Optimizing Transplantation of the Sensitized Heart Candidates: Established and Cutting Edge Antibody Testing Approaches
Nancy L. Reinsmoen, Ph.D., D(ABHI)
HLA Consultant
Dr. Reinsmoen graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and earned her MS and PhD degrees from the University of Minnesota. While at Minnesota, she focused on clinical aspects of cellular immunology and was instrumental in defining T cell recognized class II epitopes important in transplantation. Her research focus expanded to investigating the immune parameters associated with short and long-term graft survival. She was an Associate Professor in Surgery and Director of the Transplant Immunology Laboratory there until 1997.
She then accepted a position at Duke University Medical Center as a Professor in Pathology and Director of the Clinical Transplantation Immunology Laboratory. During that time, she implemented the newly developed solid phase antibody testing methods into the clinical laboratory. These new approaches allowed for the use of the virtual cross match to identify compatible donors for lung transplantation thereby expanding the donor pool for sensitized candidates. These studies lead the way for developing an algorithm using multiple methods to best identify compatible donors for all solid organ transplant candidates.
In 2006, she moved to Cedars Sinai Medical Center and continued her work in optimizing transplantation of sensitized candidates as well as monitoring the effects of desensitization protocols. More recently her research activities have focused on the clinical impact of Non-HLA Antibodies such as those directed against Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor (AT1R) antibodies. These studies have shown the interplay between anti-HLA antibodies and anti-Non-HLA antibodies and their detrimental impact on graft outcome.
Dr. Reinsmoen has served on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (AHSI) as well as in various positions including President of ASHI. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and more recently as the Chair of the UNOS Histocompatibility Committee and a member of the UNOS Membership and Professional Standards Committee and UNOS Kidney Committee. She has authored numerous manuscripts and reviews and has presented her work at multiple conferences throughout the world.
In 2016, she moved to Scottsdale, AZ and is currently an independent HLA consultant organizing several conferences, writing reviews, and editing a special issue of Human Immunology.
Sarver Heart Center, Room 4137