ISHLT2026: ECP Immunomodulation in Thoracic Transplantation Challenge Grant Selection Session (Non-CME)
23 April, 2026 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. EDT
Supported by Therakos LLC
This session will showcase presentations from the five finalists for the ISHLT Extracorporeal Photopheresis Immunomodulation in Thoracic Transplantation Challenge Grant, which will be scored by on site judges. This research grant is aimed at advancing the use of Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) immunomodulation to improve patient survival and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and improve or stabilize organ function in thoracic transplant patients.
The winner will be announced during General Session III on Saturday, 25 April.
Grant Finalists
Sophia Alemanno, MSc
Medizinische Universität Wien
Wien, Austria
Research Proposal Title: The Use of Extracorporeal Photopheresis as Immunomodulatory Procedure for Subclinical Antibody-Mediated Rejection and Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Andrea Fernandez Valledor, MD
New York Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center
New York, NY USA
Research Proposal Title: Immunomodulatory Effects of Extracorporeal Photopheresis in Subclinical Immune-Mediated Cardiac Allograft Injury After Heart Transplantation: A Multicenter Multimodal Study
Jamal Mahar, MD, MEd
Banner Heart Institute / University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ USA
Research Proposal Title: Early Photopheresis for Prevention of Rejection in Heart Transplant Recipients
Samuel Priyaranjan, MBBS, DTCD, DNB
Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences
Hyderabad, India
Research Proposal Title: A Prospective Evaluation of Offline and Inline Extracorporeal Photopheresis in Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction: Clinical, Biological, and Procedural Outcomes from a High-Volume Lung Transplant Program
Eleni Tseliou, MD, PhD
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT USA
Research Proposal Title: Prospective Single Arm Clinical Study to Assess Safety and Feasibility of Extracorporeal Photopheresis in Heart Transplanted Patients
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