Karen Anderson

Dr. Karen Anderson is a Professor at Arizona State University (ASU), affiliated with the School of Life Sciences, the Biodesign Center for Personalized Diagnostics, and the College of Health Solutions. Her research focuses on tumor biology and immune system interactions in cancer, particularly developing biomarkers for early detection of cancers like breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and HPV-related cancers. She employs molecular techniques such as protein arrays, next-gen sequencing, and functional genomics to identify therapeutic targets and vaccine candidates.

Education: Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology (Duke University), M.D. from Duke University School of Medicine, and B.A. in Chemistry (University of Virginia).

Research interests include cancer immunotherapy, autoantibody profiling, and translational applications of proteomics. Key achievements include pioneering autoantibody-based biomarker assays and investigating HPV serology in head and neck cancers. Awards include the Health Care Heroes Award and recognition as one of Arizona's Most Influential Women.

Teaching responsibilities include courses on research techniques and honors thesis supervision. Grants span biomarker validation, cancer genomics, and point-of-care diagnostics. Active in professional service, including roles in grant review panels and public health initiatives.