Cristina Gasparetto, MD
Cellular Therapy Specialist, Hematologic Oncologist, Hematologist (Malignant), Stem Cell Transplant Specialist
My Locations
About Me
The Division of Cellular Therapy does bone marrow transplants and stem cell transplants for patients with different types of blood cancers. Specifically, I see patients with multiple myeloma or other plasma cell issues like amyloidosis. Many of the cases in my clinic are difficult. So I spend a lot of time talking with my patients, explaining the disease when they come as new patients and talking about the complexity of the disease, because it’s important that they understand what to ask their physicians here at Duke and at home. There’s no standard treatment for myeloma. We have different options – continuation of therapy, immediate transplant or transplant later. I like to explain to patients why I favor a certain treatment approach and why I think it would be the best approach for them.
- Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy 2018
- Member of the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Cancer Institute 1993
Call for an Appointment
Areas of Expertise
- Light or Heavy Chain Deposition Disease
- POEMS Syndrome
- Allogeneic Transplant
- Autologous Transplant
- Multiple Myeloma
- Syngeneic Transplant
- Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
- Amyloidosis
- Adult Bone Marrow Transplant
- Multiple Sclerosis
Ratings and Reviews
The ratings and reviews are based on patient responses to the overall provider rating question from the survey. The question reads: “Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is the worst provider possible and 10 is the best provider possible, what number would you use to rate this provider?” Responses are converted to a 5-point rating system and applied consistently to all providers. Learn more about our survey process. Patients who see some types of providers receive a different version of the patient satisfaction survey. Those results are not available on DukeHealth.org.
Training and Education
In the News
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Clinical Focus and Research
My work focuses on clinical translational research in multiple myeloma and other plasma cell disorders such as AL amyloidosis, Waldenstrom’s disease. As Director of the Multiple Myeloma Program at Duke, I lead studies in both the transplant and non transplant settings for these diseases, evaluating new drugs developed for patients. I have co-authored investigations on novel targeted therapies used alone and/or in combination for multiple myeloma and amyloidosis. Current work focuses on expanding allogeneic immunotherapy for high risk patients with multiple myeloma of plasma cell leukemia.
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K36 _KTX-MMSET-001_ Ph1 KTX-1001 Oral, FIC, MMSET Cat Inhib in Pts w/ RRMM (Multiple Myeloma)IRB# PRO00111701 , NCT# NCT05651932
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Celgene_CA057-001 CC92480 (Multiple Myeloma)IRB# PRO00112328 , NCT# NCT05519085
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Iberdomide Maintenance Vs Lenalidomide Maintenance Following ASCT (Multiple Myeloma)IRB# PRO00113837 , NCT# NCT05827016
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M22-574: ABBV-383 vs SOC in subjects with RRMM (Multiple Myeloma)IRB# PRO00115746 , NCT# NCT06158841
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CB-011 CRISPR Allogeneic Anti-BCMA CART in patients with R/R MM (Multiple Myeloma)IRB# PRO00112753 , NCT# NCT05722418
- Bergens, Matthew A., Yen P. Lowder, Yan Li, Ernaya J. Johnson, Hilary M. Winthrop, Amy T. Bush, Angela Xiong, et al. “Food insecurity prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplant is associated with malnutrition and worse outcomes.” Bone Marrow Transplant, April 12, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-025-02587-1.
- Chari, Ajai, Susan Bal, Sikander Ailawadhi, Amrita Krishnan, Krina K. Patel, Jesus G. Berdeja, Alfred Garfall, et al. “Expert Perspectives on Current Challenges and Emerging Approaches for Multiple Myeloma: Narrative Review of an Inaugural Bridging the Gaps in Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Multiple Myeloma.” Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk, March 11, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clml.2025.03.008.
- Terebelo, Howard R., James Omel, Lynne I. Wagner, James W. Hardin, Robert M. Rifkin, Sikander Ailawadhi, Brian G. M. Durie, et al. “Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Long-surviving Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Over 13 Years of Follow-up in the ConnectⓇ MM Registry.” Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk 25, no. 1 (January 2025): 58–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clml.2024.11.001.
- Ballas, Leslie, Sikander Ailawadhi, Mohit Narang, Cristina J. Gasparetto, Hans C. Lee, James W. Hardin, Brian G. M. Durie, et al. “Real-World Utilization of Radiation Therapy in Multiple Myeloma: An Analysis of the Connect MM Registry.” In Pract Radiat Oncol, 14:e141–49, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prro.2023.11.004.
- Smith, Patrick J., Meagan Lew, Yen Lowder, Kristi Romero, Jillian C. Thompson, Lauren Bohannon, Alyssa Pittman, et al. “Cognitive impairment in candidates for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.” In Bone Marrow Transplant, 57:89–94, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41409-021-01470-z.
- Lin, Chenyu, Laura Morrison, Edwin Alyea, Taewoong Choi, Cristina Gasparetto, Gwynn Long, Richard Lopez, et al. “Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation with Omidubicel: Long-Term Follow-Up from a Single Center.” In Blood, 138:1827–1827. American Society of Hematology, 2021.
Insurance Accepted
Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below.
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Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice PPO
- Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
- Aetna Select HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice
- Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
- Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
- Aetna/CVS Health
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Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
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Cigna
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
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*Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
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Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
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Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Gateway Health Alliance
- Healthgram
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Humana
- Humana Choice (PPO)
- Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
- MedCost
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Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
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NC Medicaid
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
- Carolina Complete Health
- Healthy Blue
- NC Medicaid Direct
- WellCare of North Carolina
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TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
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United Healthcare
- AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
- AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
- AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
- All Savers Alternate Funding
- All Savers Fully Insured
- United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)**
- United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
- United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
- United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
- United Healthcare Option PPO
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
- United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
- United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
- United Medical Resources (UMR)
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*Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.
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**Duke Health does not participate in UHC plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.
External Relationships
- AbbVie, Inc.
- Brystol Myers (celgene)
- GlaxoSmithKline
- Janssen AI (Johnson & Johnson)
- Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc
- Pfizer Inc.
- Sanofi