Junior Research Group

Intelligent Systems and Robotics in Urology

  • Imaging and Radiooncology
  • DKFZ Hector Cancer Institute
  • Clinical Cooperation Unit
  • Junior Research Group
Priv. Doz. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Kowalewski

Priv. Doz. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Kowalewski

Arbeitsgruppenleiter

Traditionally, surgical disciplines like Urology have relied on surgeons' intraoperative situational awareness and their interpretations of the surgical field and anatomy. However, recent advances in artificial intelligence and its subdomains have opened up exciting possibilities for real-time analysis of vast amounts of data and video streams to assist the surgeon. Our research group is actively engaged in developing, validating, and translating these AI methods into practical clinical care.

Our Research

To harness this potential, we gather and analyze information accumulated from various devices during surgeries. After thorough processing by means of segmentation and annotation, valuable surgical datasets are created. These datasets serve as the foundation for creating and testing models that offer surgical assistance and decision-making support.

One additional focus of our research lies in augmented intraoperative tissue assessment, where we employ cutting-edge biophotonics technologies such as hyperspectral imaging and fluorescence. These techniques enable real-time analysis of oxygen saturation and perfusion, empowering surgeons with enhanced abilities to evaluate tissue properties on the spot and make well-informed decisions during surgery.

However, the integration of these advanced techniques into daily surgical practice is still limited due to the lack of high-level evidence supporting their effectiveness. To overcome this barrier, our research group is committed to conducting large-scale clinical trials to rigorously test these technologies. This will enable safe and meaningful implementation of intelligent systems into routine care for more precise oncological surgery. This will ultimately benefit both patients and caregivers, ensuring better outcomes and improved healthcare services.

Team

  • Employee image

    Priv. Doz. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Kowalewski

    Arbeitsgruppenleiter

  • Employee image

    Gloria Baumann

  • Employee image

    Birger Bautz

    Medizinische Doktorandin - Biophotonik

  • Employee image

    Johannes Braun

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    Dr. Luisa Egen

    Clinician Scientist - Biophotonik

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    Wahid Fattal

    Medizinischer Doktorand - DeepTRUS

  • Employee image

    Leonard Fobker

    Medizinischer Doktroand - DeepTRUS

  • Employee image

    Caelan Haney

    Medical lead

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    Emily Höll

    HiWi - Biophotonik

  • Employee image

    Moritz Hommel

    Medizinischer Doktorand - Biophotonik

  • Employee image

    Karina Kämpfert

    Medizinische Doktorandin - DeepTRUS

  • Employee image

    Vera Klütz

    PhD Studentin - Biophotonik

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    Jiri Lehmberg

    Medizinischer Doktorand - MYSCUS

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    Maurin Mangold

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    Bruno Reible

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    Luisa Renner

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    Seyed Reza Seif

    Masterstudent - DeepTRUS

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    Alexander Studier-Fischer

  • Employee image

    Samantha Thauer

    HiWi - Biophotonik

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    Antonia Thiele

    Medizinische Doktorandin - AIM-PRO

  • Employee image

    Tianmu Wang

    Medizinischer Doktorand - DeepTRUS

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    Maximilian Wessendorf

    Medizinischer Doktorand - DeepTRUS

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    Nektarios Winter

    PhD Student - DeepTRUS

Selected Publications

2016 - Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques 33(11): p.3732-3740
2023 - Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques 31(5): p. 2155-2165
2021 - Annals of Surgery 273(4): p. 684-693
2024 - European Urology Oncology 7(1): p. 91-97

Get in touch with us

Employee image
Priv. Doz. Dr. Karl-Friedrich Kowalewski
Arbeitsgruppenleiter
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