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Dr Karin Hellner

Dr Karin Hellner

Biography & Research


I received my medical degree from the Humboldt-University of Berlin in 2003 and split my specialist training in Obstetrics & Gynaecology between the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, in Germany, and Oxford.

I spent 4 years as a postdoctoral research fellow at Harvard Medical School / Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston, USA, where I have been working on the molecular mechanisms of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated carcinogenesis and drug discovery strategies for cervical cancer.

I joined the University of Oxford in 2011 as a Clinical Lecturer and was appointed as Senior Fellow in Women's Health in 2017.

I have a strong clinical interest in HPV associated cervical disease and am leading a research program in the field of the molecular basis and clinical management of cervical dysplasia. I am the lead consultant for Oxford's colposcopy service and Principal Investigator of multiple national and international clinical trials.

In addition, I am a board member of the British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (BSCCP) representing the South-East of England, a BSCCP accredited colposcopy trainer and elected member of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI). In my spare time I volunteer as expert reviewer for Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust Charity.

Refferals

For colposcopy related queries please contact my NHS secretary Ms Jade Hovell on jade.hovell@ouh.nhs.uk.

For private patient referrals please contact my private secretary Ms Sarah Oakes at admin@oxfordcolposcopy.com.

Karin Hellner

MD PhD


Senior Fellow in Women's Health

  • Group Leader & Principal Investigator
  • Cancer Theme Lead
  • Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Clinical Lead for Colposcopy
  • Chief-Investigator, APOLLO-Trial (Therapeutic HPV-Vaccine)
  • BSCCP Representative for South-East England

My research focusses on high-risk HPV and strategies to eradicate HPV associated disease.

Clinical Trials

We are carrying out a number of research studies to help us design and test new treatments for cervical abnormalities caused by infection with oncogenic HPV.

Therapeutic HPV Vaccine

**This trial is now closed for recruitment**

HPV001 is investigating the broadest therapeutic vaccine to show efficacy against cervical abnormalities associated with 5 of the most common high-risk HPV types and is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving trial sites across the UK and Europe. Oxford is the lead trial site and we are now open for recruitment. Read more about the study in The Guardian. If you are interested, please contact the research team on hpv-study@wrh.ox.ac.uk.

HPV Immunity study

**This study is no longer enrolling**

This trial aims to find out how the immune system clears high-risk HPV, the viruses that cause cervical cancer (http://www.jenner.ac.uk/hpv). The study has been looking at HPV induced immunity and clearance in healthy women aged 16-55 years and women with a history of persistent HPV and cervical lesions.

Research groups

Group members

  • Dr Gemma Hancock (Senior Postdoc in Reproductive Immunology)
  • Lisa Buck (Research Midwife & Study Coordinator APOLLO)
  • Dr Maria Isabella Sereni (Sub-Investigator APOLLO)
  • Dr Gordana Fricker (Sub-Investigator APOLLO)
  • Tabitha Wishlade (Research Midwife)
  • Kelly Barrett (Research Nurse)
  • Sarah Hutchinson (Research Technican)

Key publications

Recent publications

More publications