EBMT Elections 2026

My Manifesto

It is a great honour to present my candidacy for the position of Chair of the Acute Leukaemia Working Party (ALWP) of the EBMT.

I have been deeply engaged in the activities of the ALWP, where I currently serve as Secretary, and have contributed actively to the educational programmes of other Working Parties. I also take great pleasure in teaching and mentoring junior colleagues, both within EBMT educational initiatives and through other academic networks.

After obtaining my MD and PhD degrees, I pursued further training during a one-year fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). I was recently appointed Full Professor of Clinical Haematology and currently serve in the Department of Haematology at Saint-Antoine Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris.

My scientific trajectory reflects a sustained commitment to the field of stem cell transplantation, with over 200 peer-reviewed publications as principal author or co-author. I was deeply honoured to receive the Van Bekkum Award from the EBMT in 2021.

Our field is changing rapidly, especially with the fast evolution of therapies that directly affect patient outcomes. It is therefore essential to strengthen our research network, improve data quality and access, and update our research methods.

I am deeply motivated to serve the EBMT as the next Chair of the ALWP, following in the distinguished footsteps of my predecessors. If elected, my objectives will include:

(i) Enhancing the scientific productivity of the ALWP and fostering the publication of high-quality, methodologically robust studies. Furthermore, the advent of CAR-T cells and other advanced cellular therapies represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of acute leukaemia. The ALWP must continue to evaluate these innovative strategies in collaboration with the GoCART Coalition, the Cellular Therapy and Immunotherapy Working Party, EBMT centres, and other national and international partners.

(ii) Encouraging the active participation of young members is essential. Their ideas, energy, and new perspectives are important for the future of the Working Party. They should be supported to propose studies and given more chances to take part in educational and scientific activities 

(iii) Supporting the development and application of advanced statistical and analytical methodologies. The rapid expansion of data derived from molecular biology and genomics requires new analytical frameworks capable of integrating complex clinical and biological datasets. 

(iv) Reinforcing and initiating collaborations with other EBMT Working Parties and external research groups to address key topics such as acute leukaemia in adolescent and young adult patients, infectious complications, and short- and long-term outcomes following transplantation.

(v) Finally, this candidacy is a team effort. Reaching our goals depends on everyone’s active involvement. The ALWP will continue to work in an open, transparent, and collaborative way.

The ALWP is a key part of the EBMT and plays an important role in improving knowledge and practice in acute leukaemia. With your trust and support, I would be honoured to lead this Working Party and continue our shared mission.

My Manifesto

I graduated from the Silesian Medical University in Katowice, Poland, in 1995. I undertook research and educational training in Pavia (Italy), Bilbao (Spain), Edinburgh (UK) and Cairo (Egypt). I progressed through the subsequent stages of my scientific career, becoming a full professor in 2013. I am a specialist in internal medicine, haematology, and clinical transplantology.

From the outset of my professional career, treating patients with acute leukaemia, including through haematopoietic cell transplantation, has been at the heart of my clinical and scientific interests. I have worked in this field, first as an assistant in the Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation in Katowice, and since 2009 as Head of the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Onco-Haematology at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology in Gliwice, Poland. This is one of the largest transplant centres in Europe, performing 200–250 HCT procedures and 30 CAR T-cell therapies annually. I am also president of the Polish Adult Leukaemia Group (PALG) and a past president of the Polish Lymphoma Research Group. I am also a member of the European Working Group for Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (EWALL). I am the national coordinator of CAR T-cell therapy for adults with ALL and a regional consultant in haematology.

I started participating in the Acute Leukaemia Working Party of the EBMT in 2006. From 2010 to 2022, I served as its secretary, and from 2008 to 2014, I led the “Developing Centres” subcommittee. Since 2014, I have led the “Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia” subcommittee. My work has contributed to over 70 scientific papers, 20 of which I am the first author of. I organised two educational symposia for the ALWP in Poland. In total, I have co-authored over 300 publications, including European Leukemia Net recommendations for diagnosing and treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, and EBMT guidelines for prophylaxis and therapy of GVHD. Altogether my papers have been cited 9,200 times, giving me a Hirsch index of 50. Activities within the EBMT ALWP have always been a key part of my scientific career. I have always been deeply inspired and driven by the innovations and advancements within our community, and I am very grateful to be part of it. After 20 years, I feel that my mission is to continue the good work started by former leaders, but also to try to advance the WP. If elected, I would like to:

1. Strengthen the collaboration between the EBMT and national study groups. The initial treatment of acute leukaemia is a key factor in the success of HCT. The transplantation procedure forms part of the entire treatment process and must be considered in this context. I believe that my long-term experience as president of PALG and as a member of EWALL would enable me to achieve this.
2. Organise prospective studies to optimise the transplant procedure and improve the overall outcome for leukaemia patients. Such studies should focus on the proper selection of transplant options, including the use of alternative donors, and the incorporation of new anti-leukaemia agents in the context of HCT.
3. Further explore the biological background of HCT by collecting high-quality data on HLA, the molecular characteristics of leukaemia, and the status of minimal residual disease.
4. Conduct studies in close collaboration with other EBMT working parties (WPs), including the Cellular Therapy & Immunobiology WP, the Infectious Diseases WP, the Transplant Complications WP and the Paediatric Diseases WP.
5. Continue organising symposia and meetings that give centres of all sizes and geographical locations a chance to participate, discuss and propose new studies based on the ALWP registry. In particular, I would like to encourage the participation of younger colleagues from countries not yet involved in the EBMT ALWP.

I am fully aware that the success of the ALWP depends on the enthusiasm and creativity of its participants. Therefore, I ask for your support in my candidacy, and for your continued support of ALWP activities regardless of the election outcome.

My Manifesto

It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my candidacy for the position of Chairman of the Chronic Malignancies Working Party (CMWP) of the EBMT.

In the coming years, our transplant community will face crucial challenges as the EBMT undergoes a transformative phase, with evolving structures and a renewed strategic vision. As Chairman, I am committed not only to guiding the CMWP through this transition, but to actively shaping its future — promoting scientific excellence through collaboration, innovation, and a shared commitment to improving patient outcomes.
A central priority of my mandate will be the effective implementation of the new EBMT registry as a powerful, inclusive, and methodologically robust research platform. At the same time, I will strengthen international collaboration by leveraging my global network, with particular focus on education, mentorship, and engagement of underrepresented regions.

Inclusivity and accessibility are core elements of my vision. I am committed to lowering barriers for smaller EBMT centres by fostering transparent communication, equitable access to collaborative research projects, and broader representation in working group activities. Through targeted outreach initiatives and structured mentorship programmes, I aim to empower all centres to contribute meaningfully to the scientific growth of our Working Party.

Equally important is the integration of nursing colleagues and allied health professionals into the strategic direction of the CMWP. I strongly believe that sustainable innovation depends on valuing every component of our multidisciplinary community, including the next generation of hematologists.

My professional journey has prepared me to lead this effort. After completing my medical, hematology, and PhD training at the University of Bologna, I served as transplant physician at ASST Spedali Civili University Hospital in Brescia (2016–2023), contributing to a high-volume and academically active transplant program. I currently serve as Head of the Unit of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapies at Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia — one of Europe’s leading centres with strong scientific traditions in MDS, MPN, plasma cell dyscrasias, and lymphoproliferative disorders.

In parallel, I have coordinated collaborative clinical trials and worked closely with national and international research networks. I currently serve on the Board of Directors of GITMO. Since 2022, as Vice-Chair of the EBMT CMWP MPN Subcommittee, I have contributed to high-impact registry studies and internationally recognized guideline development in MPNs and MDS/MPNs. My research activity includes 139 PubMed-indexed publications and invited lectures at major international meetings — reflecting my dedication to rigorous, collaborative, and clinically meaningful science.

For these reasons, I am honored to present my candidacy. I am ready to bring experience, energy, and strategic leadership to further strengthen the CMWP and ensure its continued growth within the evolving EBMT framework.

I look forward to your support and to working together as a unified community to advance our shared mission.

My Manifesto

I am an Associate Professor of Hematology at the University of Rome Tor Vergata where my research and clinical commitment focus on the genetics of myeloid neoplasia and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
After starting my career in the pediatric hemonc setting, I then shifted to the adult setting working in top-Institutions in Italy and abroad (Cleveland Clinic, Bambino Gesu’ Hospital, University of Pavia) focusing my efforts on:

• Correlative studies of large-scale genomic datasets of patients with MDS, secondary AML and clonal conditions (CHIP/CCUS) to include genomic, epigenomic and immune-related data, integrating such information into algorithms (including machine learning-based) for better patient management, early leukemia detection and HSCT allocation
• Identify patients with myeloid neoplasia and germline predisposition and managing HSCT with regards to conditioning and donor selection strategies
• Devising and conducting randomized clinical trials on allogeneic HSCT in MDS (e.g., ACROBAT, NCT04184505)
• Definition of the clinical-molecular features of VEXAS syndrome, its interface with MDS and application of HSCT to revert clinical phenotype and achieve molecular remission
• Devise and apply sophisticated molecular platforms to track chimerism and molecular lesions after transplant at the HSC level 

Majority of such projects were developed under the aegis of the EBMT in my role as vicechair of the MDS subcommittee of the CMWP as well as with the collaboration with other working parties, particularly the ADWP. In my role within the CMWP, I was indeed actively engaged in developing research initiatives, leading the redaction of expert consensus on specific transplant topics, and organization of educational meetings. I also served in the past as vice-chair of the Trainee Committee, an opportunity which helped me fostering collaborations with the trainees, understanding their needs and dynamic vision as well getting acquainted with the EBMT structure.

The CMWP comprises a broad range of chronic hematological disorders, which, after acute leukemias, constitute the core of transplant activity in Europe. For most chronic hematological diseases, transplant is the only curative option, but its application is often limited by demographics, resources, lack of precise indications based on patient- and disease-features.
The CMWP has the unique opportunity to leverage the EBMT registry to help advance the field of transplantation in chronic hematological disorders, especially in the new molecular era whereby genomic features enhance the capability to identify patients who can benefit the most
from HSCT. EBMT has the adequate resources to develop such framework in Europe, but a major challenge is how to implement such molecular data into the registry and how to make the best use of it.

If entrusted with the opportunity of being Chair, my commitment will focus on:

• Further increase the impact of the CMWP scientific outputs, particularly looking at the inclusion of molecular information, currently needed for cutting-edge, high-impact studies
• Foster collaboration across working parties and international societies/consortia
• Define biobanking infrastructure for storage and analysis of biological specimens, crucial for high-impact studies in the field in our genomic era
• Promote prospective trials in selected indications at the state of the art of our transplant practices tailored at specific diseases within the CMWP
• Empower junior members, DEI representation, rotation of roles and responsibilities to ensure dynamism, representation and sustainability of our society
• Extend the connection to the EBMT with local patient organizations to provide better patient guidance

I am strongly motivated and enthusiast to dedicate my clinical and scientific expertise as well as my time to guide the CMWP into a new phase and I am personally convinced that my expertise in molecular medicine will help add further impact to our research as per the new EBMT directions on Basic & Translational Science.

I believe that all these efforts will help the Working Party in promoting and supporting the ongoing studies in this field, thus continuing to foster excellent science, instrumental for more effective and personalized therapeutic choices. Individual efforts spark flames, but collective
brilliance creates a sun. I am calling on every colleague to help me architect the next CMWP evolution. Let’s prove that when this "village" unites, we don't just meet standards—we redefine them.

My Manifesto

Having built up a JACIE-accredited autologous and allogeneic stem cell programme as well as a large clinical CART programme at the University Hospital Cologne, I started an academic CART manufacturing laboratory that was recently approved for clinical use. In addition, I am responsible for a clinical myeloma research programme running national multicentre studies within the framework of the GMMG study group. 

Being part of the CMWP since 2008 and vice-chair of the MDS subcommittee since 2018, now seems to be the right time to deepen my involvement with the group in the chair position.

Building on an excellent team structure with a remarkable track record I see several focus areas for the further successful development of the CMWP:

Patient-oriented research
The EBMT is harbouring data from thousands of patients who have volunteered to donate their data to our registry. It is our task to make the most out of this data grouping together medical experts with profound knowledge of the diseases being treated by cellular therapies to optimise the curative potential. To ascertain the clinical relevance for patients the CMWP should explore ways to increase patient-representation.

Optimising cell therapy
Cellular therapy is rapidly evolving beyond stem cell transplantation without replacing it. On the contrary, there are a number of approaches that using either autologous or allogeneic cells as source material and the CMWP should play a major role in this development. We currently see commercial and academic autologous BCMA CART cells arriving in a growing number of countries, but a broad spectrum of other types of cellular therapy are on the horizon. Together with the other working parties such as the CTIWP we should be at the forefront of new cellular therapies in chronic malignancies and capture these as much as possible in the registry.

Data access by EBMT centres
EBMT is built on the enthusiasm of the participating centres. They take on the task of documenting a growing number of patients. In exchange they expect evidence-based support for the difficult daily decision-making in clinical practice. While the CMWP has performed a number of clinically relevant analyses leading to major publications and guidance documents, there should be more direct ways for the centres to interact. One way is to make the centre’s   data searchable for the centres, to increase awareness of their own data and generate interest for further research projects.

Data management
To foster new projects and raise interest from younger researchers we need quick assessment of registry data via the CMWP data management team. This will allow a timely decision whether sufficient data is available for a research project. It will also help to allocate resources to those projects with the best feasibility and thus make the best use of the existing data.

Innovative statistics
With growing number of patients being registered and more and more parameters to be documented, there is room for new statistical approaches. AI and machine learning have already been used successfully and the CMWP should strengthen the role of innovative methods to work with large and complex datasets. 

International cooperation
The CMWP covers a broad range of diseases with a particular need to integrate stem cell transplantation and/or CART therapy with other therapeutic modalities.

Thus, there is the need to expand the focus of our work to include disease features, in particular genetic and molecular markers, but also treatments preceding and following a given cellular therapy. Consequently, we see a stepwise shift from a transplant-based focus to a rather disease-based perspective and the registry is being adapted to this purpose.

There are well known national and international organisations covering diseases such as CLL or myeloma, therefor there is a need for well-designed cooperation, in particular with regard to existing disease-specific registries. Ideally these registries should complement the EBMT registry and pathways for data exchange should be expanded.

My Manifesto

I am proud to announce my application for the future chair vacancy of the Chronic Malignancies Working Party (CMWP) in 2026. I am currently Professor of Haematology in Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris, France, where I work in the Bone Marrow Transplant department (CIC 207). From 2003, I was honoured to be taught by Professor Eliane Gluckman, one of the first leader-pioneers in the field, and then by Professor Gérard Socié at clinical, research and education levels.

After a Master in Blood Cells, I obtained a PhD on immune responses in myeloid malignancies at the University Paris-Cité in Christine Chomienne’s research laboratory. In my institution, I am in charge of the pre- or post-transplantation management of patients, especially but not only patients suffering from MPN and MDS. I am also responsible for JACIE at my institution, which brings together six departments of haematology involved in CART-cells, autologous and allogeneic transplantations. Our hospital has been actively participating in the EBMT registry from the very start. We continue to implement the registry with around 100 autologous transplants, 150 CAR T-cells and 150 allogeneic transplantations every year.

I have worldwide experience, beginning with an internship at MD Anderson (Houston, United States) in 1998 while I was a medical student. I also spent a sabbatical year at Kings College London in 2015/2016, which fostered my knowledge in the MDS field.

Regarding the CMWP, I’ve been deeply involved in the last 15 years, with a first paper on behalf of the group published in 2011 and many others afterwards. In our group, I have always tried to promote research through many retrospective studies. I have also organized many meetings in Paris (2012, 2017, 2019) and elsewhere. One of the most important tasks I have achieved was to introduce new young haematologists to our field and to facilitate collaboration between centres. I have been honoured to be chosen by Nicolaus Kroger to lead the sub-chair MDS position, and to be renewed by the next chairs Ibrahim Yakoub-Agha and Donal Mc Lornan who trust me again in this role. I learned a lot during that time and I want to share this unique experience with the youngest ones, who are the future of our group.

In addition, I’ve been President of the French speaking Society of Cellular Therapy for the last four years, facilitating the relationships between EBMT and our French community, especially for all registry or legal issues. In additional to clinical and biological studies, and many scientific meeting organizations, I also had to manage administrative and financial issues of the French Society, which gives me some background for a further position at the EBMT.

Concerning clinical research, I designed, set up and coordinated several national academic prospective clinical trials on MDS and myelofibrosis. I obtained several grants to safely conduct those studies. The main achievements concern donor availability in

higher risk MDS patients (Leukemia 2015), a phase 2 trial on ruxolitinib before transplantation in myelofibrosis (BMT 2021), a phase 2 study maintenance by decitabine cedazuridine (Lancet Haematology 2025), the identification of biomarkers in GVHD (Blood Advances 2022), as well as haplo-identical transplantation in myelofibrosis (oral presentation at ASH 2025).

As a chair, I would like to promote biological and prospective clinical studies. I will ensure small centres and young colleagues will be looked upon to be promoted and will participate in our activities. I think that collaborative studies can be productive for their additional value, in terms of data and fruitful discussions. Another point which is important to me is the relationship with patients and their family. I initiated shared meetings during my French presidency, which was tremendously important to foster constructive collaborations between advocacy groups and expert physicians.

For all these reasons, I am fully motivated and dedicated to endorsing the chair position of the CMWP. I would be honoured to have your trust and support to contribute to the excellence of our EBMT group worldwide. With more than 15 years of experience within the CMWP and 23 years in the transplantation field, I have had the privilege to be taught by renowned colleagues. I have a deep desire to share my knowledge and experience for the four coming years and to serve you as a chair.

My Manifesto

I present my candidacy for Chair of the Chronic Malignancies Working Party with great commitment and a strong sense of responsibility.

CMWP has been my scientific home for many years. I joined as a young physician and had the privilege of growing within a community of great, knowledgeable people involved within the CMWP, not only clinicians but also statisticians and data managers. Being involved in lively scientific discussions, I have developed my vision of how science and cooperation should look. For the past four years, I have served as the Secretary of the CMWP during a particularly challenging post-pandemic period. Together, we restored dynamic collaboration, strengthened our scientific output, and re-established vibrant interpersonal relationships. 

I would like to ensure the continuation of an inclusive environment for all within the CMWP, but also maintenance of the strong ‘track record’ of the CMWP in meeting the EBMT goals of clinical study excellence and scientific rigor. I value empathetic leadership, and this is how I will act if elected Chair. I collaborate effectively with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and I am committed to fostering an inclusive and constructive environment in which the CMWP team can deliver high-quality scientific evidence.

I am convinced that fulfilling these goals requires cooperation not only within the working party but also needs to be based on international collaboration.

My priorities for the CMWP in 2026 and beyond would be as follows:

1. Sustaining an inclusive and respectful environment, promoting equality, diversity, and mentorship across all CMWP activities.
2. Establishing the CMWP Scientific Board to retain CMWP members who have already served their positions within CMWP, to let their knowledge and expertise be used in advising and mentoring younger investigators.
3. Expanding opportunities for early-career researchers to initiate and lead studies under the mentorship of experienced members.
4. Strengthening collaborations with other working parties, e.g., Infectious Diseases Working Party, Acute Leukemia Working Party, and Autoimmune Diseases Working Party, to develop multidisciplinary projects.
5. Expanding international cooperation with other scientific societies.
6. Continuing development of practice harmonization guidelines in close collaboration with the EBMT PH&G Committee.
7. Cooperation with pharma and academia to allow for fundraising, while maintaining scientific independence.
8. Organizing highly interactive scientific and educational CMWP sessions and meetings.

I would be honored to serve our community in the role of Chair of the CMWP and to work together toward the continued excellence of CMWP.

My Manifesto

Our field is changing rapidly. Cellular immunotherapies have moved from experimental concepts into routine clinical practice, while engineered immune cells and allogeneic transplantation are being reshaped by advances in immunobiology, genetics, and increasing regulatory demands. Science, regulation, and access are now inseparable. In this context, the role of the CTIWP is more critical than ever.

My motivation to stand for Chair is driven by a clear conviction: academic leadership must continue to drive innovation, evidence generation, and equitable access in cellular therapy. If we do not actively shape this space, others will do so for us, often with priorities that are misaligned with those of patients, clinicians, and investigator-driven research. We have already seen the consequences: growing barriers to data sharing, excessive regulation of academic ATMP production, and everyday administrative burdens that hamper innovation and restrict access. Many investigators and centers experience this tension daily when promising projects are delayed by fragmented data requirements or increasing regulatory complexity.

As Chair, I envision the CTIWP as an environment where investigator-led ideas move faster: from scientific concepts to high-quality registry evidence, to real-world clinical and regulatory impact. This requires clear ownership, efficient structures, and strong alignment between science, data, and policy. Through my work within the EBMT, including as an EXCOM and GoCART-secretary member and Chair of the Legal and Regulatory Affairs Committee, I have worked at the interface of immune biology, clinical practice, regulation, and policy. This experience has shown me that our greatest strategic strength lies in collaborative leadership, and in the EBMT Registry. The Registry is not merely a repository of outcomes, but a strategic instrument to generate the evidence that determines whether innovation translates into sustainable access.

The CTIWP sits precisely at the intersection of science and real-world impact for all cellular immune therapies. The role of the CTIWP is not only to promote scientific progress, but to strategically and actively steer how evidence is generated, shared, and used. As Chair, I would further develop the CTIWP as a platform that enables this role through four focused priorities:

Empowering investigators and centers. I will augment the process for investigators and centers to take ownership of projects and scientific themes within the CTIWP. Regular investigator meetings will be used to accelerate progress, identify bottlenecks early, and ensure transparent prioritization, while actively supporting joint European grant writing to expand resources for investigator-driven science.

Driving data quality and data science. I will build on existing efforts to improve data field development and harmonize data collection across registries, particularly in cellular therapies, where alignment remains challenging. Through structured dialogue with scientists, statisticians, and regulators, including Delphi processes, we will better define future data needs and improve the capture of emerging treatment modalities such as T-cell engaging antibodies, in collaboration with national registries.

Strengthening our role in regulatory and policy discussions. The CTIWP must remain a credible academic partner for regulators and policymakers, safeguarding space for investigator-initiated research and sustainable access to ATMPs. We can and should be a powerful voice when new treatment modalities are approved and when legislation is revised, in close collaboration with the Legal and Regulatory Affairs Committee.

Fostering collaboration across generations and Working Parties. This dimension is essential to sustaining scientific excellence and long-term impact. Building on successful joint initiatives, including CAR T cell projects, I will further strengthen collaboration across Working Parties, and with the EBMT Trainee Committee. A key focus will be the active involvement of young investigators in projects involving the CTIWP, providing hands-on experience in multicenter research, promoting skills transfer, and delivering tangible scientific output, while fostering sustained engagement among the next generation. Bringing established experts together with young investigators across Europe, and combining established and emerging technologies, is one of the EBMT’s greatest assets, and a powerful driver of both scientific excellence and societal impact.

As Chair, I will be committed to bringing an open, collaborative, and pragmatic leadership style, working closely with investigators, data managers, and Working Party colleagues to strengthen what already works and to support new ideas where they are needed most. I would be grateful for the opportunity to continue working with you to advance the CTIWP’s scientific excellence and its impact for our patients.

My Manifesto

It is with great enthusiasm and a strong sense of responsibility that I submit my candidacy for the position of Chair of the Cellular Therapy & Immunobiology Working Party (CTIWP). Having had the privilege to serve as Secretary of the CTIWP, I have gained in-depth insight into the scientific mission, organizational functioning, and collaborative spirit that define our working party. This experience has reinforced my motivation to contribute further to the strategic development and long-term impact of the CTIWP.

During my mandate as Secretary, I have been actively involved in coordinating CTIWP activities, organizing scientific meetings, supporting study groups, and fostering collaboration among members. I have worked closely with the Chair and the CTIWP team at the EBMT Leiden Office to ensure efficient communication, timely execution of projects, and alignment with EBMT priorities. These responsibilities have allowed me to develop a comprehensive understanding of both the strengths of the CTIWP and the challenges we face in a rapidly evolving scientific and clinical landscape.

If elected Chair, my primary objective will be to enhance the scientific visibility, productivity, and impact of the CTIWP. Cellular therapy and immunobiology are at the core of innovation in hematopoietic transplantation and beyond. I aim to promote ambitious, hypothesis-driven studies, large multicenter collaborations, and high-quality publications that position the CTIWP as a reference working party within the EBMT and internationally. Particular attention will be paid to translational research that bridges fundamental immunology with clinical practice, ensuring that our scientific output translates into tangible benefits for patients.

A second key priority will be to strengthen collaboration across EBMT working parties and with external international consortia. Many of today’s most relevant scientific questions lie at the interface of disciplines, including graft-versus-host disease, infection and immune reconstitution, relapse biology, cellular immunotherapy, and long-term survivorship. I strongly believe that fostering cross-party initiatives and strategic partnerships will allow us to address these complex challenges more effectively, avoid fragmentation, and maximize the impact of EBMT-driven research.

I am also deeply committed to supporting and mentoring junior members of the CTIWP. The sustainability and future success of our group depend on our ability to attract, engage, and empower the next generation of clinicians and scientists. As Chair, I would actively promote opportunities for junior investigators to lead studies, present at meetings, and participate in leadership roles across CTIWP activities. Creating a dynamic, inclusive, and supportive environment will be central to my vision.

Innovation will remain a cornerstone of my leadership approach. I intend to encourage the exploration of emerging areas such as next-generation cellular therapies, immune monitoring, biomarkers, digital health tools, and survivorship-related immunological challenges. At the same time, I believe it is essential to maintain a patient-centered perspective, ensuring that innovation ultimately serves the goal of improving outcomes, quality of life, and long-term care for transplant and cellular therapy recipients.

My clinical background, scientific expertise, and long-standing commitment to the EBMT have shaped my leadership style, which is based on collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility. I see the role of Chair not only as providing direction, but also facilitating collective intelligence, encouraging open dialogue, and ensuring that all voices within the CTIWP are heard and valued.

In conclusion, I am highly motivated to serve as Chair of the CTIWP and to work closely with all members to guide it into its next phase of growth and impact. It would be an honor to build on the strong foundations already in place and to contribute, together, to advancing the frontiers of cellular therapy and immunobiology within the EBMT.

My Manifesto

I am consultant haematologist and BMT physician and have been leading the BMT and cell therapy program and Cambridge for the last 20 years. I have been an active JACIE inspector since 2010, a member of the Accreditation Committee since 2019, and now its Chair, I have seen first-hand the transformative impact that robust, supportive certification can have on transplant and cell therapy programmes. I also contributed to shaping our standards as a member of the clinical subcommittee for the 8th Edition and as the clinical co-chair for the 9th Edition of the FACT–JACIE Standards. In recent months, I have supported JACIE operationally as interim coordinator ahead of the formal election of Chair at EBMT 2026. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to advancing JACIE’s mission.

I am keen to improve the quality, consistency and timeliness of inspections. Inspectors key and are volunteers. They need to be supported but also guided to ensure that inspection reports are valid reflection of the centre and provide clear guidance as to areas of good practice as well as areas where improvement may be required. I would love to help develop some practical steps to ensure that inspectors remain fully involved and also that there is clear guidance as to what a good inspection report looks like.

JACIE standards must adapt to the global development of cellular therapy. What was once restricted to BMT centre is now  activity is now embedded across diverse healthcare systems and clinical disciplines. The publication of the 9th edition of the HSCT Standards and the 3rd edition of the IEC Standards marks significant progress in this regard. Notably, the IEC Standards represent the first JACIE stand-alone certification framework for immune effector cell therapy, acknowledging that cellular therapy now extends beyond traditional haematology and oncology. In my view it is critical to ensure that JACIE certification standards and inspection processes continue to reflect this reality supporting excellence, safety, and innovation across EBMT centres worldwide.

JACIE  standards and how we certify programs must remain responsive for example to clinical trials and emerging models of care. Innovation should not be constrained by certification, but supported by it. Strong quality management systems are central to delivering good patient outcomes. JACIE certification for transplant programs has consistently demonstrated its value in promoting patient safety, process reliability, and continuous improvement. As therapies become more complex, the role of quality systems becomes even more important, not as an administrative burden, but as an enabler of excellence.

JACIE must reflect the broadening range of stakeholders in cellular therapy, including patients, regulators, professional societies, and industry partners. Meaningful engagement with these groups is critical if JACIE certification is to remain the global standard.

Last year JACIE has how become a Working Party with an EBMT and will need to develop in line with this new role. Academic publications are clearly important this is not the sole remit or sole marker of success for JACIE and I am enthusiastic to work with EBMT community to develop JACIE within this new structure.