Dr Karin Hellner
Contact information
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
- Principal Investigator
- Group Lead "Oxford HPV Research"
- Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Clinical Lead for Colposcopy
- Chief-Investigator, APOLLO-Trial (Therapeutic HPV-Vaccine)
- Departmental Cancer Theme Lead
- 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 Postdoctoral Researcher)
- Lisa Buck (Research Midwive, Study Coordinator APOLLO)
- Dr Maria Isabella Sereni (Sub-Investigator APOLLO)
- Kelly Barrett (Research Nurse)
- Sarah Hutchinson (Research Technican)
- Mr Hooman Soleymani majd (Consultant Gynae-Oncologist, Lead for Cervical Tissue Banking)
- Dr Lucy Dorrell (Visiting Professor in Reproductive Immunology)
Key publications
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Therapeutic HPV vaccines
Journal article
Hancock G. et al, (2018), Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 47, 59 - 72
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Recent advances in understanding and preventing human papillomavirus-related disease
Journal article
Hellner K. and Dorrell L., (2017), F1000Research, 6, 269 - 269
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Human Papillomaviruses As Therapeutic Targets in Human Cancer
Journal article
Hellner K. and Münger K., (2011), Journal of Clinical Oncology, 29, 1785 - 1794
Recent publications
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Elevated basophil count is associated with increased risk of endometriosis.
Journal article
Feng Q. et al, (2024), Reprod Fertil
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Prognostic characteristics, recurrence patterns, and survival outcomes of vulval squamous cell carcinoma - A twelve-year retrospective analysis of a tertiary centre.
Journal article
Darwish A. et al, (2024), Eur J Surg Oncol, 50