ISHLT2026 Scientific Abstract Award Finalists Announced
Published 05 February 2026
The ISHLT will present three scientific abstract awards at the upcoming Annual Meeting & Scientific Sessions in Toronto. The recipients of the Early Career and Trainee Clinical Case Dilemmas Best Presentation Award, Philip K. Caves Award, and Early Career Scientist Award will be honored during the Awards Ceremony at General Session III on Saturday, 25 April.
Learn more about each presentation through the Online Program Viewer.
EARLY CAREER AND TRAINEE CLINICAL CASE DILEMMAS: THE BEST OF THE BEST AWARD SESSION
Oral Session 04 | Wednesday, 22 April 3:00 – 4:15 p.m. ET
This award recognizes excellence by early career and trainees from top abstracts submitted in the Early Career Clinical Case Reports category.
Nitish Dhingra, MDUniversity Health Network | Toronto, ON Canda
Abstract Title: Heart Transplantation with Donation After MAiD
Takuya Ikushima, MDTohoku University Hospital | Miyagi, Japan
Abstract Title: Two Successful Cases of ABO-Incompatible Living-Donor Lobar Lung Transplantation
Akira Matsumoto, MDKyoto University Hospital | Kyoto, Japan
Abstract Title: Improved Management for Native Lung Complications After Unilateral Living Donor Lung Transplantation Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation from the Identical Donor
Satoshi Miyairi, MD, PhDUniversity of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN USA
Abstract Title: Is Bad Biventricular Support Better Than Good Single Ventricular Support?
Pieter Neef, MD, BPharmGolden Jubilee University National Hospital | Glasgow, UK
Abstract Title: Successful Orthotopic Heart Transplantation in a Patient with Cold Agglutinin Disease: A Structured Perioperative Management Framework
Sowmith Rangu, MD, FRCPCUniversity of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX USA
Abstract Title: Successful Berlin EXCOR Explanation and Long-Term Survival in a Stage 1 Single Ventricle Patient: Expanding the Limits of Myocardial Recovery
Aradhana Verma, MDStanford University | Palo Alto, CA USA
Abstract Title: Genetic Heart Disease After Heart Transplantation: Implications for Donor Evaluation and Recipient Care
Sofía Vila-Sanjuán, MDVall d'Hebron University Hospital | Barcelona, Spain
Abstract Title: Successful Kidney Transplantation in a HeartMate3 Destination Therapy Patient: Expanding the Boundaries of Continuous-Flow LVAD Support
Devika Sindu, MDCreighton University Phoenix | Phoenix, AZ USA
Abstract Title: Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy for Pulmonary Kaposi Sarcoma in a Lung Transplant Recipient
Filip Wetterberg, MDSahlgrenska University Hospital | Gothenburg, Sweden
Abstract Title: Successful Lung Transplantation After Pulmonary Artery Rupture in End-Stage Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Case Report
PHILIP K. CAVES CANDIDATES AWARD SESSION
Oral Session 18 | Thursday, 28 April 3:00 – 4:15 p.m. ET
Established in 1982, the Philip K. Caves Award encourages and rewards original high-quality research performed by residents, fellows, trainees, and graduate students.
Anna Alber, MScMarie Lannelongue Hospital | xx, France
Abstract Title: Combined Hemofiltration and Hemadsorption Improves Cardiac Performance After Prolonged Ex Situ Perfusion
Ankita Burman, PhDUniversity of Toronto | Toronto, ON Canada
Abstract Title: Transcriptomic Landscape of B Cells in Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD): Intragraft B Cells Exhibit Upregulation of STAT1-Related Pathways
Lucy Luo, MD, PhDNorthwestern University | Chicago, IL USA
Abstract Title: Spatially-Restricted Circuits Between CXCL9+ Macrophages and T Cells Drive Acute Cellular Rejection in Lung Transplant Patients
Bilal Khan Mohammed, MBBS, MDNorthwestern University | Chicago, IL USA
Abstract Title: Regenerative uPAR Directed Car-T Therapy Reduces Fibrosis, Restores Vascular Architecture, and Improves Cardiopulmonary Function in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH)
Tammy Ruth, MD, MEdMonroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital | Nashville, TN USA
Abstract Title: Use of Ventricular Assist Devices as Bridge to Recovery in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients, an ACTION Registry Analysis
Michal Schafer, MD, PhDUniversity of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT USA
Abstract Title: Septal - Right Ventricular Free Wall Mechanical Dyssynchrony Predicts Immediate Right Heart Failure Following the LVAD Implantation
Early Career Scientist Award
Various Oral Sessions
This award aims to recognize excellence in research in the field of basic and translational science with the goal of encouraging non-clinicians in the early stages of their careers to submit their work for presentation at the ISHLT Annual meeting.
Anna Alber, MScMarie Lannelongue Hospital | xx, France
Abstract Title: Combined Hemofiltration and Hemadsorption Improves Cardiac Performance After Prolonged Ex Situ Perfusion
Ankita Burman, PhDUniversity of Toronto | Toronto, ON Canada
Abstract Title: Transcriptomic Landscape of B Cells in Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction (CLAD): Intragraft B Cells Exhibit Upregulation of STAT1-Related Pathways
Abstract Title: Expansion of a Club Cell Subset with Low Club Cell Secretory Protein (CCSP) and High Pro-Fibrotic Gene Expression in Lung Allograft Dysfunction
Fei Yu Geo, BMScToronto General Hospital Research Institute | Toronto, ON Canada
Abstract Title: Harnessing Lung-Kidney Crosstalk: A Novel <i>Ex Vivo</i> Platform for Donor Lung Rehabilitation
Jenny Yune, BSc University Health Network | Toronto, ON Canada
Abstract Title: Safe and Efficient Endothelial Gene Transfection Using Lipid Nanoparticles During Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion