About Dr. Karen E. Knudsen
Global Scientific Leader | Healthcare Executive | Policy Strategist | Catalyst for Innovation and Growth
Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, MBA, PhD, is a globally recognized CEO, scientist, and strategic leader with over three decades of experience driving innovation across academic medicine, nonprofit leadership, healthcare delivery, and the biotech sector. Renowned for integrating science, business strategy, and policy, she has dedicated her career to improving patient outcomes and accelerating impact across the cancer ecosystem.
Dr. Knudsen currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI), leading a pioneering organization committed to fast-tracking the development and delivery of breakthrough immune-based cancer therapies. PICI uniquely backs high-risk, high-reward science and provides the infrastructure to transition discoveries from the lab to clinical application. To date, the institute has supported the launch of 17 biotech ventures that have collectively raised over $4 billion in capital to address some of the most challenging cancers.
In addition to her leadership at PICI, Dr. Knudsen serves on the Boards of Paradigm Health, ExaiBio, and Research!America, and as a Board Advisor to Transcarent and ArteraAI. She also advises CellCentric, serves on the Scientific Review Board for Genentech, and is a member of the External Advisory Boards for several NCI-designated cancer centers across the U.S.
Previously, Dr. Knudsen was the Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). Under her leadership, ACS transformed into a unified, high-performing organization, impacting over 55 million lives annually through cancer discovery, advocacy, and direct patient support. Her strategic initiatives led to a 30% increase in annual revenues and record-breaking mission investments, earning ACS its first-ever top rating from Charity Navigator.
Prior to her tenure at ACS, Dr. Knudsen served as Executive Vice President of Oncology Services for Jefferson Health and Enterprise Director of the NCI-designated Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. She began with oversight of a 3-hospital system and led strategic growth,-- including mergers, acquisitions, and program expansion-- that grew into a 16-hospital, multi-state cancer care system. Dr. Knudsen developed and scaled an integrated oncology service line, broadened access to cutting-edge clinical trials through advanced care hubs, and ensured alignment between research and care delivery across the enterprise.
An accomplished researcher and policy leader, Dr. Knudsen is widely recognized for her discoveries in prostate cancer. Her translational studies have resulted in new clinical trials targeting DNA repair, cell cycle, and hormonal regulation pathways in patients with advanced disease. Notable discoveries include identifying RB tumor suppressor loss as a major mechanism of therapeutic bypass and elucidating the androgen-DNA repair axis. Her work was among the first to propose the use of PARP inhibitors for advanced prostate cancer, now an FDA-approved treatment for selected cases.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Knudsen’s scientific and leadership contributions have been recognized with numerous national and international honors, including:
• Allen Lichter Visionary Leader Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
• Richard E. Weitzman Laureate Award, Endocrine Society
• Sophie Yen Award for Distinguished Training in Translational Research
• Forbes 50 Over 50: Women of Impact
• CNBC Changemaker
• QVC Quintessential 50
• Recognition from the Prostate Cancer Foundation for groundbreaking research
She is an active member of the CNBC CEO Council, The Wall Street Journal CEO Council, and the Milken Institute Executive Circle.
Personal Philosophy
Dr. Knudsen believes in the power of collaboration, resilience, and execution. She strives to inspire others to pursue their purpose with clarity and determination, grounded in the belief that science and strategy, when aligned, can drive transformative change.
Through this website, Dr. Knudsen shares insights, experiences, and ongoing work in the mission to defeat cancer. Whether you are a fellow researcher, a healthcare professional, a policymaker, or someone passionate about the future of medicine, she welcomes collaboration, conversation, and innovation.
Connect with Dr. Knudsen
Thank you for visiting. Please explore the site to learn more about Dr. Knudsen’s work, read her latest publications, and discover how you can join her in the mission to create a world without cancer.
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