About Our Directors

Howard M. Gebel, PhD, F(ACHI)

Professor of Pathology, Emory University

Dr Gebel, is Professor of Path­olo­gy and Co-Director of the Mo­lecu­lar Immuno­genetics and Histocom­patibility (HLA) Labora­tory at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta,GA.   He is a member of numerous professional societies including the American Association of Immunologists, the Transplantation Society and the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI).  He is highly regarded in the area of clinical transplantation, and regularly publish­es scientific and clinical manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. He is frequently asked to present original data as well as moderate sessions at national and international scientific forums. He was a member of the editorial board of Human Immunology and the American Journal of Transplantation and reviewed manuscripts for a number of transplant related journals. He has served as a member of local and national study sections including the SRTR. He has been a panel member on a national committee for the American Board of Histocom­pati­bility and Immunogenetics (ABHI) that was charged with designing exams for national board certification in histocompatibility and immunogenetics chaired the ABHI subcommittee responsible for reviewing the lab director credentials. He is a long time mem­ber of the American Society for Histocompatibili­ty and Immunogenetics (ASHI). He is a former member of both the ASHI and ABHI Executive Councils. One of Dr. Gebel’s major contributions to the field of histo­com­pati­bility was his role in developing a standard­ized method to perform lymphocyte cross­matching by flow cytometry. His expertise in histocompatibility led to his past role as Chair of the Accreditation Com­mittee for ASHI. In that capacity, Dr. Gebel was responsible for docu­menting that all laboratories seeking accreditation by ASHI were following appropriate policies and procedures.

Robert A. Bray, PhD.,F(ACHI), HCLD/CC(ABB)

Professor of Pathology, Emory University

Dr Bray is Pro­fessor of Patholo­gy and co-director of the Histo­compatibility and Mole­cular Immuno­­gene­tics Laboratory at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.  He is board certified as a Histocompatibility Director by ABHI and holds HCLD/CC from the ABB.  He has been at Emory for over 30 years and involved in  transplant immunology for nearly 40 years. He has been active in UNOS serving on both the UNOS Histocompatibility and Kidney Committee and a past chair of the Histocompatibility Committee.  He has been active in ASHI for the past 30+ years and has been on the executive boards of both UNOS and ASHI. Dr. Bray also served as a member of the NMDP’s Histocompatibility Committee.  He is a past president of ASHI and has served on the ASHI council for more than eight years. He has been extensively involved in the ASHI accredita­tion program, having been an inspector and regional commissioner.  He also chaired the SEOPF Proficien­cy and Histocompatibility Committees. Additionally, Dr. Bray has served as a member and chair of the Director’s Examination committee of the Am. Board of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ABHI).  Dr. Bray has authored numerous publications in the area of trans­plant immunology where his primary focus has been the applications of new technology, particularly flow cytometric-based methods, to better our under­stand­ing of the immune response in transplant patients.  Specifically, Dr. Bray and colleagues were among the first to report on the clinical utility of the Virtual Crossmatch in kidney transplantation.  More recently he and colleagues have been strong advocates of the use of the Virtual Crossmatch in solid organ transplantation.  Also known as an accomplished presenter and teacher, Dr. Bray has been a frequent speaker for numerous work­shops, symposia, and seminars around the world.