Kai Bartkowiak

Kai Bartkowiak is the Head of the Research Group at the Institute of Tumor Biology, part of the Center for Experimental Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), University of Hamburg. His work focuses on advancing liquid biopsy technologies and understanding the biology of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in cancer metastasis.

His research emphasizes identifying novel biomarkers, such as sushi domain-containing protein 2 and CYR61, for early cancer detection and monitoring. Bartkowiak’s studies also explore hypoxia-induced adaptations in tumor cells and their secreted extracellular vesicles, linking metabolic stress to metastatic potential. He collaborates with the European Liquid Biopsy Society (ELBS) to advance non-invasive diagnostic approaches.

Key areas of expertise include proteomics, tumor microenvironment dynamics, and the functional role of proteins in cancer progression. His work bridges basic research and clinical applications, aiming to improve patient outcomes through precision oncology.