Bruce Levine, PhD, the Barbara and Edward Netter Professor in Cancer Gene Therapy and Founding Director, Clinical Cell and Vaccine Production Facility, is the new President Elect of the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (2018-2020). The ISCT is a global association driving the translation of scientific research to deliver innovative cellular therapies to patients. ISCT is the only group focused on pre-clinical and translational aspects of developing cell therapy products.

Jonni S. Moore, PhD, Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Flow Cytometry Consultant, was elected the President Elect (2018-2020) of the International Society for the Advancement of Cytometry (ISAC). As the focus of both the ISCT and ISAC is complementary, Drs. Levine and Moore will work together to further define and expand flow cytometry in cell therapy. The ISAC has a worldwide membership of more than 1,700 scientists, researchers, educators, clinicians and students from across a wide variety of disciplines and professional backgrounds, and intends to promote research, development, and applications in analytical cytometry. Analytical cytometry is broadly defined as the characterization and measurement of cells and cellular constituents for biological, diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It embraces components of cytochemistry, cytophysics, anatomy, biology, physiology, pathology, image analysis, instrumentation, clinical laboratory practice and other subjects of relevance.

At this year's American Association of Neuropathology (AANP) Meeting in Louisville, Brian N. Harding, MA, DPhil, BM, BCh, FRCPath, was the co-recipient of the Meritorious Award, the AANP’s highest honor. The Award for Meritorious Contributions to Neuropathology recognizes a member who has made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge in neuropathology and provided service to the American Association of Neuropathologists. Previous Department faculty to receive this honor include Drs. Lucy Rorke, Nicholas Gonatas, and John Q. Trojanowski. As a specialist in developmental neuropathology, Dr. Harding's research focuses on Spinal muscular atrophy and rare brainstem malformations, as well as orphan diseases such as Amish cerebro-renal disease.

Irving Nachamkin, DrPH, MPH, Director of the Division of Laboratory Medicine, will serve a three-year term on the Council of Microbial Sciences of the American Society for Microbiology beginning July 2018, representing the Eastern Pennsylvania Branch of the ASM. The Council on Microbial Sciences (COMS) works to support the work of ASM by prioritizing the scientific focus of the Society and identifying upcoming opportunities in microbial sciences and scientific trends to ensure effective programs and scientific activities that benefit the members and the scientific community at large.

Aivi Ngyuen, MD, Neuropathology fellow, was awarded the Terry Award for best neurodegenerative disease presentation at the Diagnostic Slide Session for which she received an award for best neurodegenerative disease case that discussed findings of diffuse cerebral atrophy, severely atrophic hippocampus and amygdala, ex-vacuo hydrocephalus, and substantia nigra depigmentation.

Clinical Microbiology fellow Priyanka Uprety, PHD, received a travel award for her outstanding poster in the Infectious Disease Fellows Program at the American Society of Microbiology Microbe meeting in Atlanta.