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Karen Knudsen

Investor

Advisor at Oncology Ventures

Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, United States

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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

  1. Parker Institute for Cancer ImmunotherapyChief Executive Officer and Executive Directorcurrent2025 — present
  2. AstraZenecaBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
  3. Exai BioBoard Membercurrent2024 — present
  4. Paradigm HealthBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
  5. 3T BiosciencesBoard Membercurrent2025 — present
  6. ArteraAIBoard Advisorcurrent2023 — present
  7. TranscarentStrategic Advisor, Cancer Carecurrent2025 — present
  8. CellCentricAdvisory Board Membercurrent2025 — present
  9. GenentechAdvisory Board Membercurrent2019 — present
  10. Thomas Jefferson UniversityProfessor Emeritacurrent2020 — present
  11. Thomas Jefferson UniversityEndowed Professor of Cancer Biology, Radiation Oncology, Urology, and Medical Oncologycurrent2007 — present
  12. Thomas Jefferson UniversityChair and Hilary Koprowski Professor, Department of Cancer Biology2015 — 2021
  13. Thomas Jefferson UniversityDeputy Director, NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center2012 — 2015Philadelphia, PA
  14. Thomas Jefferson UniversityVice Provost2014 — 2015
  15. Research!America: Discovery. Innovation. Health.Board Member2023 — 2025
  16. American Cancer SocietyExecutive Strategic Advisor & Immediate Past CEO2024 — 2025
  17. American Cancer SocietyCEO, American Cancer Society and American Cancer Society Action Network2021 — 2024
  18. National Cancer Institute (NCI)Board Member, Board of Scientific Advisors2018 — 2024
  19. Association of American Cancer InstitutesPresident and Board Chair2020 — 2021
  20. Association of American Cancer InstitutesPresident Elect2018 — 2020
  21. American Association for Cancer ResearchMember Board of Directors2019 — 2021
  22. Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson HealthEVP Oncology Services & Enterprise Director, NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson2015 — 2021Greater Philadelphia Area
  23. University of CincinnatiAssociate Professor (with tenure) of Cancer Biology2005 — 2007
  24. University of CincinnatiAssistant Professor of Cancer Biology2000 — 2005
  25. Ludwig Institute for Cancer ResearchPostdoctoral Fellow1996 — 1999La Jolla, California

Skills & more

Board Governance1Board LevelBoard level experienceNon-profit Board LeadershipBoard LeadershipResearch33Training5Academic Medicine5Cancer Research29Healthcare19Cancer41Management13
+1 moreLeadership

From 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

Shared employers

Also worked at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health1

Elizabeth Cho-FertikhManaging Partner at MEDA Ventures