Medical Center, Hershey and Danville, PA (Workshop on Proteomics in Cancer Therapy)

128. May 14-18, 2008; Marina del Mar Hotel and UCLA Medical School, Los Angeles, CA (Symposium on Solid Organ Transplantation)

129. May 13-17 2009; Embassy Suites Hotel; University of South Florida College of Medicine and the University of Tampa, Tampa, FL

130. May 12-16, 2010; St Anthony Hotel; University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX (Transfusion Medicine)

131. May 18-22, 2011; Seelbach Hilton Hotel; University of Louisville School of Medicine; Louisville KY (Personalized Medicine and Genomics)

132. May 23-27, 2012; Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel; University of South Alabama School of Medicine; Mobile, AL (Advances in Pathology for Personalized Medicine)

133. May 22-25, 2013; Omni Parker House Hotel; Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates; Boston, MA (Advances in Molecular / Genetic Diagnostics and Pediatric Pathology)

134. May 28-31, 2014; Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort; the Blood Alliance and University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL (Frontiers in Transfusion Medicine)

135. May 13-16, 2015; Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City, UT, the University of Utah Department of Pathology and ARUP Laboratories, (Clinical; Applications of Next Generation Technologies)

136. May 4-7, 2016, Arlington Hotel & Spa, Hot Springs, Arkansas, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Monitoring of Multiple Myeloma)

137. May 17-20, 2017, Grand Bohemian Hotel, Birmingham, AL, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Pathology, (Disruptive Innovations in Clinical and Anatomic Pathology and Advancing the Role of Laboratory Medicine in Preventing Diagnostic Error)

138. May 16-19, 2018, Marriott Medical Center Hotel, Houston, TX, Program of Diagnostic Genetics, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, School of Health Professions (Genomic Medicine).

139. May 15-18, 2019, Hotel Hershey, Hershey, PA, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA and Geisinger Health System and Medical Center, Danville, PA (Opiod Stewardship and Lab 2.0).

140. Nov. 13, 2020 Virtual Symposium on “Problems and Challenges with COVID-19 Laboratory Testing.”