UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory Update |
The UCLA Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine is pleased to recognize an important new chapter for the Olympic Analytical Laboratory (OAL) with its relocation from its longtime home at 2122 Granville Avenue to a new laboratory facility Culver City. The move places OAL in a much more modern and updated environment that better supports the scope, complexity, and precision of its highly specialized scientific work. Established in 1982, OAL was the first sports anti-doping laboratory in the United States and has contributed its expertise to three Olympic Games. Today, the laboratory includes 35 scientists and data analysts, performs approximately 45,000 tests each year, and operates 16 specialized mass spectrometers. Its extensive technical infrastructure also includes specialized analytical platforms, automated equipment, and substantial temperature-controlled storage. The new facility provides a stronger setting for these sophisticated operations and offers an improved foundation for the laboratory’s continued growth.
Located approximately five miles from the former Granville facility, the new laboratory maintains convenient proximity to UCLA while offering a central Culver City location near important transportation corridors. Its location also provides convenient access to Los Angeles International Airport, an important benefit for a laboratory that receives time-sensitive samples and works with national and international partners. The relocation is especially timely as OAL prepares to expand its capabilities in anticipation of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. LA28 preparations include plans for increased testing volume, faster workflows, new more advanced testing, and a Games-specific turnaround times. More than a change of address, the move represents an important investment in the laboratory’s infrastructure, people, and future. The new facility positions OAL to build upon more than four decades of scientific achievement while continuing its commitment to precision, integrity, and fair competition.
OAL Leadership Team |
Olympic Analytical Laboratory (OAL) |
(Above) Granville – Former Lab (Below) New Lab |
The Division of Anatomic Pathology continues to excel in its mission, playing a vital role in delivering high-quality diagnostic services that support patient care and clinical decision-making. We extend our sincere appreciation to our entire faculty, staff, and trainees, whose dedication, expertise, and collaborative efforts make this work possible. The highlights below recognize some of the division’s accomplishments and reflect our ongoing commitment to quality, innovation, education, and excellence in anatomic pathology.
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SPRO and AP Referral Lab Services Updates Dreampath Crystal Slide Storage Implementation in Westwood and Santa Monica
Over the past year, the Santa Monica Pathology Office and the Westwood Surgical Pathology Reporting Office implemented the Dreampath Crystal automated slide storage and retrieval system. This initiative represents an important step in modernizing slide management and improving the efficiency, organization, and traceability of archived pathology materials. Both sites are currently using the system offline with positive results, while Pathology IT continues to work toward future integration with AP Beaker.
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Improved organization and traceability of glass slides
- More efficient slide retrieval, reducing time spent searching and manually filing slides
- Reduced slide handling and manual workflow, minimizing unnecessary touchpoints
- Future integration with AP Beaker is anticipated to further enhance workflow automation and system functionality
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Enhancing Referral Laboratory Services and Workflow Efficiency AP Referral Lab Services continues to experience increasing workload and volume, making improvements in tracking, processing, and reporting increasingly important. Over the past year, several enhancements were implemented to strengthen test request traceability, streamline processing workflows, and expand access to referral laboratory information.
Key Improvements |
- Five new pathologist ordered Mayo Clinic tests were built into CareConnect, improving traceability of test requests, providing a more efficient workflow for processing results and automated billing
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Enhanced workload reporting and metrics, providing greater visibility into referral lab activity and increasing volume
- Transitioned from Mayo Access to MayoLink, with registration of attending pathologists who wish to review scanned images of stain-only slides submitted to Mayo Clinic
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Digital slide review allows pathologists to view Mayo’s scanned stained slides before the physical glass slides are returned, supporting earlier access to diagnostic material and clinical review
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Surgical Pathology (Breast Service): Developing Breast Ischemic Time Dashboard
As a CAP requirement, laboratories must monitor cold ischemic time for breast cancer specimens and take corrective action as needed. Our current approach monitors monthly violations without longitudinal/baseline data. A dashboard in development will track data longitudinally with thresholds/metrics for triggering alerts and targeting corrective action. Assessing Biomarker Test Utilization Practices
We are evaluating our practice of repeating breast biomarker testing on biopsy and resection of the treatment naïve-primary specimen through a patient care and resource utilization lens. By evaluating biomarker concordance and performing a cost-benefit analysis, we hope to eliminate redundant testing. It should be noted that repeating biomarkers/FISH is indicated for all distal metastases, recurrences, and neoadjuvant treated tumors and not part of this evaluation. Incidental Carcinoma in Mammoplasty Specimens
We re-evaluated our reduction mammoplasty gross protocol (2 additional tissue cassettes for patients 50 years old or over). Based on a 4-year retrospective institutional review, we found a low rate of incidental carcinoma in our older population and higher rate in our younger population (with limited tissue sampling). In light of this new data, we removed an age-based modification in our grossing protocol to reduce tissue submission/testing costs. |
New Testing Capabilities and Process Improvements The Cytogenetics Laboratory has implemented several enhancements to expand diagnostic testing capabilities, improve laboratory workflows, and streamline communication. |
- Expanded FISH Testing Capabilities
- Updated FISH Panels: Revised the High-Risk MDS/Secondary AML and T-ALL panels to incorporate additional clinically relevant genetic targets.
- New FISH Panels: Introduced T-PLL and Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia (MPAL) panels for hematologic malignancies, along with a Meningioma panel for FFPE specimens.
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Newly Available Probes: Expanded testing options with ETV6 (12p13) and MAML2 (11q21) on FFPE, RUNX1 (21q22.1) probe for hematologic malignancies to support the detection of clinically significant genetic rearrangements.
- Improved Cytogenetic Culture Methods
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MarrowMax Culture Medium: Validated and implemented a new culture medium demonstrating comparable or improved mitotic yields across all tested conditions.
- CpG/IL-2 Stimulation: Validated and implemented an enhanced culture method that improves metaphase yield and detection of clinically relevant chromosomal abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Evaluation for T-PLL is ongoing.
- EPIC/Beaker Workflow Enhancements
- ISCN 2024 Implementation: Updated FISH and karyotype Case Reporting Templates to align with current International System for Human Cytogenomic Nomenclature (ISCN) standards.
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Streamlined FISH Probe Selection: Introduced a standardized electronic probe/panel selection tool and a dedicated director review workflow to improve communication, reduce documentation redundancy, and enhance case tracking.
- Online Test Menu Improvements
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Updated the UCLA Oncology/Hematology FISH Online Test Menu to accurately reflect available probes and panels, improving test visibility and accessibility.
- Overall Impact: These initiatives expand diagnostic capabilities of the Cytogenetics Laboratory, enhance cytogenetic testing quality, improve operational efficiency, and support more accurate and timely communication of laboratory results.
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Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories |
- Solid Tumor Fusion NGS Panel test technical approval for Medicare coverage
- KRAS Idylla rapid TAT assay
- Features:
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Detects 21 KRAS gene hotspot mutations
- 1-3 day turnaround time
- Sensitivity of 5% variant allele fraction
- Staff poster presentation at the Cancer Genomics Consortium Conference (August 2026).
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Characterization of DDX41 in Routine NGS Testing: Frequent Germline Findings, Novel Alterations, & Diagnostic Challenges.
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Abi Farraj, Layal1; Deignan, Josh1; Golden, Diana L. 1; Huang, Alden1; Kang, Sung-Hae L. 1; Lin, Fumin1; Liu, Jixia1; Munteanu, Anamaria1; Nakasaki, Manando1; Palagani, Ajay1; Pullarkat, Sheeja T. 1; Rao, Dinesh S. 1; Zhang, Liying1; Senaratne, T. Niroshi1. |
Pictured: Dr. Layal Abi Farraj entered the UCLA Laboratory Genetics and Genomics fellowship program in August 2026 |
Dr. Sue Kang was elected to the Board of Directors for the American Cytogenomics Conference (ACC) in May 2026 for a 4-year term (2026-2030). The American Cytogenomics Conference is an educational organization composed of a group of interested professionals in the world of cytogenomics. The biennial conference is an opportunity for the sharing of ideas and learning about new technologies and discoveries in the field of cytogenomics. |
Dr. Wenjuan Zhang joined the UCLA Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in August 2026 as a Clinical Instructor in the Cytogenetics and Molecular Sections after completing her Laboratory Genetics and Genomics fellowship at UCLA. She earned her PhD in Bioinformatics from the University of Georgia and completed postdoctoral training at UCLA, contributing to the discovery of novel genes associated with skeletal dysplasias. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she led the development and implementation of clinical NGS assays and bioinformatics pipelines for germline and somatic testing, as well as research identifying the SARS-CoV-2 Epsilon variant. She was named a 2023 ASCP 40 Under Forty Honoree. Her clinical and research interests include translational and precision genomics, integrating molecular and cytogenetic approaches, and implementing emerging genomic technologies in clinical diagnostics.
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The clinical activities of the section have continued to expand with introduction of new consensus conference, pediatric hematopathology review conference and Journal Club. Recruitment has been successful with Drs. Christian Hirt MD, PhD as Assistant Professor. Dr. Jennifer Chia has been appointed as Assistant Professor and has established an independent research laboratory in the Macdonald building. Dr. Song has served as President on the Society for Hematopathology. Dr. Said has been appointed to the NCCN guideline committee for publication of guidelines for treatment of T-cell and cutaneous lymphomas and continues on the faculty of the University of Chicago Tutorial on Neoplastic Hematopathology. Dr. Pullarkat received the best Teacher Award; 2025-26, was selected for the Society for Hematopathology Education Committee, and was appointed an examination question writer for the American Board of Pathology.
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NIH Research Project Grant R01CA264986, NIH/NCI, “Protein-RNA interactions in cancer”, 8/1/2021-7/31/2031, Role: multi-PI (Dr. Sanford, UCSC, and Dr. Rao, UCLA, Pis). Renewal awarded July 2026 (Dr Rao)
California Breast Cancer Research Program, University of California Office of the President, IDEA award. “Targeting post-transcriptional gene regulation in Triple-negative breast cancer”. Role: PI. 8/1/2025-1/31/2027. Direct costs: $200,000. (Dr Rao)
Translational Research Fund, UCLA Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. “Interrogation of T-Cell Lymphoma Architecture Using Spatial Transcriptomics”. Direct Costs, $12,500. (Drs. Rao and Said) |
Publications (July 2025 - Current) |
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Chia JJ, Singh A, Lin YS, Popko N, Mastro D, Liu Y, Tran T, King JK, Rao DS, Hoffmann A (2025). “Distinct roles for NF-κB in hematopoietic stem cells and the bone marrow milieu in promoting hematopoietic aging”. Cell Reports, 44(9): 116193.
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Sharma G, Gutierrez M, Jones AE, Kapoor S, Jaiswal AK, Neeb ZT, Rios A, Dorairaj P, Thaxton ML, Lin TL, Tran TM, Kabbani LES, Ritter AJ, Scherer GM, Sorrentino JP, Stiles L, Hoeve Jt, Damoiseaux RD, Garg NK, Divakaruni AS, Sanford JR, Rao DS (2025). IGF2BP3 redirects glycolytic flux to promote one-carbon metabolism and RNA methylation. Cell Reports. 44(10):116330. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116330. [Corresponding Author]
- Jaiswal AK, Scherer GM, Thaxton ML, Sorrentino JP, Yuen C, Mehta MM, Sharma G, Lin TL, Tran TM, Cohen A, Ritter AJ, Kotecha RS, Sanford JR, Damoiseaux RD, Garg NK, Rao DS (2026). A small molecule inhibitor of RNA-binding protein IGF2BP3 shows anti-leukemic activity. Haematologica. 111(6):1984-1998. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2025.288221. Epub 2025 Nov 27.t. [Corresponding Author]
- Lin Y-s, Alonso V, Singh A, Liu Y, Tang Y, Mehta A, King JK, Paing M, Salomonis N, Grimes HL, Chia JJ, Rao DS, Hoffmann A (2026). “Dysregulated NF-κB dynamics impair proteostasis and drive premature differentiation in aging B cell development”. Cell Press Blue, DOI: 10.1016/j.cpblue.2026.100051.
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Scherer GM, Sorrentino J, Jaiswal AK, Thaxton ML, Brodie G, Conway S, Rao DS, Garg NK (2026). “Targeting RNA-Binding Oncofetal Protein IGF2BP3: Discovery of Potent and Selective Inhibitors”. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Article ASAP. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6c00965 [Co-corresponding Author]
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Battistone B, Ghazaryan A, Tang WW, Ağir ZB, Tantalla J, Thompson J, Bauer KM, Barba C, Nelson M, Tran VTB, O'Malley L, Ngo Q, Hernandez C, Thibeaux A, Ekiz HA, Voth WP, Rao DS, O'Connell RM (2026). T-cell miR-155 regulates the response to tumor-specific mRNA vaccines in a murine model of acute myeloid leukemia. J Immunol. 215(7):vkag184. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkag184.
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Pollyea DA, Altman JK, Assi R, Bachiashvili K, Bhatt VR, Fathi AT, Fedorov K, Foran JM, Gojo I, Goldberg A, Hall AC, Jonas BA, Levine MR, Mangan J, Mannis G, Marcucci G, Mims A, Moriarty K, Mustafa Ali M, Neff J, Nejati R, Olin R, Patel A, Percival ME, Perl A, Pettit K, Rao D, Ravandi F, Schwabkey Z, Shallis R, Stahl M, Stone RM, Thota S, Uy GL, Walker A, Wang E, Awotiwon A, Roth SL, Stehman K. NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Version 3.2026. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2026 Jun;24(6):222-229. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2026.0028.
- Oh AJ, Sears CM, Vadvelan AA, Gomperts BN, Federman N. Said J. Roelofs KA: Orbital intermediate cell histiocytosis Orbit 44, 96-100, 2025.
- Aronson WJ, Grogan T, Jardack P, Liddell AR, Perez C, Said J, Cohen P, Marks LS: High Omegal-3, Low Omega-6 diet with fish oil for men with prostate cancer on active surveillance; the CAPFISH-3 randomized trial. J Clin Oncol 43:800=809. 2025
- Moffat CH, Mandl K, Miller JE, Said JW, Abemayor E: Sinus and palatal Rosai-Dorfman disease: case report and review of the literature. Am J Otolaryngol 46:104736, 2025
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Banihani S, Greb AC, Thumala, JR, Said J, Saini S: Disseminated Kaposi sarcoma presenting as an endophytic renal mass with concurrent primary effusion lymphoma. IDCases 2025 43:1 e02310, 2025
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Horwitz SM, Ansell S, Ai WZ, Barnes J, Barta SK, Brammer J, Clemens MW, Davé UP, Dogan A, Foss F, Frosch Z, Guitart J, Halwani A, Haverkos BM, Hoppe RT, Jacobsen E, Jagadeesh D, Jones A, Kim YH, Kumar K, Martinez Escala ME, Mehta-Shah N, Olsen EA, Peterson C, Poh C, Rajguru SA, Rozati S, Said J, Shaver A, Shea L, Shinohara MM, Stephany M, Thornton S, Torres-Cabala C, Wilcox R, Wu P, Zhang Y, Dwyer M, Sansone N, Sundar H. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for T-Cell Lymphomas V.2.2026. Accessed 02/13/26. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org, 2026.
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Horwitz SM, Ansell S, Ai WZ, Barnes J, Barta SK, Brammer J, Clemens MW, Davé UP, Dogan A, Foss F, Frosch Z, Guitart J, Halwani A, Haverkos BM, Hoppe RT, Jacobsen E, Jagadeesh D, Jones A, Kim YH, Kumar K, Martinez Escala ME, Mehta-Shah N, Olsen EA, Peterson C, Poh C, Rajguru SA, Rozati S, Said J, Shaver A, Shea L, Shinohara MM, Stephany M, Thornton S, Torres-Cabala C, Wilcox R, Wu P, Zhang Y, Dwyer M, Sansone N, Sundar H. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Cutaneous Lymphomas V.2.2026. Accessed 02/13/26. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org 2026.
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Bulterys P, Zhou CW, Gong S, Gars E, Zhang J, Younes S, Stone A, Hirt C, Marks L, Su C, Stehr H, Lawrence L, Tan B, Weinberg K, Tan J, Starostik P, Khodadoust M, Naor S, Gratzinger D, Natkunam Y, Kurzer J, Fernandez-Pol S. Clinicopathologic and Molecular Characteristics of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Positive T-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders. Am J Surg Pathol. 2026 May 1;50(5):481-500. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000002521. Epub 2026 Mar 31. PMID: 41980878.
- Sanchez Jimenez A, Hirt C, Anand S, Tsai S, Ma J. Newly Diagnosed VEXAS (Vacuoles, E1 Enzyme, X-linked, Autoinflammatory, Somatic) Syndrome in a Patient Presenting With Legionella Pneumonia. Cureus. 2026 Jun 30;18(6):e111837. doi: 10.7759/cureus.111837. PMID: 42535209; PMCID: PMC13423577.
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Eren, O., Derkach, A., Yan, M., Tyagi, R., Barbati, Z., Amraei, R., Baldi, A., Xu, M., Song, S., Xie, Y., Tashkandi, H., Haferlach, T., Chen, X., & Xiao, W. Myelodysplasia-Related Gene Mutations Do Not Confer Inferior Outcome in Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia: A Multicenter Study of 376 patients. Abstract submitted to: 68th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition; December 12-15, 2026; New Orleans, LA.
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Fend F, Dirnhofer S, Egan C, Song S, et al. Histiocytoses and reactive proliferations of histiocytes: current state of art and evolving concepts¬-a report from the joint CSHP-EA4HP-SH workshop 2024, Hefei, China. Virchows Arch. 2025; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-025-04096-4
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Egan C, Song S, Liu WP, et al. Plasmacytoid dendritic cell proliferations, malignant histiocytic (macrophage/dendritic cell) neoplasms and follicular dendritic cell neoplasms: report from the 2024 Joint CSHP/EA4HP/SH workshop. Virchows Arch. 2025; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-025-04114-5
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Ruci A, & Zhu K, Song S. Cutaneous blastoid mantle cell lymphoma negative for IGH::CCND1 Rearrangement. 2026 (manuscript in preparation)
- Hamburg S, Song S. EBV-Associated lymphoproliferative disorder. 2026 (manuscript in submission)
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Zhu Y, Tseng H-R, Rao DS. “Dynamic Targetable Surface Proteins on Extracellular Vesicles for Monitoring Depth of Response and Predicting Survival in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Treated with CAR T-Cell Therapy”. 2026 USCAP Annual Meeting.
- Abstract ID Number: 446
Title: Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma with TCR Interval Clonal Evolution Unmasked by Dupilumab
Primary Author Name: Alexandra Elias, Jonathan Said - Pediatric soft tissue Rosai Dorfman Disease. Kim J, Said J
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USCAP (United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology), San Antonio, USA, April 2026, Abstract: Philip L Bulterys, Christine Wenjie Zhou, Shunyou Gong, Eric Gars, Jingjing Zhang, Sheren Younes, Andrew B Stone, Christian Kurt Hirt, Lianna Marks, Christina J Su, Henning Stehr, Lauren Lawrence, Brent Tan, Kenneth Weinberg, Tan Jonathan, Petr Starostik, Michael S. Khodadoust, Shachar Naor, Dita Gratzinger, Yasodha Natkunam, Jason H Kurzer, Sebastian Fernandez-Pol. Clinicopathologic and Molecular Characteristics of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Positive T-cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder.
- EA4HP (European Association for Hematopathology) Meeting, Berlin, Germany, October 2026, Case Presentation: Chao Chen, Priyanka Nanjireddy, Matthew Koo, Jonathan W Said, and Christian K Hirt. A Diagnostic Challenge in a Child with a CD30-positive Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoproliferative Disorder and Spontaneous Regression.
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EA4HP (European Association for Hematopathology) Meeting, Berlin, Germany, October 2026, Case Presentation: Rakshit Tyagi, Jonathan W Said, Steven C Tsai and Christian K Hirt. When Metastatic Carcinoma is Not the Answer: EBV-Positive Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma With Granulomatous Features in the Liver.
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Eren, O., Derkach, A., Yan, M., Tyagi, R., Barbati, Z., Amraei, R., Baldi, A., Xu, M., Song, S., Xie, Y., Tashkandi, H., Haferlach, T., Chen, X., & Xiao, W. Myelodysplasia-Related Gene Mutations Do Not Confer Inferior Outcome in Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia: A Multicenter Study of 376 patients. Abstract submitted to: 68th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition; December 12-15, 2026; New Orleans, LA.
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- Nicolai A, Pittaluga S, Said JW: Virally Associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. In Elaine S. Jaffe et al Hematopathology Elsevier Press 2025
- Said J: Immunodeficiency- related lymphoproliferative disorders. In Shi and Wang: Hematopathology. Elsevier 2026
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| New Test | Monthly Volume | Signigicance | Revenue |
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Free kappa and free lambda light chains
| 1735 kappa
1735 lambda | TAT decreased from 3-7 days to 1-3 days
| generated | | Lp(a) | 3510 | TAT, result reporting | generated |
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Updated the calculation of LDL cholesterol using the modified Sampson equation, which is more accurate than the current Friedewald estimation when LDL cholesterol is low.
- The three chemistry faculty are participating in the sign-out and interpretation of protein electrophoresis (70%) and hemoglobin fractionation (60%).
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West Valley laboratory has validated troponin and procalcitonin on Beckman Access and went live on Sept 14th. WV lab almost completes its validation of all chemistry tests on Roche Cobas with a targeted go-live date of November 3rd. They will use the same autoverification rules to verify results, a step towards standardization.
- One chemistry fellow graduated in July.
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Two papers published, one on the validation of nine biochemistry tests in pericardial fluid, and the other on the comparison of two prolactin immunoassay methods using “big data”. Dr. Lu Song is selected as an “outstanding author” by the Journal of Laboratory and Precision Medicine for their article “Comparative evaluation of two automated immunoassays for prolactin using patient testing data”.
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One paper is accepted, on “Mobile Point-of-Care Testing to Improve Access to Care for people Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles”.
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Highlights of Accomplishments in the Past Year |
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Successful Implementation of the cobas 5800 Molecular Platform: Implemented the fully automated, mid-throughput PCR platform, enabling consolidation of laboratory-developed molecular tests, streamlining laboratory workflows, improving operational efficiency, and reducing testing costs.
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Launch of Pneumocystis jirovecii PCR Testing: Introduced in-house PCR testing for Pneumocystis jirovecii, significantly improving diagnostic sensitivity and reducing turnaround time to facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment of this potentially life-threatening fungal infection in immunocompromised patients.
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Implementation of In-House Measles PCR Testing: Established in-house measles PCR testing capabilities, enabling rapid diagnosis of suspected cases and strengthening institutional preparedness and response capacity for potential future measles outbreaks.
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Implementation of Reverse-Sequence Syphilis Screening Algorithm: Implemented a reverse-sequence syphilis testing algorithm, streamlining laboratory workflows, significantly reducing manual labor, and enhancing diagnostic sensitivity for syphilis detection.
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Published collaborative research on whole blood transfusion in pediatric cardiac surgery: Published a study in JTCVS Open examining outcomes following the use of whole blood in pediatric congenital heart surgery, in collaboration with colleagues in Pediatrics, Cardiac Surgery and Anesthesiology. This work highlights the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in evaluating transfusion practices and patient outcomes.
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Advanced understanding of transfusion-related alpha-gal syndrome: Contributed to the national, multicenter UPTICK Study published in JAMA Internal Medicine in August 2026, “Epidemiologic Study of Transfusion-Related Alpha-Gal Syndrome.” Conducted through the Biomedical Excellence for Safer Transfusion (BEST) Collaborative, this study advances understanding of the epidemiology of transfusion-related alpha-gal syndrome and its implications for transfusion safety.
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Contributed to landmark randomized clinical trial of cold-stored platelets: Participated in the multicenter CHIPS Trial published in JAMA in August 2026. This study demonstrated the non-inferiority of cold-stored platelets stored for 21 days for active bleeding in cardiac surgery patients. This data may allow for increased adoption of cold-stored platelets, which have a significantly longer shelf life than room temperature platelets (typically 5 days), and markedly improve platelet availability, particularly in locations where room temperature platelets cannot generally be maintained.
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Published a major multicenter study to inform blood supply planning: Contributed to a study published in PLOS ONE examining ABO and RhD blood group frequencies among nearly 468,000 patients across five UC medical centers and more than 8 million blood donors nationally. This collaboration among transfusion medicine physicians across the five UC Health medical centers provides important data to inform donor recruitment, inventory management, and strategies to maintain an adequate and diverse blood supply.
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Transfusion Service: System And Process Advancements |
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Strengthened obstetric hemorrhage response: Implemented rapid CBC and coagulation testing (including PT/PTT and fibrinogen) at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center as part of the SuperSTAT/Code Crimson obstetric massive transfusion initiative. These changes support timely clinical decision-making during postpartum hemorrhage.
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Improved communication and preparation for obstetric transfusion: Enhanced obstetric RBC antibody result communication and postpartum hemorrhage policies in collaboration with Obstetrics, improving provider awareness of the time required to obtain compatible blood products and reinforcing the importance of advance blood ordering when clinically appropriate.
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Advanced access to viscoelastic testing results: Established routine scanning and uploading of ROTEMs for clinical review within 30 minutes, with remote visualization planned for November 2026.
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Advanced implementation of Duffy-null–specific absolute neutrophil count (ANC) reference intervals: Implemented a dedicated Duffy null status test in CareConnect, with utilization increasing from 9 orders in the first quarter after implementation to 165 during the first 3 quarters of 2026. UCLA contributed data to a multicenter study supported by an American Society of Hematology (ASH) grant, which informed the development of an ANC reference interval for local validation. This work supports more appropriate interpretation of neutrophil counts and may help reduce unnecessary evaluations and treatment delays associated with conventional reference intervals in individuals with the Duffy-null phenotype.
- Modernized transfusion management infrastructure: Upgraded the SafeTrace Tx® transfusion management system in March 2026, marking a major milestone in strengthening regulatory alignment and interoperability while improving workflow efficiency and supporting patient safety.
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BLOOD AND PLATELET CENTER (BPC): OPERATIONAL GROWTH AND INNOVATION |
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Expanded mobile blood collection capacity: Deployed a BrightDrop electric vehicle in January 2026, creating the opportunity to operate a second mobile collection unit. This investment expands collection flexibility, broadens potential donor access, and supports year-round blood drives for community organizations and businesses.
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Increased blood component production: Improved collection and manufacturing efficiencies throughout FY26, achieving a 12% increase in total blood components produced for the Transfusion Service. These improvements strengthened the Center’s capacity to support patient needs.
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Enhanced the donor experience through digital innovation: Implemented UCLA Donor eScreen, an internally developed digital platform that enables donors to complete health history questionnaires online on the day of donation. The new process improves convenience and reduces donor processing time across collection sites.
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Improved collection and manufacturing efficiency: The BPC partnered with its Unit Practice Council to optimize donor apheresis procedure selection, improving overall product yield and contributing to increased component splitting and production. The Component Processing Laboratory also refined pooled cryoprecipitate production workflows and prioritized in-house manufacturing when more cost-effective than external purchasing.
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Delivered measurable financial savings: Combined operational improvements and cost-saving initiatives contributed $1.1 million in health system savings from July 2025 through May 2026, demonstrating a strong commitment to financial stewardship, operational excellence, and responsible resource management.
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EXPANDED OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT |
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Expanded community engagement through blood donation education: Continued participation in the Big Ten We Give Blood campaign, promoting blood donation awareness and community engagement at UCLA and nationally through Abbott-supported initiatives.
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Advanced undergraduate education in transfusion medicine: Drs. Ward and Ziman taught Blood Donations and Community Engagement for a second consecutive year, engaging undergraduate students in blood donation, transfusion medicine, and community-based strategies to support the blood supply.
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FACULTY SERVICE AND PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP |
Dr. Andrea McGonigle continued national professional service in the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management Membership Committee. Dr. Zhen Mei chaired the California Blood Bank Society (CBBS Scientific) Committee for the past 2 years.
Dr. Opal Reddy continued national professional service on the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Transfusion, Apheresis, and Cellular Therapy Committee, the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management Membership Committee and served as faculty for the 2026 CAP Job Prep Bootcamp.
Dr. Dawn Ward is currently serving as President-Elect of the California Blood Bank Society for the 2026–2027 term and completed her service on the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) Board of Directors. She also received the 2026 Dennis Goldfinger M.D. Award for Excellence in Clinical Transfusion Medicine.
Dr. Alyssa Ziman was elected to the AABB Board of Directors and continued her service on the American Board of Pathology’s Blood Banking/Transfusion Medicine Test Development and Advisory Committee. |
UCLA Immunogenetics Center (UIC) |
The UCLA Immunogenetics Center (UIC) has had an exciting year marked by advances in laboratory technology, educational growth, and recognition of both its programs and personnel. These accomplishments reflect UIC's ongoing dedication to supporting transplant patients, advancing immunogenetics, and training the next generation of leaders in the field. |
UIC proudly celebrates Vi Tran, who was selected as the recipient of the Justine Pomakian Memorial Award. Presented annually to a single individual within UCLA's Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, this award honors those who exemplify kindness, generosity, and dedication to helping others. Colleagues know Vi for her willingness to help, her positive leadership, and the care she brings to her work each day, making this recognition especially meaningful. |
CAP-Accepted Proficiency Testing Provider |
UIC is proud to announce its approval as a College of American Pathologists (CAP)-accepted Proficiency Testing (PT) provider for 2027.
Our center's HLA typing, HLA antibody identification, and Flow Cytometric Crossmatch proficiency testing programs have each been accepted by the CAP for the purposes of the Accreditation Programs. Recognized internationally, these programs provide laboratories with high-quality external assessments that support accuracy, consistency, and compliance with accreditation standards.
This achievement highlights UIC's ongoing commitment to quality and excellence in histocompatibility and immunogenetics testing. |
Research and Scientific Engagement |
UIC is pleased to highlight the work of our Employee & Community Engagement Committee (ECEC), a dedicated group of staff and faculty members committed to fostering employee morale, strengthening community connections, and enhancing engagement through social media and outreach initiatives.
Their efforts have had a meaningful impact on our laboratory culture, and they have a newly published manuscript that showcases the development, implementation, and success of this program. This publication reflects the passion, creativity, and collaboration of the ECEC team and demonstrates how intentional employee engagement can contribute to a more connected and thriving workplace.
Read the publication here |
Left to Right: Arlene, Andrea, Nora, Abiha, Elizabeth, Dr. Rebecca Sosa, Krystal. Not pictured: Belen, Bernard |
UIC is also proud to support UCLA Health advancing a groundbreaking transplant tolerance protocol that could help kidney transplant recipients live without lifelong immunosuppressive medications. The UIC provided support through specialized histocompatibility and immune monitoring testing services that help make these advances possible.
Read the article here |
Advancing Laboratory Technology |
This year, UIC implemented the JANUS automated liquid handling system, an advanced and flexible pipetting platform that enhances precision and throughput in aliquoting workflows.
UIC also went live with Nanopore Sequencing for clinical HLA typing using the GenDx platform. This milestone will significantly reduce processing times and costs while expanding the laboratory's ability to deliver high-resolution HLA typing more efficiently. |
Left to Right: Angela and Krystal |
This year, one of the patients supported by Immune Assessment Core’s (IAC) clinical testing team was featured in a CBS Los Angeles news story highlighting their journey after being born without an immune system and receiving specialized medical care, including a thymus implant. Behind the scenes, IAC's laboratory team supported the patient’s care through specialized testing since birth and provided critical testing services outside of regular business hours to ensure timely results when they were needed most.
Watch the story here |
Commitment to Education and Training |
UIC is pleased to welcome Dr. Adil Bhat as its newest Director-in-Training. His research focuses on understanding how damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) influence immune responses following transplantation, with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic approaches to improve transplant outcomes and patient care. The addition of Dr. Bhat reflects UIC's continued commitment to developing future leaders in immunogenetics and transplantation.
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Looking ahead, UIC is focused on expanding innovative testing technologies, supporting education and training opportunities, and enhancing services that improve outcomes for transplant patients. The Center is excited to build on this year's accomplishments and continue advancing the field of immunogenetics. |
In honor of Veterans Day, we would like to thank our Department veterans and active duty military/reserve members! We appreciate your service to our country and to our patients by providing leading-edge patient care, research, and education. It is an honor to feature our Department veterans. |
Dr. Gregory Gates, Surgical Pathology Director
Dr. Gregory Gates served honorably in the United States Navy for 14 years. During his military career, he served as a General Medical Officer, deploying with the Marines and the Navy. Following specialized training, he continued his service as a Pathologist. Dr. Gates concluded his distinguished military career with the rank of Commander. |
Blanca Velasco Vasquez, Clinical Nurse, UCLA Blood & Platelet Center Blanca Velasco Vasquez served in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve from 1999-2008 as an Electrician’s Mate, Petty Officer Third Class. Assigned to the USS Oak Ridge, USS Grasp, and Inshore Boat Unit, she completed two deployments in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. |
Kent Yuen, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Santa Monica Hospital
Kent Yuen has served in the United States Army Reserve for over 27 years and currently serves as Commander of the 7214th Medical Support Unit. He also serves as Deputy Consultant for Clinical Laboratory Officers for the Office of the Surgeon General. His distinguished military career includes deployments to SOUTHCOM, EUCOM, and CENTCOM, where he held key leadership roles in clinical laboratory operations and medical readiness. He has received numerous military honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medical Achievement Medal, recognizing his dedicated service and contributions to military medicine.
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Inclusive Excellence Spotlight – Inspiring Future Healthcare Professionals – October 11, 2026
As part of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine’s Inclusive Excellence (IE) Program, the Mini-Pathologist PlayLab initiative continues to expand community outreach and introduce students to career opportunities in pathology and laboratory medicine.
Through this initiative, Dr. Rebecca Sosa and Ron Gonzalez participated in Career Day at Ánimo Leadership Charter High School, reaching a total of 90 students through interactive presentations and career exploration. Dr. Sosa introduced students to the field of pathology, highlighting its various divisions, the role of a pathologist, and educational pathways into the profession. She also incorporated case studies to encourage critical thinking and student engagement. Ron shared his career journey as a chemist at the UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory, highlighting additional career opportunities in laboratory science.
This outreach provided students with direct exposure to laboratory science professionals and diverse STEM and healthcare career pathways, reinforcing the IE Program’s commitment to strengthening community partnerships, expanding career awareness, and inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals. |
Picture 1 - L to R: Ron Gonzalez, Dr. Rebecca A. Sosa, Maria Estrada
Picture 2: Mini-Pathologist’s in Action: Dr. Rebecca A. Sosa presenting to students Picture 3: Mini-Pathologist’s in Action: Ron Gonzalez presenting to students |
Pathology Volunteer Event at the Westside Food Bank – October 24, 2026
On Saturday, October 24, 2026, a group of Department volunteers and their family members participated in a volunteer event at the Westside Food Bank in Santa Monica. The PLM volunteers were assigned to an assembly line to pack Thanksgiving food boxes for our community. Assembly line tasks included building boxes, food stations (placing items in boxes), replenishing the food stations (moving food and opening boxes), and stacking the completed food kits on pallets. The team also repacked boxes to include additional items for holiday meals. Our group packed 864 boxes in under 2 hours!
Thank you to those who were part of our volunteer team: Amaan, Anastasia, Anshi, Dr. Bruna Balliu, Charlie, Dr. Clara Magyar, Ellie, Gladys, Joanna, Jeff, Joy, Kelli, Ko, Lena, Lise, Maria, Oliver, Oscar, Dr. Peggy Sullivan, Ronan A., Ronan R., Dr. Sarah Dry, Tim, and Karen! It was fun to have Dr. Bailliu’s research team join us at the event, continuing a tradition of various Department teams volunteering with us.
Future volunteer dates will be forthcoming – please plan to join us! The PLM volunteers at our events have really enjoyed helping our local communities while in the process getting to know each other better. |
Iglesia Ni Cristo’s Care for Humanity Event – October 25, 2026
Dr. Dawn Ward and Eric De Cair attended the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s Care for Humanity event in downtown Los Angeles on October 25, 2026. In support of the life-saving mission of the UCLA Blood & Platelet Center (BPC), they received a generous donation from Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, Brother Angelo Erano Manalo, and the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation. Their generosity makes a meaningful difference in helping UCLA save lives and serve our community. We would also like to thank the City of Los Angeles and Councilmember, Imelda Padilla, for the wonderful recognition of our community blood drives and our shared commitment to making a positive impact. We are honored to be part of such a meaningful partnership and thankful to everyone who helps advance our mission of saving lives through blood donation. Together, we are making a difference – one donation at a time! |
Left to Right: Eric De Cair and Dr. Dawn Ward at the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s Care for Humanity event. |
To help address the greatest need for blood in a generation, Abbott, a global leader in blood testing, and the Big Ten Conference will team up to host the 3rd annual college conference-wide blood donation competition. “The We Give Blood Drive” initiative is designed to motivate Big Ten students, alumni and fans to donate blood by tapping into school pride and devotion to their teams. The top-donating university will receive a $1 million prize from Abbott to support student and community health initiatives.
From now until December 4, 2026, we are calling on all donors to help UCLA WIN the "We Give Blood Drive" competition! Read more at the UCLA Newsroom here.
You may also show your support with the UCLA We Give Blood Zoom background. Please schedule your appointment today by visiting the BPC website or calling 310-825-0888, option 2. |
This Halloween (aka Pathoween), those who visited the Chair's Office received a treat and a photo op with Dr. Dry! Please see some of our spooky and creative trick-or-treaters! Be on the lookout for the One Lab Committee's costume contest winners! Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories for both group and individual submissions. |
UIC Pumpkin Carving Contest |
Congratulations to the winners of the annual UCLA Immunogenetics Center's (UIC) Pumpkin Carving Contest! Please enjoy all the entries below.
View the results and picture gallery here |
Conferences, Training and Technology |
UCLA National Healthcare Quality Week |
Each year, UCLA participates in National Healthcare Quality Week to showcase appreciation of the “impact healthcare and quality professional make in improving patient outcomes and in ensuring our patients’ care is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable.” Throughout the week, UCLA hosts events including the 2nd Annual UCLA Health Quality Symposium on Thursday, October 22, 2026, co-hosted by the Department of Medicine. Department attendees included Dr. Allison Chambliss, Dr. Josh Deignan, Meggie Dinh, Maria Estrada, Dr. Michelle Hickey, and Dr. Victoria Lee (PGY-2).
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Dr. Michelle Hickey with her poster “From Data to Decisions: Advancing Safety, Quality, and Communication Through the Patient’s Journey to Solid Organ Transplant at UCLA.” Department collaborators include Sarah Hamza, Krystal Kendall, Kelli Scott, Dr. Elaine Reed, and Dr. Sarah Dry. Collaborators from the Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine include Tyler Luc, Stan Orand, Jennah Varela, and Dr. Eilon Gabel. |
Maria (left) and Dr. Allison Chambliss (right) with their poster “Right test, Right Specimen, Right Lab: Improving Send-Out Testing Quality and Efficiency.” Department collaborators include Dr. Josh Deignan, Dr. Khalda Ibrahim, Carlo Isip, Marivic Visico, Will Were, and Dr. Alyssa Ziman. |
Meggie with her poster “Two Years of Experience Using an Automated Inpatient Genetic Testing Consult Workflow within the EHR at an Academic Medical Center.” Her co-author is Dr. Josh Deignan. |
Dr. Victoria Lee with her poster “Dermatopathology Specimen Mislabeling Errors Evading Pathologists: Characterization of Error Types and Clinical Clues.” Department collaborators include Dr. Kenneth Zhu, Dr. Shanice McKenzie (’25), Dr. Joshua Mo (’25), Dr. Gregory Gates, Dr. Peter Sarantopoulos, Dr. Chandra Smart, Dr. Neda Moatamed, and Dr. Yuna Kang. |
Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies Annual Meeting – October 17-19, 2026 The Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies Annual (AABB) Meeting took place from October 17-19, 2026, in Atlanta, GA. Department attendees included Dr. Zhen Mei, Dr. Dawn Ward, and Dr. Alyssa Ziman. |
Dr. Zhen Mei with his poster “The Cryoprecipitate Resuspension Automation Machine.” Department collaborators include Dr. Alyssa Ziman. |
Adam Jameel (UCLA ’25) with his poster “Impact of Noninvasive Hemoglobin Screening on Deferral Rates and Donor Return.” Department collaborators include Dr. Andrea McGonigle, Dr. Zhen Mei, Dr. Dawn Ward, and Dr. Alyssa Ziman. |
Dr. Alyssa Ziman presented as part of a panel discussion titled “Debate on the Optimal Product for Fibrinogen Replacement.” |
UCLA Alumni and Transfusion Medicine faculty at the event. (Left to Right): Dr. Travis Smith (incoming UCLA TM/CI Fellow), Dr. Rugved Pattarkine (TM Fellow ’22, currently at Memorial Sloan Kettering), Dr. Zhen Mei (TM Fellow ’20, UCLA faculty), Dr. Lisa Wong (American Red Cross [ARC], serves California and UCLA), Dr. Baia Lasky (TM Fellow ’18, currently at ARC), Dr. Jane Ly (TM Fellow ’23, currently at ARC), Dr. Dawn Ward, Angelea Castillo (UCLA TM IT), Marius Witzoee (former Cerus staff that helped install pathogen reduction, now at Versiti), Ellaine Sumner (UCLA TM IT), and Jessie (works with Dr. Cindy Tay, TM Fellow ’26, at CHLA).
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CAP Annual Conference – October 3-6, 2026 |
The College of American Pathologists (CAP) Annual Conference took place from October 3-6, 2026 in Las Vegas, NV. Department attendees included Dr. Cullen Lilley (PGY-4), Dr. Heather Ross (PGY-4), Dr. Maggie Tsang (PGY-3), and Dr. Ruoji Zhou (PGY-4).
As delegates, the team attended the Saturday Residents Forum Meeting. As Chair of the Residents Forum, Dr. Cullen Lilley led a session "(An)atomic habits: Measure, Reflex, Improve". The presentation and accompanying workshop aimed at helping residents collaborate and learn tips from one another about how to become the best possible pathologist during residency. They talked about strategies for becoming a better diagnostician, educator, and leader. This being his last presentation as Chair of the Residents Forum, Dr. Lilley has held positions including Ex-Officio member, Board of Governors, and junior member of the Council on Membership and Professional Development, Events Committee, and Finance Committee.
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(Left to Right): Dr. Maggie Tsang, Dr. Heather Ross, Dr. Cullen Lilley, and Dr. Ruoji Zhou |
Dr. Cullen Lilley at CAP presenting for the session "(An)atomic habits: Measure, Reflex, Improve." |
Asian Society for Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine – October 2-4, 2026 Congratulations to Dr. Lee Hilborne on presenting “The Imperative for Evidence-Driven Laboratory Stewardship to Guide Patient Care” at the Asian Society for Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine meeting from October 2-4, 2026 inTaipei. |
Left to Right: Dr. Ed Wang and Dr. Lee Hilborne |
Grants, Publications, & Other National Recognition |
I'm delighted to announce our FY27 Q1 (July-September 2026) Faculty Research Grants. |
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Dr. Suki Chandrasekaran
- AD Program Falcor Clinical Study (Sponsor: Beckman Coulter, Inc.)
- TechLab C. Diff EZ Vue Clincial Study (Sponsor: SSI Diagnostica A/S Denmark)
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Dr. Jennifer Chia Dissecting the Pleiotropic Roles of NFKB in Hematopoietic Aging (Sponsor: NIH-NHLBI National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- Dr. Gregory Fishbein Pilot Trial of SGLT2 Inhibitor Dapagliflozin for Stage IA Lung Adenocarcinoma (Sponsor: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP))
- Dr. Peter Tontonoz
- Hidden Layers of RNA Regulation in Inflammation, Lipid Metabolism, and Atherosclerosis (Sponsor: NIH)
- Heritage: Harnessing Tandem Repeats in Multi-Ancestry Metabolic Gene-Phenotype Relationships (Sponsor: NIH)
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Dr. Ting Zhang Capturing Cross-Disease Molecular Neuropathology Signatures in Alzheimer's Disease, FTLD-TAU, and Long Covid Utilizing Single-Cell Spatial Multi-Omics (Sponsor: The Larry L. Hillblom Foundation, Inc.)
- Dr. Jasmine Xianghong Zhou Predictive Pharmacodynamic Biomarker Using Circulating Tumor DNA for Datopotamab Deruxtecan in Advanced Lung Cancer (Sponsor: Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC)
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Congratulations to the Fall 2026 TRF Grant Award Recipients for earning this competitive award in recognition of their innovative research and commitment to advancing discovery in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. |
Evaluation of c-MET (Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition Factor) Immunohistochemical Expression in Ovarian Tumors Faculty PI: Neda Moatamed, MD Trainee: Antonio Avalos-Perez, MD |
Immune Activation of the Tumor Microenvironment Following Ultrasound-Induced Gas Vesicle Lysis in a Mouse Model of Glioblastoma – An Immunohistopathologic Assessment Faculty PI: Shino Magaki, MD, PhD Faculty Co-PI: Harry Vinters, MD and Mikhail Shapiro, PhD
Trainees: David Lauzier, MD and George Daghlian, BS |
Molecular Characterization of Spindle Cell Epithelioma of the Vagina Faculty PI: Yuna Kang, MD
Trainee: Julia Chen, MD |
RNA-Sequencing Based Characterization of Histiocytic Neoplasms Faculty PI: Christian Hirt, MD, PhD
Trainee: Samuel Cockey, MD |
Profiling of Extracellular Vesicles to Distinguish Benign and Malignant Ovarian Masses & Profiling of Extracellular Vesicles to Predict Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Response in Pancreatic Cancer Faculty PI: Liying Zhang, MD, PhD Trainee: Xueyang Pan, PhD |
Feasibility Study for Anti-Linker Flow Cytometry Assay for CAR T-Cell Monitoring
Faculty PI: Christian Hirt, MD, PhD Faculty Co-PI: Matthew Koo, MD Trainee: Chao Chen, MD, PhD |
Molecularly Defined Extracellular Vesicle Subpopulations Associated with Cancer-Associated Thrombosis in Pancreatic Cancer
Faculty PI: Wenjing Cao, MD Faculty Co-PI: Yazhen Zhu, MD, PhD Trainee: Timothy Harris, PhD |
Mechanism of Recurrent X–Y Translocation in SRY-Positive 46,XX males Faculty PI: T. Niroshi Senaratne, PhD
Trainee: Qing Hu, PhD |
Whole-Genome Sequencing of Clinical Coccidioides Isolates for Genomic Epidemiology and Antifungal Resistance Surveillance Faculty PI: Shaun Yang, PhD Trainee: Pablo Alvarez, PhD |
We are proud to announce Dr. Gregory Fishbein has been elected to the Board of Directors of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) for a three-year term!
This prestigious appointment recognizes Dr. Fishbein's expertise in Pathology and his commitment to advancing the field of heart and lung transplantation. As a member of the ISHLT Board of Directors, he will help shape the Society's strategic direction and support its mission to improve outcomes for patients with advanced heart and lung disease. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Fishbein on this outstanding achievement and well-deserved recognition!
Read the Full Announcement |
Congratulations to Dr. Jitin Makker on being selected as a recipient of the Global Health Program (GHP) Global Health Collaboration Award in recognition of his innovative project, “The UCLA-UCSLP Informatics Bridge: Pioneering Medical Informatics and Digital Pathology Training.”
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Makker on this well-deserved recognition! His dedication to advancing medical education, digital pathology, and global collaboration exemplifies the innovation and leadership needed to improve healthcare worldwide. |
Congratulations to Dr. Cullen Lilley (PGY-4) on being awarded the ASCP Pathology Resident Professional Development Scholarship! Each year, scholarships are awarded to pathology residents in advancement of their professional development. Congratulations, Dr. Lilley, on this well-deserved recognition! |
Congratulations to Dr. Bruna Balliu and collaborators on their new publication in Nature “Cell-Type-Specific eQTLs Underlie the Genetic Architecture of Complex Traits.”
The study highlights the importance of cell-type-specific genetic regulation in understanding complex human traits and diseases. Using population-scale single-cell RNA sequencing and a new statistical approach (CIGMA), researchers found that genetic variants affecting gene expression differently across cell types are substantially enriched for the heritability of complex traits, particularly immune-related conditions. The findings help explain why traditional studies of gene regulation have captured only a fraction of disease-associated genetic effects and demonstrate the value of single-cell approaches for uncovering mechanisms linking genetic variation to human disease.
Read the Full Article |
Congratulations to Dr. Shino Magaki, Dr. Jason Sinclair, Kazu Williams, Adrian Murillo, Su Aung, Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein, Dr. Diana Vulcain, Dr. Michael Fishbein, and Dr. Harry Vinters on their publication in Neurobiology of Aging “Neuropathology of Centenarians and Supercentenarians: An Autopsy Study.”
The publication offers insight into aging and neuropathologic substrates of cognitive impairment at the extreme limits of age. Examining postmortem brain tissue from centenarians and supercentenarians, individuals aged 99-115, researchers identified variable degrees of Alzheimer disease neuropathologic change (ADNC) and a high frequency of aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG), limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic change (LATE-NC), hippocampal sclerosis, and cerebrovascular disease. While the study is small and does not establish causation, the findings suggest that multiple pathologic lesions likely underlie cognitive impairment in the oldest-old.
Read the Full Article |
The Pathology Art Collective highlights the creativity of members across our department and we are now accepting new submissions to be displayed and featured. Submissions may include paintings, drawings, photography, poetry, and more. If your creative outlet extends to home improvement projects, cooking, gardening, sewing, theater, or musical performance, we also welcome photos showcasing that work. We will update this content regularly. The content must be suitable and professional, and I reserve the right to remove any content deemed otherwise. We can display copies of your work or the original, as you prefer.
Please send your submissions to Phyllis Gilmore at (pagilmore@mednet.ucla.edu). Thank you for partaking in this opportunity to showcase your creative work to the UCLA community! |
Congratulations to our October 2026 Employee of the Month! |
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Continuing Education (CE) Program in MediaLab |
We are excited to announce the availability of the recorded Continuing Education (CE) Program in MediaLab. This new program provides an additional opportunity for staff to earn CE credits by completing eligible recorded lectures when they are unable to attend a live CE session sponsored by the laboratory. New Recorded Lectures Available Below is the list of newly added lectures. We would like to thank the Brentwood Lab Management Team and the invited speakers for their time, expertise, and contributions in providing these recorded educational sessions. Thank you for your support in sharing this resource and encouraging continued learning and professional development among our staff! |
| Course Title | Speaker | CE Hours |
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Diagnostic and Drug Susceptibility Testing for Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma
| Shaun Yang, PhD | 1.0 | | From Culture to Containment: Infection Prevention and the Clinical Microbiology Lab | Dan Uslan, MD | 1.0 | |
From Plate to Patient: Clinical Decisions in the Era of Multidrug Resistance | Ethan Smith, Pharm D | 1.0 | | Grow and Blow – Everything you need to know about Coccidioidomycosis | Shaun Yang, PhD | 1.0 | | Histopathology of Pulmonary Infections | Gregory Fishbein, MD | 1.0 | | Infectious diseases on steroids: Infectious complications after organ transplant | Omer Beaird, MD | 1.0 | | Infectious Hazards of Transfusion | Dawn Ward, MD | 1.0 | | Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia: From Organism Biology to Diagnosis | Ishminder Kaur, MD | 1.0 |
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How to complete a Recorded CEU course |
- Log in to MediaLab and open the My Courses app.
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Click Open Enrollment, then select Recorded CE Courses under Category.
- Find the course and click Add to My Courses.
- Open the course under My Courses, complete the course, and achieve a passing score on the quiz.
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Once you successfully complete the course, your CE certificate will be generated automatically. You may print or save the certificate for your records
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- QM 230 Continuing Education Programs
- QM 231 Provision of Continuing Education Programs
- QM 231.2 CE Form – Continuing Education Course Description
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For Course Speakers and Department-Sponsored Lectures If you would like your CE lecture to be available as a Recorded CE course in MediaLab, please follow the steps below. |
- On the QM 231.2 Continuing Education Course Description form, select “Yes” for the “Recorded CE Upload to MediaLab” question.
- Prepare and submit at least five quiz questions related to your CE course before your scheduled presentation.
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Record your presentation in MP4 format and submit the recording after the presentation.
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Friday, October 9, 2026
Quality M&M
Luke Helminiak, PhD
Microbiology Fellow
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of California Los Angeles
Using Next Generation Sequencing to Resolve a Diagnostic Dilemma: Root Cause Analysis and Workflow Improvement for Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) Culture Shaun Yang, PhD, D(ABMM), FIDSA, MLS(ASCP)CM
Associate Professor
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of California Los Angeles
Using Next Generation Sequencing to Resolve a Diagnostic Dilemma: Root Cause Analysis and Workflow Improvement for Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) Culture Jill Thomson, MS, HTL, QIHC
Clinical Laboratory Manager
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of California Los Angeles
From Missing Blocks to Reliable Retrieve: Improving Histology Workflow with FINA
Liang Ding, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of California Los Angeles
From Missing Blocks to Reliable Retrieve: Improving Histology Workflow with FINA Friday, October 23, 2026
Clinical Seminar Series – Topic: Head & Neck
Lisa Rooper, MD
Associate Professor of Pathology
Director of Surgical Pathology
Director of Head and Neck Pathology
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Head and Neck Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Differential Diagnosis Worth its Salt (and Pepper) |
Friday, November 13, 2026 at 12:00 PM PT – Hybrid
Research Seminar Series
Peng Ji, MD, PhD, FCAP
Marie A. Fleming Research Professor of Pathology
Vice Chair for Research, Department of Pathology
Chief Pathology Officer, Silver Family Blood Cancer Institute
Director, Pathology Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP)
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University
Mapping Hematopoiesis in Physiology and Diseases |
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