About
CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and former CEO of the American Cancer Society. Serves on the boards of AstraZeneca and several biotech companies.
Experience
- Parker Institute for Cancer ImmunotherapyChief Executive Officer and Executive Directorcurrent2025 — present
- AstraZenecaBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
- Exai BioBoard Membercurrent2024 — present
- Paradigm HealthBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
- 3T BiosciencesBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
- ArteraAIBoard Advisorcurrent2023 — present
- TranscarentStrategic Advisor, Cancer Carecurrent2025 — present
- CellCentricAdvisory Board Membercurrent2025 — present
- GenentechAdvisory Board Membercurrent2019 — present
- Thomas Jefferson UniversityProfessor Emeritacurrent2020 — present
- Thomas Jefferson UniversityEndowed Professor of Cancer Biology, Radiation Oncology, Urology, and Medical Oncologycurrent2007 — present
- Thomas Jefferson UniversityChair and Hilary Koprowski Professor, Department of Cancer Biology2015 — 2021
- Thomas Jefferson UniversityDeputy Director, NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center2012 — 2015Philadelphia, PA
- Thomas Jefferson UniversityVice Provost2014 — 2015
- Research!America: Discovery. Innovation. Health.Board Member2023 — 2025
- American Cancer SocietyExecutive Strategic Advisor & Immediate Past CEO2024 — 2025
- American Cancer SocietyCEO, American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Action Network2021 — 2024
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)Board Member, Board of Scientific Advisors2018 — 2024
- Association of American Cancer InstitutesPresident and Board Chair2020 — 2021
- Association of American Cancer InstitutesPresident Elect2018 — 2020
- American Association for Cancer ResearchMember Board of Directors2019 — 2021
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson HealthEVP Oncology Services & Enterprise Director, NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson2015 — 2021Greater Philadelphia Area
- University of CincinnatiAssociate Professor (with tenure) of Cancer Biology2005 — 2007
- University of CincinnatiAssistant Professor of Cancer Biology2000 — 2005
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer ResearchPostdoctoral Fellow1996 — 1999La Jolla, California
Skills & more
Board Governance1Board LevelBoard level experienceNon-profit Board LeadershipBoard LeadershipResearch33Training5Academic Medicine5Cancer Research29Healthcare19Cancer41Management13
+1 more
LeadershipFrom Karen's professional profile.
Colleagues at Oncology Ventures
Ben Freeberg
Founder, Managing Partner at Oncology Ventures
Brad Hively
Advisor at Oncology Ventures
David Cohn
Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer at Oncology Ventures
Diana Verrilli
General Manager, Navista (a Cardinal Health company) at Oncology Ventures
Emily Melton
Investor at Threshold Ventures
Harlan Levine
President of Health Innovation and Policy at Oncology Ventures
Jason Shook
Chief Operating Officer at Oncology Ventures
Jay Freeberg
Chief Financial Officer at Oncology Ventures
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Karen Knudsen?
- CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and former CEO of the American Cancer Society. Serves on the boards of AstraZeneca and several biotech companies.
- Where does Karen Knudsen work?
- Karen Knudsen is Advisor at Oncology Ventures.
- Where did Karen Knudsen go to school?
- Karen Knudsen studied at UC San Diego (Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Molecular Biology); Fox School of Business at Temple University (Master of Business Administration - MBA); The George Washington University (BS Biology).
Same school
Also attended UC San Diego333
Elad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalMark SusterManaging Partner at Upfront VenturesChester NgGeneral Partner at AtomicBirgitteInvestor at InvestinorHouman HaghighiPartner, Business & Corporate Development at Menlo VenturesFreya Svedberg-KeatingInvestor at Medicxi
+ 327 more
Also attended Fox School of Business at Temple University25
Alex PoulinPartner at Lavrock VenturesAngelo VallettaPresident & CEO at Ben Franklin Technology PartnersMahmood IbrahimPartner - Investor Relations at Signal Peak VenturesMark DeSantisAdvisor at Cybernetix VenturesDean SciorilloManaging Director at EnerTech CapitalJoe LiebermanManaging Partner at K20 Fund
+ 19 more
Also attended The George Washington University250
RustyAdvisor at Clear VenturesDonna HoyleVice President & Controller at RevolutionMathew KayeAccounting Manager at RevolutionMeghan FahyDirector of Marketing at GreycroftMaurice RussoInvestor at Lerer HippeauZach CollinsPartner at Mission Biocapital
+ 244 more
Shared employers
Also worked at AstraZeneca70
Detlev BiniszkiewiczManaging Director at MPM BioImpactBriggs MorrisonEntrepreneur Partner at MPM BioImpactJung Lee, PhDVenture Partner at Adelphi Ventures Management, LlcJohan LundVenture Partner at ScietyIliam BarkinoInvestor at IndustrifondenSara JawadInvestor at Industrifonden
+ 64 more
Also worked at 3T Biosciences1
Also worked at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health1
Also worked at University of Cincinnati11
Emma OffCEO, President, & Partner at CincyTechRyan HaysBoard Member at CincyTechShashank SaxenaInvestor at Sierra VenturesJon CottrellDirector, M&A Advisory at eGateway CapitalRajat BhageriaPartner at Afore CapitalJosh HarrisFounder and Managing General Partner at Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
+ 5 more