Brian Franz

Brian Franz has a diverse work experience in the field of laboratory and research. Brian is currently working at Vitalant as the Director of the HLA Laboratory since August 2021, previously holding the position of Associate Director from August 2019 to August 2021. Before joining Vitalant, they worked at UNC Health Care as a CPEP Medical Laboratory Immunology Fellow from July 2017 to June 2019. Prior to that, they were a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of North Carolina from November 2015 to June 2017. Brian also gained experience as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Albany Medical College from June 2015 to September 2015, and as a Graduate Student at the same institution from August 2009 to April 2015. Brian started their career as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at Duquesne University from May 2008 to August 2008, and earlier they worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at Mercyhurst University from August 2006 to May 2008, where they completed their undergraduate thesis on the synthesis of small β-sheet breaker peptides for Alzheimer's disease research.

Brian Franz completed their education at Albany Medical College from 2009 to 2015, earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Sciences with a specialization in Immunology and Microbial Disease. Prior to that, they attended Mercyhurst University from 2005 to 2009, where they obtained a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biochemistry. In addition to their academic achievements, Brian has obtained several certifications, including a Histocompatibility Laboratory Director License from the California Department of Public Health in December 2022. Brian is also a Credentialed Director in Solid Organ Transplantation (Live & Deceased), Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (Related & Unrelated), Histocompatibility Testing for Other Clinical Purposes, and Transfusion Support, certified by the AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY AND IMMUNOGENETICS (ASHI) in August 2021. Furthermore, they were recognized as a Fellow by the American College of Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics in September 2020.