Dr. Thomas Karikari, Ph.D., serves as the Director of the Biofluid Biomarker Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, he oversees the Mass Spectrometry Program and the Single Molecule Array Biomarker Program within the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Karikari also leads the Fluid Biomarker Core of the recently renewed National Institute on Aging Alzheimer’s Program Project Grant.

Dr. Karikari is internationally recognized for his expertise in the discovery, method development, technical validation, and implementation of biofluid biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. His research program spans both fundamental and translational science, with a strong emphasis on clinical applications. He has contributed to several prestigious committees that provide recommendations on fluid biomarker discovery and clinical utilization.

The Karikari Laboratory is dedicated to investigating the biochemical and molecular underpinnings of neurodegenerative diseases affecting the human brain and biofluids. The laboratory employs advanced mass spectrometric and biochemical technologies to develop and validate clinical biomarkers. Notable achievements include the development of the first commercially available plasma p-tau181 assay, which is now widely used, along with immunoassay methods for plasma p-tau212, p-tau217, and p-tau231. Recently, the Karikari Laboratory introduced an innovative plasma brain-derived tau marker, specifically targeting tau protein originating from the central nervous system. The laboratory has also established a streamlined, resource-efficient immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry method for quantifying plasma amyloid beta peptides. These biomarkers have undergone rigorous validation across numerous research and clinical cohorts and are extensively utilized in therapeutic trials, diagnostic processes, prognostic assessments, and research studies.

Dr. Karikari brings extensive experience in establishing and managing clinical chemistry laboratories, developing and implementing standard operating procedures, and standardizing preanalytical protocols for the collection, measurement, and analysis of biospecimens, including cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. He has created preanalytical procedures designed to simplify blood collection and processing, making them more applicable for community-based studies and resource-limited settings. The Karikari Laboratory excels in managing large-scale projects involving sample handling, biomarker measurements, and the processing and interpretation of results from thousands of samples.