Tara M Graff, DO

Biography

Dr. Graff first earned a master’s degree in T cell Immunology from Loyola University Chicago. After medical school and residency training, she completed her fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the Medical College of Wisconsin. For 12 years, she has served patients at Mission Cancer and Blood in Des Moines, Iowa, where primarily focuses on CLL and NHL. She is the Director of Clinical Research, playing a integral role in developing the joint clinical trial program with the University of Iowa. She also serves as the Executive Director of Cellular Therapy for Exigent Research. Nationally, Dr. Graff contributes her expertise through multiple leadership positions. She serves on the National Lymphoma Advisory Boards, NHL Advisory Council, LBCL Steering Committee, CIBMTR Lymphoma Working Committee, and works with the Lymphoma Research Foundation. She partners with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (now Blood Cancer United) to expand education for rural cancer patients and to train community oncologists on CAR-T and bispecific therapies. As Principal Investigator on numerous clinical trials and author of many peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Graff has helped advanced care for patients with lymphoma. She started the outpatient Bispecific Antibody program at Mission Cancer and Blood 4 years ago and has now expanded to a CART clinical trial program in the community.