Professor Sophia Karagiannis
Professor of Translational Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy
Research interests
- Medicine
- Cancer
Biography
Sophia Karagiannis is a translational cancer immunologist with academic and biotechnology experience in the USA and UK. She heads a cancer antibody discovery team focused on dissecting the crosstalk between patient immune cells and cancer and on the design of novel agents for solid tumours such as melanoma, ovarian and breast cancers. Key areas of research include evaluating patient-derived B cells and their expressed antibodies, engineering antibodies of any specificity or class/isotype, including Fc-engineered antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates. The group are studying key components of the immune response in solid tumours, including Fc receptor-expressing immune effector cells which interact with and have the potential to be activated by antibodies against cancer.
The Karagiannis group is the first internationally to design, evaluate and translate anti-tumour IgE class antibodies from concept to clinical testing. Karagiannis is founder of Epsilogen Ltd (formerly IGEM Therapeutics Ltd.), the first immuno-oncology company dedicated to developing IgE therapeutic agents for cancer. She is author of several patents on antibody engineering for cancer therapy. She serves as Secretary of the international AllergoOncology consortium, focused on the interface between Th2 immunity, allergies, IgE and cancer, a Working Group of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Visit Professor Karagiannis's group web page:
Research
Cancer Antibody Discovery & Immunotherapy Group
The Cancer Antibody Discovery & Immunotherapy Group is led by Professor Sophia Karagiannis
Breast Cancer Now Research Unit
Breast Cancer Now Research Unit
Experimental Oncology
The Experimental Oncology Programme is focused on the development of new treatments for solid tumours.
Project status: Ongoing
Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy
Cancer Immunology represents a broad field of research that studies host-tumour interactions as therapeutic targets in the treatment of cancer.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Scientists create tailored drug for aggressive breast cancer
Scientists have used breast cancer cells’ weakness against themselves by linking a tumour-selective antibody with a cell-killing drug to destroy hard-to-treat...
Trial shows promise for new antibody cancer treatment
The first ever clinical trial of a new class of immunotherapy for cancer has shown promising results that could benefit patients who do not respond to...
Study uncovers how B cells react to skin cancer
A new study that sheds light on how B cells react to skin cancer cells could pave the way for innovative therapy design.
Study shows promising results for immunotherapy targeting skin cancer
A new class of immunotherapy shows promising results for fighting the most aggressive form of skin cancer.
King's immuno-oncology spin-out gains £30m funding
A spin-out company created by Professor Sophia Karagiannis and Professor James Spicer has secured £30.75 million to support further development and clinical...
Investigating how B cells and antibodies in the immune system respond to breast cancer
New research aims to understand how B cells react to the presence of breast cancer.
King's immuno-oncology company receives £1 million grant to develop treatments for cancer
A spin-out company created by Professor Sophia Karagiannis and Professor James Spicer has secured a second Smart Grant of £1 million from the UK’s innovation...
New class of immunotherapy drug shows promise in early clinical trial
Results are disclosed today from the world’s first clinical trial of a new class of immunotherapy drugs which fight cancer using one of the body’s natural...
Features
Transforming cancer care at King's
King’s is the site of future breakthroughs, transforming cancer care and therapies through innovative research. An injection of philanthropic donations...
5 minutes with... Sophia Karagiannis
Sophia Karagiannis is Professor of Translational Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy in the St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic & Medical...
Spotlight
How King's continues to tackle cancer and support cancer care and research
Saturday 4 February marks World Cancer Day. In order to honour this key date, we have highlighted some of the most important cancer-themed stories that have...
Researchers develop and trial new class of immunotherapy drug to fight cancer
Immunotherapy works by stimulating the body’s natural defence system to attack cancer.
- 5BBB0206 Tissue Pathology
- 6BBB0347 Biomedical Diagnostics
- 6BBYG307 Cancer Genetics
- 7MCEMM03 Immune Disorders and Infection
- 7MMOC003 Fundamentals of Translational Cancer Medicine
- 7MJDER01 MSc Theoretical Dermatology
Module Lead
- 6BBI0305 Immunology and Immunotherapy of Cancer
PGR Coordinator, St John's Institute of Dermatology
Research
Cancer Antibody Discovery & Immunotherapy Group
The Cancer Antibody Discovery & Immunotherapy Group is led by Professor Sophia Karagiannis
Breast Cancer Now Research Unit
Breast Cancer Now Research Unit
Experimental Oncology
The Experimental Oncology Programme is focused on the development of new treatments for solid tumours.
Project status: Ongoing
Cancer Immunology & Immunotherapy
Cancer Immunology represents a broad field of research that studies host-tumour interactions as therapeutic targets in the treatment of cancer.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Scientists create tailored drug for aggressive breast cancer
Scientists have used breast cancer cells’ weakness against themselves by linking a tumour-selective antibody with a cell-killing drug to destroy hard-to-treat...
Trial shows promise for new antibody cancer treatment
The first ever clinical trial of a new class of immunotherapy for cancer has shown promising results that could benefit patients who do not respond to...
Study uncovers how B cells react to skin cancer
A new study that sheds light on how B cells react to skin cancer cells could pave the way for innovative therapy design.
Study shows promising results for immunotherapy targeting skin cancer
A new class of immunotherapy shows promising results for fighting the most aggressive form of skin cancer.
King's immuno-oncology spin-out gains £30m funding
A spin-out company created by Professor Sophia Karagiannis and Professor James Spicer has secured £30.75 million to support further development and clinical...
Investigating how B cells and antibodies in the immune system respond to breast cancer
New research aims to understand how B cells react to the presence of breast cancer.
King's immuno-oncology company receives £1 million grant to develop treatments for cancer
A spin-out company created by Professor Sophia Karagiannis and Professor James Spicer has secured a second Smart Grant of £1 million from the UK’s innovation...
New class of immunotherapy drug shows promise in early clinical trial
Results are disclosed today from the world’s first clinical trial of a new class of immunotherapy drugs which fight cancer using one of the body’s natural...
Features
Transforming cancer care at King's
King’s is the site of future breakthroughs, transforming cancer care and therapies through innovative research. An injection of philanthropic donations...
5 minutes with... Sophia Karagiannis
Sophia Karagiannis is Professor of Translational Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy in the St. John’s Institute of Dermatology, School of Basic & Medical...
Spotlight
How King's continues to tackle cancer and support cancer care and research
Saturday 4 February marks World Cancer Day. In order to honour this key date, we have highlighted some of the most important cancer-themed stories that have...
Researchers develop and trial new class of immunotherapy drug to fight cancer
Immunotherapy works by stimulating the body’s natural defence system to attack cancer.
- 5BBB0206 Tissue Pathology
- 6BBB0347 Biomedical Diagnostics
- 6BBYG307 Cancer Genetics
- 7MCEMM03 Immune Disorders and Infection
- 7MMOC003 Fundamentals of Translational Cancer Medicine
- 7MJDER01 MSc Theoretical Dermatology
Module Lead
- 6BBI0305 Immunology and Immunotherapy of Cancer
PGR Coordinator, St John's Institute of Dermatology