CareDx Showcases 50+ Abstracts, 16 Oral Talks at ISHLT 2026
CareDx has announced its participation in the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation 46th Annual Meeting (ISHLT 2026), taking place from April 22 to 25 in Toronto, Canada. The company will present an extensive body of scientific data, including more than 50 abstracts, 16 oral presentations, and two dedicated symposia, highlighting the growing role of precision medicine and non-invasive molecular testing in post-transplant care.
Expanding the Role of Precision Medicine in Transplant Care
The data presented by CareDx underscore the increasing importance of precision medicine tools in improving outcomes for heart and lung transplant patients. The company’s portfolio—featuring HeartCare®, AlloSure® Heart, AlloMap® Heart, and AlloSure® Lung—will be central to these presentations. These technologies are designed to provide clinicians with non-invasive methods to monitor transplant health, detect early signs of rejection, and guide long-term patient management.
The studies included in this year’s ISHLT presentations draw on real-world clinical data collected from 95 transplant centers. Together, they reflect a significant and growing body of evidence supporting molecular testing as a reliable and effective alternative to traditional invasive procedures, such as biopsies.
Dr. Jeffrey Teuteberg, Chief Medical Officer at CareDx, emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that consistent results across multiple independent studies continue to validate the routine use of non-invasive molecular diagnostics. He highlighted that longitudinal molecular testing provides early and actionable insights, enabling clinicians to make more informed decisions and potentially improve patient outcomes. He also introduced the MERIT trial, a key new initiative aimed at evaluating treatment strategies for patients with abnormal molecular test results despite negative biopsy findings.
Key Findings in Heart Transplantation
Several important insights emerged from studies focused on heart transplant recipients:
- Early Detection of Rejection: Elevated levels of HeartCare (which combines AlloMap Heart and AlloSure Heart) were observed months before the onset of acute cellular rejection and antibody-mediated rejection. This demonstrates the potential of molecular testing to detect complications earlier than traditional methods.
- Reduction in Biopsy Procedures: Increased use of HeartCare testing was associated with a reduction in the number of endomyocardial biopsies performed. Notably, fewer biopsies were also linked to a lower incidence of tricuspid regurgitation, a complication that can arise from repeated invasive procedures.
- Cost Efficiency: Surveillance strategies that relied more heavily on molecular testing were found to reduce overall healthcare costs without negatively impacting patient survival. This suggests that non-invasive monitoring could provide both clinical and economic benefits.
- Pediatric Applications: Elevated AlloSure Heart levels were consistently observed in pediatric patients experiencing acute rejection, indicating its effectiveness as a non-invasive biomarker across all age groups.
These findings reinforce the role of molecular diagnostics in enhancing patient care while reducing reliance on invasive monitoring techniques.
Key Findings in Lung Transplantation
CareDx also presented significant data related to lung transplantation, particularly involving AlloSure Lung:
- Risk Prediction Through Baseline Changes: Variations from an individual patient’s baseline AlloSure Lung levels were strongly associated with an increased risk of lung function decline. The analysis also revealed differences based on patient age.
- Correlation with Lung Function: Changes in AlloSure Lung levels within individual patients were inversely related to spirometry results, suggesting that higher molecular signals correspond to worsening lung function.
- Distinct Recovery Patterns: Population-level analyses identified specific kinetic patterns in AlloSure Lung data that correlate with different recovery trajectories following transplantation.
- Clinical Event Association: Increases in AlloSure Lung levels were linked to significant clinical events, including acute and chronic lung allograft dysfunction.
- Improved Monitoring Approaches: Studies comparing baseline measurement methods found that dynamic (running) baselines may offer greater clinical utility than fixed baselines, allowing for more personalized and accurate monitoring.
Together, these findings highlight the value of continuous molecular monitoring in identifying early signs of injury and guiding timely intervention in lung transplant patients.
CareDx Symposia at ISHLT 2026
In addition to presenting research findings, CareDx will host two interactive, case-based symposia featuring leading transplant specialists:
- Beyond Histology: The MERIT of Molecular Phenotyping with HeartCare
This session will explore how molecular diagnostics can enhance clinical decision-making beyond traditional biopsy-based assessments. Experts will discuss the integration of HeartCare into routine practice and its implications for patient management. - From Signal to Action: Can AlloSure Lung Inform Earlier Intervention?
This symposium will focus on how molecular signals from AlloSure Lung can enable earlier detection of complications and more proactive treatment strategies.
These sessions aim to provide practical insights into how clinicians can incorporate molecular testing into everyday transplant care.
The SHORE Study
One of the cornerstone studies highlighted at ISHLT 2026 is the SHORE (Surveillance HeartCare Outcomes Registry) study. This large, prospective observational study includes over 2,700 heart transplant patients across 67 centers in the United States.
SHORE evaluates the combined use of AlloSure Heart (which measures donor-derived cell-free DNA) and AlloMap Heart (which assesses gene expression). Together, these tests form the HeartCare platform, offering a comprehensive view of both graft health and immune system activity.
Findings from SHORE have already been published in leading medical journals and demonstrate the clinical value of molecular testing in:
- Detecting rejection
- Assessing antibody-mediated rejection
- Stratifying patient risk
- Supporting clinical decision-making
The study continues to provide robust evidence supporting the adoption of non-invasive monitoring strategies in heart transplantation.
The ALAMO Study
The ALAMO (AlloSure Lung Assessment and Metagenomic Outcomes) study is another major initiative featured at ISHLT 2026. This international registry tracks lung transplant recipients over time, evaluating the effectiveness of AlloSure Lung in routine clinical practice.
ALAMO includes both single and bilateral lung transplant patients and focuses on longitudinal monitoring using donor-derived cell-free DNA. Key findings from the study emphasize:
- The importance of individualized baseline measurements
- The value of continuous monitoring in detecting graft injury
- The ability to predict lung function outcomes
Data from ALAMO are contributing to a growing number of peer-reviewed publications and are helping shape best practices in lung transplant surveillance.
The MERIT Trial
CareDx also introduced the MERIT (Molecular Evidence of Rejection Interventional Trial), a groundbreaking randomized controlled study designed to address a critical gap in transplant care.
The trial focuses on patients who show abnormal molecular test results but have negative biopsy findings—a scenario that often presents challenges for clinicians. MERIT aims to determine whether treatment decisions guided by molecular diagnostics can improve patient outcomes compared to standard care.
Key features of the trial include:
- Prospective, multicenter design
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled methodology
- Enrollment of stable adult heart transplant recipients
- Evaluation of patients between two months and two years post-transplant
By addressing discrepancies between molecular signals and biopsy results, MERIT has the potential to redefine how clinicians manage transplant patients.
The breadth of data presented by CareDx at ISHLT 2026 highlights a significant shift in transplant medicine toward precision, personalization, and non-invasive monitoring. With strong evidence from large-scale studies like SHORE and ALAMO, as well as innovative trials like MERIT, molecular diagnostics are increasingly becoming a cornerstone of post-transplant care.
These advancements not only improve early detection of complications but also reduce reliance on invasive procedures, lower healthcare costs, and support better long-term outcomes for patients. As the field continues to evolve, CareDx remains at the forefront, driving innovation and shaping the future of transplant medicine.
About CareDx
CareDx is a precision medicine company dedicated to improving outcomes for transplant patients and advancing organ health. The Company’s integrated solutions include non-invasive molecular testing for heart, kidney, and lung transplants; laboratory products; digital health technologies; and patient solutions that support care before and after transplant. CareDx is the leading provider of genomics-based information for transplant patients.
