About

Shawn Griffin is a Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. He was hired as a founding faculty member within the new Doctor of Pharmacy Program and is currently developing both didactic and experiential courses for student pharmacists. Griffin practices as a Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist within the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he has worked to create new pharmacist-provided clinical services. His research interests include investigating the role of pharmacists in clinical practice and optimizing the dosing of oncology-related medications in special populations.

Research topics

• Environmental science
• Chemistry
• Geology
• Oceanography
• Environmental chemistry
• Ecology
• Environmental engineering

Selected publications

• Oncology pharmacist survey: Understanding task value and professional satisfaction

  Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice · 2026-02-13

  articleSenior author

  PurposeRecent publications have explored workload and productivity to improve oncology pharmacy practice. The Hematology/Oncology Pharmacist Association (HOPA) aimed to build upon this research by assessing task valuation.MethodsA web-based survey was fielded from 1/16/25-2/13/25. Eligible respondents were oncology pharmacists reporting experience with tasks related to 3 categories: direct patient care, non-direct patient care, and education/professional development. After validation, the final survey was estimated to take 10 min to complete and included 22 questions assessing valuation of workplace tasks separated into categories.Results676 responses were included. Most respondents completed post-graduate training and were board-certified in oncology. Median years in practice and in current role were 10 years and 4 years, respectively. Direct patient care was the highest ranked task category followed by education/professional development and non-patient care tasks. The most valued tasks by category were communicating with the interdisciplinary team, precepting learners, and creating standardized treatment plans, respectively. Ordinal logistic regression models did not identify any specific variables that significantly impacted results. Tasks associated with lower job satisfaction included facilitating medication access, ensuring compliance, and completing annual competencies.ConclusionWorkforce challenges, including burnout and inadequate metrics, threaten job satisfaction and retention of oncology pharmacists. Identification of tasks valued by oncology pharmacists, coupled with other practice factors such as workload and productivity, provides a more comprehensive picture of the pharmacy workforce landscape. These findings can guide strategic decisions to expand high value services and re-align lower valued tasks, with the ultimate goal of enhancing job satisfaction and improving retention.

  PublisherDOI

• Once-Daily Foscarnet As a Treatment Strategy for HHV-6 Reactivation after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

  Transplantation and Cellular Therapy · 2026-02-01

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Plasmacytoid Differentiating Cutaneous Lesions: A Case of Double Identity or Active Transformation

  eJHaem · 2026-01-28

  articleOpen access

  Introduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with plasmacytoid dendritic cell differentiation (pDC-AML) is a newly described subtype of leukemia with features resembling blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). Case Presentation: Herein, we present a case of pDC-AML in which bone marrow findings were best classified as AML, whereas cutaneous manifestations by morphology and immunophenotype were highly suggestive of a pDC neoplasm. Results: A high-dose cytarabine with anthracycline backbone and venetoclax was administered based on efficacy in AML and BPDCN, respectively. The patient achieved complete remission as well as resolution of FDG-avid activity by PET-CT imaging. Conclusions: This report highlights that clinical correlation with immunophenotype and molecular testing is important in distinguishing these unique entities to guide appropriate diagnosis and management.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Optimal Pharmacokinetic Sampling Strategy for Melphalan-Based Conditioning Prior to Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

  Transplantation and Cellular Therapy · 2026-02-01

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

• Rapid <scp>HHV</scp> ‐6 Clearance Following Preemptive Short‐Course Foscarnet in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

  American Journal of Hematology · 2026-04-13

  article

  Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) represents a frequent and significant viral reactivation in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHSCT), occurring in approximately 30%–70% within the first 100 days after AHSCT [1-4]. Reactivation has been associated with serious complications, including graft failure, encephalitis, hepatitis, and pneumonia. HHV-6 reactivation has been associated with higher mortality, higher incidence of grade III-IV acute graft versus host disease, cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation, and delayed platelet engraftment [3, 5, 6]. Despite these risks, there are currently no established recommendations for prophylaxis or preemptive treatment, as prior studies have not consistently demonstrated clinical benefit, particularly in preventing end-organ dieases [7-12]. We previously reported that a 7-day course of once-daily foscarnet achieved rapid HHV-6 clearance in a small cohort, potentially reducing HHV-6-related complications [13]. Therefore, we hypothesized that lower-than-standard doses of foscarnet for 1 week are effective and well-tolerated as preemptive therapy in patients with clinically significant HHV-6 reactivation and analyzed outcomes in a larger patient cohort. We retrospectively analyzed 148 adults undergoing their first AHSCT at our institution between 05/2020–10/2025. All patients provided written informed consent. Plasma HHV-6 DNA was monitored using quantitative PCR (qPCR; lower limit of detection: 188 copies/mL) twice monthly during the first 100 days post-transplant, per established protocol [13]. Additional testing was performed in cases of delayed engraftment, altered mental status, or abnormal liver function. A confirmatory qPCR was obtained within 3 days of any initial positive result. Clinically significant HHV-6 reactivation was defined as the new detection of HHV-6 DNA in two consecutive blood samples. All patients with HHV-6 reactivation received a 7-day course of intravenous foscarnet (60–90 mg/kg/day) in the ambulatory setting, administered at the discretion of the treating physician, with dose adjustments based on renal function or concomitant medications. HHV-6 qPCR was monitored twice weekly until clearance. Resolution of HHV-6 reactivation was defined as undetectable plasma HHV-6 DNA on three consecutive occasions. Lymphocyte subsets were assessed using multicolor flow cytometry. Adverse events were closely monitored and graded according to standard criteria. HHV-6 reactivation occurred in 47 of 148 patients (31.8%), with 39 patients (82.9%) receiving once-daily foscarnet for 7 days. The remaining 8 patients with HHV-6 reactivation received standard-dose foscarnet for concomitant CMV reactivation (N = 4) or did not receive any treatment due to transiently low levels of HHV-6 viral load (N = 3) or medical comorbidities (N = 1). Twenty-one patients (44.7%) experienced CMV reactivation with a median time of 22 days (range, 4–375) post-transplant. Baseline and transplant characteristics in Table 1. HHV-6 reactivation was diagnosed at a median of 26 days (range, 6–89). Cumulative incidence of HHV-6 reactivation at 30, 60, and 100 days was 21.6% (95% confidence incidence [CI], 15.4%–28.6%), 29.1% (95% CI, 22.0%–36.5%), and 31.9% (95% CI, 24.5%–39.4%), respectively. In the multivariable competing-risks regression model, HHV-6 reactivation was significantly associated with age > 60 years old [subdistribution hazard (SHR) 2.80, 95% CI: 1.39–5.65; p = 0.004] and mismatched donor type (SHR 2.42, 95% CI: 1.04–5.61; p = 0.040). Neither the conditioning intensity, GHVD prophylaxis, nor stem cell source was associated with cumulative incidence of HHV-6 reactivation (Table 2). Among the 39 patients who received a 7-day course of foscarnet, 32 (82.1%) received 90 mg/kg/day while 7 (17.9%) received 60 mg/kg/day. Median plasma HHV-6 DNA level at diagnosis was 1400 copies/mL (range, 210 to 118 000), with a median peak of 7600 copies/mL (range, 243 to 983 000), at a median of 27 days post-transplant (range, 9–89). Sixteen patients (41.0%) had high-level reactivation, defined as a viral load ≥ 104 copies/mL. Five patients (12.8%) had HHV-6 reactivation before neutrophil engraftment and 17 patients (43.6%) before platelet engraftment. Foscarnet was initiated a median of 4 days after first detection (range, 1–28). All patients achieved viral clearance, with a median time to clearance of 6 days (range, 2–31). Cumulative incidence of successful viral clearance was 89.7% at 14 days and 94.9% at 28 days. Only one patient showed a partial decline in HHV-6 DNAemia and subsequently needed 2-week of foscarnet to achieve complete clearance at 31 days. Three patients (7.7%) developed recurrent HHV-6 reactivation at day 55, 61, and 76 post-transplant (9, 8, and 44 days post-foscarnet completion), all responding to retreatment. No encephalitis, pneumonitis, or HHV-6-related organ involvement occurred. Three patients developed transient acute kidney injury (7.7%) attributed to foscarnet treatment, which resolved after hydration. No grade 3–4 foscarnet-related toxicities were reported. Median follow-up duration was 807 days (IQR, 361–1425). All patients with HHV-6 reactivation achieved neutrophil and platelet engraftment without secondary graft failure. Cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment was 100% at 30 days and platelet engraftment was 88.2% (95% CI 72.0–95.3) at 100 days, with median times to engraftment of 17 days (range, 8–24) and 25 days (range, 12–162), respectively. In a multivariable landmark analysis at day 30 post-transplant, HHV-6 reactivation was associated with significantly inferior overall survival (OS) (HR 2.956, 95% CI 1.491–5.861, p = 0.002) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR 2.253, 95% CI 1.202–4.222, p = 0.011) compared with patients without HHV-6 reactivation. However, foscarnet treatment was not associated with increased risk of non-relapse mortality (NRM) (SHR: 2.078, 95% CI 0.847–5.099, p = 0.110). The cumulative incidence of relapse, acute GVHD grade II-IV, and chronic GVHD were comparable in both groups. Immune reconstitution, including recovery of lymphocyte subsets, was similar between patients with and without HHV-6 reactivation (Figure 1). HHV-6 reactivation remains a significant post-AHSCT complication, consistently linked to serious morbidity and mortality [14]. The cumulative incidence of HHV-6 reactivation in our cohort was 31.9% at 100 days, with a median onset of 26 days post-transplant, consistent with previous reports, highlighting its common and potentially life-threatening nature in AHSCT patients [1, 4]. An association between HHV-6 reactivation and older age likely reflects age-related immune senescence and delayed immune recovery. Similarly, mismatched donors were associated with increased risk, suggesting a role for greater alloimmune dysregulation, delayed HHV-6-specific T-cell immunity recovery, and intensified early immunosuppression [4, 15, 16]. Despite the clear risks, optimal management of HHV-6 reactivation remains challenging. Previous studies, particularly in umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT), have not consistently demonstrated a benefit in preventing encephalitis or improving clinical outcomes [7-9, 17, 18]. However, the severe and potentially irreversible consequences of HHV-6-associated end-organ disease underscore the critical need for effective preventive strategies. Our study addresses this critical gap by providing compelling evidence that a timely and aggressive approach to viral load suppression can profoundly impact patient outcomes. Our study demonstrates that a short 7-day course of once-daily foscarnet as preemptive treatment achieved rapid HHV-6 clearance, with a median time of 6 days, without evidence of end-organ diseases. Notably, effective viral suppression was observed even among patients with high-level viremia, and all were managed in the outpatient setting with acceptable toxicity. We posit that if any treatment helps to suppress viral load, it could potentially prevent organ involvement that is otherwise associated with these severe, often fatal consequences. The rapid viral clearance achieved in our study likely interrupts the progression of HHV-6 DNAemia to overt organ damage, thus preventing the severe manifestations associated with uncontrolled viral replication. It is important to note that umbilical cord blood was not used in our cohort, which may partly explain the differences in outcomes compared to previous UCBT studies. UCBT recipients typically have delayed immune reconstitution, particularly T-cell recovery, and a higher incidence of viral reactivation and severity of HHV-6 reactivation, which may limit preemptive antiviral effectiveness [15]. In contrast, short-course foscarnet proved highly effective in our AHSCT population. Despite successful viral suppression and the absence of organ involvement, HHV-6 reactivation was associated with significantly worse OS and PFS compared to patients without reactivation in a 30-day landmark analysis. A high proportion of these patients had also BK virus reactivation, suggesting that the adverse impact on survival may be mediated through mechanisms other than direct HHV-6 organ damage. Notably, multivariable analysis revealed that foscarnet treatment for HHV-6 reactivation was not associated with a significant increase in NRM, suggesting that early treatment with foscarnet may help overcome negative effects associated with HHV-6 reactivation. Moreover, a comparison of immune reconstitution revealed no significant differences in the recovery of lymphocyte subsets between groups with and without HHV-6 reactivation, suggesting that foscarnet treatment did not impede immune recovery. However, quantitative immune parameters may not fully reflect overall immune competence and functional immune impairment or qualitative differences in immune responses. A major concern with foscarnet is nephrotoxicity, with an incidence exceeding 50% following full-dose administration [19, 20]. In our cohort, only 7.7% developed transient renal toxicity that resolved with hydration, suggesting that a short-course, once-daily regimen with careful adjustment can mitigate nephrotoxicity while remaining highly effective for HHV-6 viral clearance. This study is limited by its single-center, retrospective design, and the lack of an untreated control group to directly evaluate the impact of foscarnet on transplant outcomes. The relatively small sample size also limits our ability to detect more rare outcomes, such as HHV-6 encephalitis. Nevertheless, this real-world study describes one of the larger analyses of patients with HHV-6 reactivation, demonstrating that a short course of preemptive foscarnet provides rapid clearance of HHV-6 viremia, and suggests that higher doses may not be required to prevent organ disease. In conclusion, an abbreviated course of once-daily foscarnet represents an effective and well-tolerated preemptive strategy for HHV-6 reactivation after AHSCT, achieving rapid viral clearance with minimal toxicity. Our findings advocate for a proactive approach to HHV-6 management, demonstrating that early viral suppression can avert devastating organ involvement without compromising safety. Study conception and design: S.O.C., P.K., and P.C. Data collection and verification: P.C. and P.V. Statistical design and data analysis: P.C., and P.K. Interpretation of results: P.C., P.K., and S.O.C. Draft manuscript preparation: P.C. Patient care: P.K., S.O.C., B.J.L., S.G., E.B., J.D. and team at the University of California, Irvine, for their dedication to patient care and data collection. The authors sincerely thank all patients for their trust and participation in this study. We are also grateful to the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program team at the University of California, Irvine, for their dedication to patient care and data collection. The study was conducted in accordance with STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines for cohort studies. All patients provided written informed consent for transplantation, and for research data collection and reporting, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki [UCI International Review Board (IRB #20206215)]. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.

  PublisherDOI

• Promising Outcomes Using Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Autoimmune Diseases

  Transplantation and Cellular Therapy · 2026-02-01

  articleOpen access

  Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a promising strategy for resetting the immune system and attaining long-term remission in patients with autoimmune diseases (AID). Although traditional myeloablative regimens are effective, they carry considerable risks, whereas reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) offer a safer alternative with encouraging outcomes. This study reports ASCT outcomes at our institution for patients with AID using RIC. Data of adult patients, aged >/=18 years, with AID receiving ASCT between 5/2020- 8/2025 were analyzed. All patients received cyclophosphamide (Cy) 2 g/m 2 + G-CSF stem cell mobilization. Conditioning regimens were either Cy-ATG [(Cy 50 mg/kg/day IV on D-5 to D-2 and ATG on D-5 to D-1 (total dose of 5.5 mg/kg), N=6] or Lite-BEAM-R [(BCNU 300 mg/m 2 , etoposide 100 mg/m 2 and cytarabine 100 mg/m 2 q 12 h on D −5 to D−2, melphalan 100 mg/m 2 on D −1 and Rituximab 375 mg/m 2 on D+1 and D+8); N=17] Twenty-three patients were included in the analysis, including relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS; N=11), primary progressive MS (PPMS; N=7), secondary progressive MS (SPMS; N=2), stiff-person syndrome (SPS; N=2), and systemic sclerosis (N=1). The median age was 43 years (range 30-74). The median duration from diagnosis to ASCT was 4.7 years (range 1.2-16.5), with a median of 3 lines (range 0-6) of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) administered. Indications for transplant included DMT failure (78%, N=18), intolerance (8.6%, N=2), and relapse after first ASCT/cellular therapy (13%, N=3). The median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was 5 (range 3-8), and pre-transplant MRI showed active demyelination lesions in 10 (50%) MS patients. Median hospitalization was 19 days (range 16-30). All patients achieved neutrophil and platelet engraftment by D+30 with median of 11 (range 10-20) and 12 (range 7-27) days, respectively. Twelve of 16 evaluated MS patients (75%) had decreased EDSS >/= 2 and none had active/new MRI lesion at 1 year. Median EDSS for all MS, RRMS, PPMS and SPMS at 1 year was 2 (range 0-7); 1 (range 0-2); 3.5 (range 0-7) and 2.5 (range 2-3) (Figure 1). The Octave® MS disease activity (MSDA) test at 1 year was available in 11 patients with 9, 2 and 0 patients were in low, moderate and high -risk group, respectively. Transplant complications within 100 days were, neutropenic fever (N=8), bacteremia (N=1), COVID pneumonia (N=1) and grade 1-2 mucositis (N=3). Overall survival and progression-free survival, cumulative incidence of relapse and transplant-related mortality at 3 years was 100%, 92%, 8% and 0% respectively. Post-transplant relapse occurred in 2 patients with SPS and PPMS who received Cy-ATG regimen (Figure 1.) RIC ASCT is a safe and effective treatment approach for autoimmune diseases, yielding promising and durable clinical outcomes, without the need for long-term immunosuppression.

  PublisherDOI

• Evaluation of low-intensity treatment strategies and outcomes in patients with accelerated Phase and blast Phase myeloproliferative neoplasms: A hero consortium study

  Blood · 2025-11-03

  article

  Abstract Introduction Patients with accelerated phase or blast phase myeloproliferative neoplasms (AP/BP-MPN) experience poor clinical outcomes and lack standardized treatment. For transplant-eligible patients, guidelines recommend bridging therapy followed by an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT). For transplant-ineligible patients, the optimal lower intensity treatment is unclear. Patients with AP/BP-MPN are underrepresented in AML clinical trials; thus, real-world evidence is critical for identifying the optimal treatment approaches. Methods We performed a multicenter, retrospective cohort study among nine US centers participating in the Hematology Research &amp; Outcomes (HERO) Consortium. Adults (&amp;gt;18 years) with a diagnosis of AP/BP-MPN per WHO criteria who received lower intensity therapy as initial treatment were screened for inclusion. Patients with MDS/MPN overlap and those with incomplete records were excluded. Patients were divided into two main cohorts for analysis: hypomethylating agents (HMA) +/- JAK inhibitor (HMA group), or HMA + venetoclax (ven) +/- JAK inhibitor (HMA+ven group). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary efficacy endpoints included rates of complete response plus complete response with incomplete count recovery (CR/CRi), morphologic-leukemia-free state (MLFS), and partial response (PR). Other secondary endpoints included rates of alloHCT, ven dose and duration, safety outcomes, and other survival endpoints. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used to evaluate dichotomous variables. Continuous variables were analyzed via the Mann-Whitney U test. Overall survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared between treatment groups using the log-rank test. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between treatment and OS, adjusting for age, white blood cell count, hemoglobin (hgb), platelet count, alloHCT, and cytogenetic risk. Hazard ratios (HR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p-values were reported. Statistical significance was defined as a two-sided p value &amp;lt;0.05. Results One hundred eighty-nine patients with AP/BP-MPN were included in this analysis. The median age was 71 years (range, 32-87), 37% were female, and 20% were non-White/Caucasian. The median number of cycles of therapy was 2 (range, 1-45). Ninety-four patients received HMA +/- JAK inhibitor therapy (50%) and 56 received HMA+ven +/- JAK inhibitor (30%); the remaining 39 patients (20%) received alternative low intensity therapies and were not included in this analysis. The initial ven duration was 28 days for 59% of patients and 21 days for 37% of patients. For patients who received &amp;gt;1 ven-containing cycle, 61% had ven durations reduced during subsequent cycles. Baseline characteristics were well-balanced between the HMA and HMA+ven groups, with the exception of median hgb at diagnosis (8.6 g/dL vs. 9.4 g/dL, p=0.009), the choice of HMA (azacitidine 22% vs. decitabine 63%, p&amp;lt;0.0001), the addition of JAK inhibitors to therapy (62% vs. 16%, p&amp;lt;0.0001) and the presence of SRSF2 mutations (12% vs. 31%, p=0.0347). Median OS was 9.2 months in the HMA group and 9.2 months in the HMA+ven group (log-rank p=0.569). The receipt of JAK inhibitors was not associated with improved OS. The rate of alloHCT was not different between the groups (HMA vs. HMA+ven, 14% vs. 18%, p=0.51). On multivariable Cox regression, age (HR 1.04; 95% CI, 1.009-1.065; p=0.008), hgb (HR 0.87; 95% CI, 0.764-0.996; p=0.044), and alloHCT (HR 0.37; 95% CI, 0.192-0.730; p=0.004) were significant predictors of OS; treatment with HMA+ven was not significantly associated with improved OS compared to HMA alone (HR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.55–1.24; p=0.364). The rate of CR/CRi and CR/CRi/MLFS were both higher in the HMA+ven group (36% vs. 11%, p=0.0002 and 52% vs. 16%, p&amp;lt;0.0001). There were no differences in the rate of febrile neutropenia, documented infections, bleeding events, or rate of ICU admission between the two groups. The rate of colitis was numerically higher with HMA+ven but was not statistically significant (11% vs. 2%, p=0.0526). Conclusions This large, multicenter, real-world analysis demonstrated the addition of ven to HMA therapy in patients with AP/BP-MPN was safe and improved response rates but did not translate into an improvement in OS. Younger age, higher hgb at baseline, and alloHCT were significant predictors of improved OS in this population.

  PublisherDOI

• Narsoplimab for refractory transplantation-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) in adult patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT)

  Bone Marrow Transplantation · 2025-04-22 · 3 citations

  letter
  PublisherDOI

• Narsoplimab for Refractory Transplantation-Associated Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TA-TMA) in Adult Patients Receiving Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (AHSCT)

  Transplantation and Cellular Therapy · 2025-02-01 · 2 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• R-DA-EPOCH Versus DA-EPOCH-R: Impact of Chemoimmunotherapy Sequencing on Treatment Outcomes in Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

  Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma & Leukemia · 2025-06-23

  articleOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Ellen R. M. Druffel

  University of California, Irvine

  137 shared

• Herbert Haas

  49 shared

• Pavel P. Povinec

  Comenius University Bratislava

  49 shared

• Brett D. Walker

  University of Ottawa

  24 shared

• James E. Bauer

  The Ohio State University

  17 shared

• Christian B. Lewis

  GNS Science

  16 shared

• Noreen G. Garcia

  University of California, San Diego

  14 shared

• David M. Wolgast

  Scripps Institution of Oceanography

  13 shared

Education

• B.S., Biology

  Boston College

  2010

• Other

  UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy

  2014

Awards & honors

• 2022, American College of Clinical Pharmacy, Hematology/Onco…
• 2023, Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) Early…