Professor of Cell Biology at Sorbonne University's Faculty of Science and Engineering, Sonia-Athina Karabina works at the interface of genetics, immunology, and inflammation. After a PhD in human lipoprotein biochemistry (University of Ioannina, Greece), an American Heart Association fellowship at Emory University (USA), and a Marie Curie incoming fellowship to France, she shifted her focus from cardiovascular research to exploring inflammasomes, signaling complexes that drive human disease mechanisms.

Since 2010, she co-leads a research thematic at INSERM UMRS 933 focused on elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms of rare hereditary autoinflammatory diseases. She also holds leadership roles in European and international initiatives, including ImmunAID (H2020) and ERDERA (Horizon Europe).

Rare diseases constitute an important global health challenge, particularly in regions with limited access to advanced diagnostics and clinical expertise. This underlines the need for expanded training, strengthened clinical networks, and international cooperation. Her lab focuses on the identification and functional validation of genetic variants implicated in autoinflammatory disorders, with a particular emphasis on innate immune pathways. By linking genotype to cellular dysfunction, the work of her lab aims to refine diagnosis, elucidate disease mechanisms, and contribute to global awareness and capacity-building in the field of rare inflammatory diseases.