Meet MSK Kids Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist Matthias Karajannis
Meet MSK Kids Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist Matthias Karajannis
Matthias A. Karajannis, MD, MS
Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist
Titles
Chief, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Service
Clinical Expertise
Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors; Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors; Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Neurofibromatosis
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New Patient Appointments
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Dr. Karajannis accepts the following list of insurance providers. Select your insurance provider to see more details.
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant
Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, PPO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO PPO, POS
Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): Supplemental
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): POS, EPO, HMO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO
Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO
Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO, DSN
Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO
Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO
Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO
Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO, HMO, PPO, POS
Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO
Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, PPO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO EPO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO
Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO
Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO
Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government
Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government
Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): Federal Government
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): Supplemental
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO/OAP
Payor Type: Other
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): TBD
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO/EPO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, EPO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS
Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO
Contact and Location
- 212-639-3171 Office Phone
- Speaks English and German

Memorial Sloan Kettering has locations throughout New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Westchester. These locations offer many services, including screening, chemotherapy, and medical testing.
See all locationsAbout Me
Education
MS, New York University School of Medicine; MD, Free University Berlin
Residencies
Pediatrics – Duke University Medical Center
Fellowships
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Pediatric Neuro-Oncology – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Board Certifications
General Pediatrics; Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
I am a pediatric neuro-oncologist who cares for children with brain tumors, spinal cord tumors, and neurofibromatosis, as I have for the past two decades. As Chief of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering, I feel privileged to be part of a community of some of the most dedicated clinicians and scientists in the world. On the MSK Kids team, we are all committed to our young patients and share a drive to improve their diagnosis and treatment.
Read more
I went to medical school during a time when rapid progress was being made to treat children with cancer using chemotherapy, particularly children with leukemia. I witnessed how collaboration, laboratory research, and clinical research turned once-deadly cancers into curable diseases. After completing my pediatric residency training and a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology, I decided to pursue additional training in pediatric neuro-oncology. I realized that despite the progress that had been made, many children with brain tumors were not doing well. There is an urgent need for new therapies that are more effective and have fewer side effects.
At MSK, we have the most skilled and experienced medical and surgical experts caring for children with brain tumors. First and foremost, we rely on one another to make the most accurate diagnosis. Because of advances in our understanding of the molecular roots of cancer, we now have the unprecedented ability to distinguish brain tumors that may look alike under the microscope but behave and respond to treatment differently. This enhanced understanding also lets us identify weaknesses in tumors that we can target with special drugs. This approach, called precision medicine, is changing the way we care for children with brain tumors and has tremendous potential.
Once we have learned what kind of tumor a child has, our team of experts — together with our patients and their families — creates a personalized care plan. Some children with low-grade or noncancerous tumors may only need to be watched. Those with more aggressive cancers may need surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. All of these treatments are available at MSK. We also have a strong clinical trials program for children with brain tumors. These patients may be able to receive promising new treatments. Our goal for every child is a cure while minimizing the side effects of treatment.
In addition to caring for patients, I conduct research. My research translates clinical observations and findings from the laboratory into better ways to diagnose and treat children and young adults with brain tumors. I am currently the principal investigator of several early-phase clinical trials to find new treatments for people with neurofibromatosis. This inherited condition predisposes people to nervous system tumors. I am also serving in leadership roles and as study chair in multicenter clinical trial groups, such as the Children’s Oncology Group, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, and the Neurofibromatosis Clinical Trials Consortium.
I recognize that a cancer diagnosis is perhaps the most difficult and challenging time in the life of a child and their family. Each situation is unique. To that end, all patients and families can rest assured that our experts will be with them throughout the entire experience — from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship. We are a team, and we are here to make sure that our patients receive the very best care available.
All patients and families can rest assured that our experts will be with them throughout the entire experience — from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship.
-Dr. Karajannis
Colleagues
Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.
Clinical Trials
- Clinical Trials Investigated by Dr. Karajannis
- A Phase I/II Study of Alectinib in Children and Adolescents with Solid Tumors or Central Nervous System Tumors Containing a Change in the ALK Gene
- A Phase II Study Assessing the Use of Omburtamab Radioimmunotherapy for Recurrent Medulloblastoma and Ependymoma in Children and Adolescents
- A Phase II Study of Crizotinib for Children and Adults with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Progressive Vestibular Schwannomas
- Clinical Trials Co-Investigated by Dr. Karajannis
- A Phase I Study of APX005M Immunotherapy in Pediatric Patients with Persistent or Recurrent Brain Tumors and Newly Diagnosed Brain Stem Glioma
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- A Phase I Study of Savolitinib in Patients with Recurrent or Persistent Medulloblastoma, High-Grade Glioma, or Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
- A Phase I/II Study of Selinexor and Radiation Therapy for Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma and High-Grade Glioma
- A Pilot Study of SurVaxM in Children and Young Adults with Progressive or Relapsed Medulloblastoma, High-Grade Glioma, or Ependymoma or Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.
You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.
Search clinical trialsResearch and Publications
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Karajannis’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
See all on PubMedPatient Reviews
At MSK, we’re committed to delivering the best care to every patient. We use feedback from our patients to continue to improve our care. We also post patient reviews online to help you make healthcare choices. Learn more about our patient experience reviews.
Disclosures
Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.
MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.
Matthias A. Karajannis discloses the following relationships and financial interests:
-
Cardinal Health
Provision of Services -
QED Therapeutics, Inc.
Provision of Services
-
Recursion Pharmaceuticals
Provision of Services
If you’re a patient at MSK and would like more information about your doctor’s external relationships, please talk with your doctor.
The information published here is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.
This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2021 through disclosure submission in spring 2022). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.
Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].