Keith L. Knutson

Keith L. Knutson, Ph.D., is a Professor of Immunology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, with joint appointments in the Department of Immunology and the Department of Cancer Biology. Since 2024, he has served as the Leader of the David F. and Margaret T. Grohne Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapeutics Research Program within the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. His work bridges basic science and clinical translation in cancer immunology, with a focus on breast and ovarian cancers.

Dr. Knutson's research interests include:

• Development of breast cancer vaccines, particularly for triple-negative and HER2-positive subtypes
• Augmentation of CD4+ helper T cell immunity through peptide epitope vaccines
• Adoptive T cell therapy and in vitro generation of memory T cells
• Understanding mechanisms of immune evasion, including regulatory T cell recruitment and epithelial-mesenchymal transition

His recent publications highlight a strong focus on neoantigens, immune checkpoint therapies, and tumor microenvironment dynamics, with high-impact articles in journals such as Clinical Cancer Research, Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer, and Blood Advances. The research trends reflect a sustained effort in translational immunotherapy, combining vaccine strategies with checkpoint inhibitors like pembrolizumab and exploring combination therapies for aggressive cancers.

Scientific awards and recognitions include:

• Andrew A. and Mary S. Sugg Professor of Cancer Research (2021)
• Principal Investigator, Breakthrough Award, Breast Cancer Research Program, U.S. Department of Defense (2016–2021)
• Multiple active NIH and DoD grants, including a $13.3 million project to prevent recurrence in triple-negative breast cancer

Dr. Knutson has held significant leadership in federally funded research projects, including as Principal Investigator on studies involving Th17-inducing dendritic cells, HER2 vaccines, and immune suppression following checkpoint blockade. He is actively involved in clinical trials and translational science through the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCaTS) and the David F. and Margaret T. Grohne Program. His laboratory contributes to core facilities such as the Cytometry and Cell Imaging Core and Discovery and Translation Labs, fostering collaborative, multidisciplinary research.