The professor: Monzr M. Al Malki, MD, professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, director of the Unrelated Donor Bone Marrow Transplant and Haploidentical Transplant Programs at City of Hope

Session title: How I Treat: Donor Selection, DSA’s and Graft Failure

Date, time and location: Saturday, Feb. 7, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. MST, Room 258 of the Salt Palace Convention Center 

What is the focus of your session?

“I will focus on three core themes central to successful allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation: 

• The role of donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) in graft rejection and strategies for risk assessment and mitigation
• Optimal donor selection across matched, mismatched, haploidentical and cord blood sources based on DSAs
• Diagnosis, prevention and management of graft failure, including emerging strategies and conditioning approaches

“Together, these themes reflect the major determinants of transplant success in patients with limited donor options.”

How did you become interested in these themes?

“My interest developed early in my career when working with alternative donor transplantation and novel graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prevention platforms. I saw firsthand the challenges faced by patients who lacked a fully matched donor or had DSAs limiting transplant options, as well as cases of graft failure. These experiences led me to dedicate my clinical and research focus to expanding access to transplants through haploidentical and mismatched unrelated donors, and to refining conditioning strategies.” 

What do you hope attendees will learn from your session?

“I hope attendees will gain:

• A practical framework for donor selection in complex clinical scenarios with severely allosensitized patients
• Evidence-based guidance for screening and managing DSAs, including when to proceed, when to desensitize and when to reconsider donor choice 
• Ability to identify early signs of graft failure, evaluate risk factors and apply therapeutic interventions that improve engraftment and survival

“Ultimately, I want participants to leave with actionable strategies they can apply immediately in their clinical practice.”

How will the themes you introduce affect the next generation in your field?

“These themes are foundational to modern transplant practice and will shape the future of donor availability and equity in access. As alternative donor platforms continue to evolve, mastery of DSA evaluation, graft optimization and individualized donor selection will be essential for the next generation of transplant physicians. These approaches will directly influence outcomes, expand donor pools and reduce disparities in access to curative therapies.”

What else do you want to share about your Meet-the-Professor session?

“This session is designed to be highly interactive, with real-world case studies that highlight the nuances of donor choice, DSA interpretation and graft management. I welcome questions, open discussion and collaboration. My goal is to share practical insights from clinical trials and institutional experience that can help clinicians navigate challenging transplant decisions and improve patient outcomes.”

Meet-the-Professor is a series of 12 hour-long luncheon sessions in the Scientific Track featuring presentations by esteemed leaders in the transplantation and cellular therapy community. Limited tickets are available for $25 per person, per session, each of which includes a meal. Advance registration is highly recommended and can be made during online registration. In-person ticket sales during the 2026 Tandem Meetings will be available at the registration desk if tickets remain.