Nikki K. Lytle

Nikki K. Lytle, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin, appointed in 2022. She specializes in cancer biology with focus on cell state plasticity in tumor evolution and metastasis. She completed her PhD at UCSD in 2018 and postdoctoral training at the Salk Institute.

Research examines mechanisms driving tumor initiation and metastasis in pancreatic and breast cancers, with emphasis on microenvironmental influences. Current projects investigate epigenetic determinants of metastatic potential using patient-derived models and single-cell analyses.

Publications consistently explore tumor microenvironment dynamics, with recent emphasis on epigenetic regulation and intercellular signaling. Recognized with a Hope Funds Fellowship for innovative cancer research approaches.