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Milano
Filippo Milano, MD, PhD

Filippo Milano, MD, PhD

Hematology-Oncology

  • Director, Cord Blood Transplant Program, Fred Hutch
  • Associate Professor, Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, Fred Hutch
  • Member, Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center (IIRC), Fred Hutch
  • Endowed Chair in Cord Blood Research, Fred Hutch
  • Associate Professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine
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About

Dr. Filippo Milano is a hematologist‑oncologist and researcher at Fred Hutch. He specializes in blood and marrow transplantation, including cord blood transplantation, and works to expand access to transplant options for people without a matched donor.

Background

Dr. Milano treats patients with blood cancers using blood and marrow transplant (BMT). He emphasizes that for patients without a matched bone marrow donor, umbilical cord blood transplantation can be an effective treatment option. Outcomes for cord blood transplant patients at Fred Hutch are comparable to those seen with other transplant approaches.

As a researcher, Dr. Milano focuses on the use of umbilical cord blood as a source of stem cells for transplantation. His work is aimed at improving clinical practice and increasing the number of patients who are eligible for transplant, while also improving outcomes for those who receive cord blood transplants. He has conducted pivotal analyses comparing outcomes for patients who received cord blood transplants with those who received blood stem cells from unrelated donors.

Dr. Milano also studies an experimental, off‑the‑shelf cord blood product designed to provide immune protection to transplant recipients until the donated stem cells fully engraft and begin to function. Through both his clinical care and research, he works to advance cord blood transplantation as a safe and effective option for more patients with blood cancers.

Area of Clinical Practice
Adult blood and marrow transplantation, cord blood transplantation

“It’s very important that when I care for my patients, I can provide the best. And working with a collaborative team of nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants and volunteers who all put our patients first supports that.”

— Dr. Milano

What do you enjoy about working in oncology?

When I left my home country, Italy, my intention was to stay here only six months — but it’s now been a decade. I decided to stay because of the quality of work that I have found here. It’s a very exciting time to be in our field; a lot of things are changing. I had to do a fellowship twice in my life and I always tell my patients that between the first and second fellowship, at least 60 percent of what I’d learned from the first fellowship had changed. Over a span of 12 years, the information I learned in my first fellowship was already “prehistoric.” New findings come up every year, and that leads to better clinical outcomes for patients, so don’t give up hope.

What is your approach to patient care?

My philosophy is to care for my patients with respect and compassion. I communicate with my patients and know that I am a part of their life; it is something I keep in my mind all the time. It’s not just about what drug is used — the way physicians interact with their patients is just as important. I love that. I love meeting new people and building those relationships with my patients and their families. My patients will remember my funny accent, and I’m going to remember something about each and every one of them.

Diseases Treated

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Blood Disorders

Bone Marrow Failure Diseases

Current Projects

Impact of Non HLA-matched off-the-shelf ex-vivo expanded cord blood progenitors on outcomes in patients undergoing cord blood transplantation

Use of Non HLA-matched off-the-shelf ex-vivo expanded cord blood progenitors for patients with HIV undergoing cord blood transplantation

Evaluation of the use of Treosulfan as part of the conditioning regimen in patients undergoing cord blood transplantation and haploidentical transplant

Use of TCR gene therapy to cure viral infections in patients undergoing cord blood transplantation

Use of a new molecule (UM171) to expand cord blood progenitors

Languages

English
Italian

Education and Experience

Fellowship, Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington

Residency, Internal Medicine, University La Sapienza Rome

PhD, University La Sapienza

MD, University La Sapienza

Clinical Trials

We make promising new treatments available to you through studies called clinical trials led by Fred Hutch physicians and researchers. Many of these trials at Fred Hutch have led to FDA-approved treatments and have improved standards of care globally. Together, you and your physician can decide if a study is right for you.

Find a Clinical Trial Led by Dr. Milano

Publications

Many of our Fred Hutch physicians and researchers conduct ongoing research to improve standards of patient care. Their work is evaluated by others in their field and selected for publication to the United States National Library of Medicine, the largest medical library in the world. See scientific papers this Fred Hutch physician has written.

View Dr. Milano's Publications

Your Care Team

At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like registered dieticians, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.

Meet Other Providers

Insurance

Fred Hutch accepts most national private health insurance plans as well as Medicare. We also accept Medicaid for people from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. We are working to ensure that everyone, no matter what their financial situation, has access to the care they need.

More About Insurance

Stories

All news
Dr. Filippo Milano receives inaugural Endowed Chair in Cord Blood Research
Dr. Filippo Milano receives inaugural Endowed Chair in Cord Blood Research Unrestricted funding will help grow Fred Hutch’s Cord Blood Transplant Program so that ‘every patient has a donor’ April 2, 2025
Novel regimen greatly reduced chronic GVHD in phase 2 study at Fred Hutch
Novel regimen greatly reduced chronic GVHD in phase 2 study at Fred Hutch Substituting cyclophosphamide for a standard post-transplant immunosuppressant is a “gamechanger” February 7, 2025
Testing cord blood transplants as a cure for leukemia — and HIV
Testing cord blood transplants as a cure for leukemia — and HIV New clinical trial at several U.S. cancer centers will enroll people living with HIV and advanced leukemia March 10, 2022

Contact Information

206.667.5925

206.667.2324