Career

Karen Knudsen: Honored to share that I’ve taken the helm of Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy as CEO

Karen Knudsen/LinkedIn

Apr 1, 2025, 08:52

Karen Knudsen: Honored to share that I’ve taken the helm of Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy as CEO

Karen Knudsen, CEO of Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“What drives me – always – are the people. Cancer patients and their families come first, and I feel a strong sense of urgency to get innovation into the hands of those who need it most, faster.

Today, I’m honored to share that I’ve taken the helm of Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy (PICI) as CEO.

I’m proud to lead an organization built to do what traditional systems often can’t: accelerate the timeline from bold discovery to patient impact.

We’re in a pivotal moment for cancer science. Despite historic breakthroughs, there are real headwinds – policy shifts, market volatility, and funding instability threaten to slow progress. But PICI is built for this challenge.

Founded ten years ago through the visionary leadership of Sean Parker, PICI unites top scientists, clinicians, and institutions in a national model that funds high-risk, high-reward science, and ensures that promising ideas don’t stall. We go well beyond discovery, actively advancing clinical testing and company creation to get therapies to market faster.

To date, PICI-supported ventures have raised over $4B and are targeting some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers. From mRNA cancer vaccines to next-gen immunotherapy strategies, the work is bold, focused, and deeply collaborative.

I’ve spent my career at the intersection of science, healthcare, strategy, and mission – leading major academic cancer centers, transforming national organizations, and working alongside partners across biotech and policy.

What I’ve learned is this: science alone isn’t enough. We need infrastructure, capital, and a shared sense of urgency to translate innovation into cures.

PICI is that model. And we’re just getting started. Let’s GO!”

Karen Knudsen has been appointed as the CEO of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy