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Sophia Karagiannis

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: 

Cancer Antibody Discovery & Immunotherapy Group

    Research

    tubes 1800 x 500 banner.
    Cancer Antibody Discovery & Immunotherapy Group

    The Cancer Antibody Discovery & Immunotherapy Group is led by Professor Sophia Karagiannis

    breast cancer now thumbnail
    Breast Cancer Now Research Unit

    Breast Cancer Now Research Unit

    experimental-oncology
    Experimental Oncology

    The Experimental Oncology Programme is focused on the development of new treatments for solid tumours.

    Project status: Ongoing

    Immunology and Immunotherapy Programme Header
    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...

    Pharmacy lab

    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...

    A person holding white plastic container

    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.

    skin cancer cells 780x450

    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.

    Cancer cells

    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...

    research lab

    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.

    antibodies

    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...

    cancer - main

    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...

    immunotherapy cancer trial

    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...

    cancer-cells-blue

    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...

    antibodies 2000x600

    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...

    Cancer cells

    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.

    drug bottles hero

    • 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

      tubes 1800 x 500 banner.
      Cancer Antibody Discovery & Immunotherapy Group

      The Cancer Antibody Discovery & Immunotherapy Group is led by Professor Sophia Karagiannis

      breast cancer now thumbnail
      Breast Cancer Now Research Unit

      Breast Cancer Now Research Unit

      experimental-oncology
      Experimental Oncology

      The Experimental Oncology Programme is focused on the development of new treatments for solid tumours.

      Project status: Ongoing

      Immunology and Immunotherapy Programme Header
      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...

      Pharmacy lab

      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...

      A person holding white plastic container

      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.

      skin cancer cells 780x450

      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.

      Cancer cells

      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...

      research lab

      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.

      antibodies

      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...

      cancer - main

      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...

      immunotherapy cancer trial

      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...

      cancer-cells-blue

      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...

      antibodies 2000x600

      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...

      Cancer cells

      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.

      drug bottles hero
      • 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