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Social and economic background influences survival in intensive care: Research with societal impact

Social and economic background influences survival in intensive care: Research with societal impact

18 August 2026

A large-scale study by researchers from Maastricht UMC+ and Amsterdam UMC demonstrates that lower socioeconomic status (SES) of patients admitted to Dutch intensive care units contributes to worse survival.

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Fatma Karapinar appointed as Professor in Medication Safety

Fatma Karapinar appointed as Professor in Medication Safety

12 August 2026

As of 1 June 2026, Dr Fatma Karapinar has been appointed Professor of Medication Safety at Maastricht University.

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Joachim Jankowski

Professor

Joachim Jankowski is an internationally recognised scientist whose pioneering work has substantially advanced vascular biology, molecular cardiovascular and cardiorenal research. He currently serves as Professor and Director of the Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR) at University Hospital RWTH Aachen. Before joining RWTH Aachen, he pursued a highly productive academic career in research and teaching at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Trained in the natural sciences and holding a doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.), he has established internationally visible expertise in chromatographic separation, mass spectrometry and advanced analytical methods for isolating, identifying and functionally characterising endogenous cardiovascular mediators. His research bridges analytical biochemistry, nephrology, vascular biology and cardiovascular medicine and has generated new mechanistic concepts, biomarkers, therapeutic targets and treatment strategies for chronic kidney and cardiovascular disease. He has established highly visible interdisciplinary and international collaborations and successfully coordinated major research networks, including the DFG-funded SFB/TRR219 and SFB1739, as well as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks CaReSyAn (Aachen) and Lipidbrigt (UM). Joachim is founder of the “Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Cardiorenal research (AMICARE). Through his scientific leadership, translational focus and strong commitment to mentoring, he has made lasting contributions to cardiorenal research in Europe.

His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms linking chronic kidney disease to cardiovascular disease and other systemic disorders. Key topics include uremic toxins, post-translational protein modifications, vasoactive peptides, vascular calcification, cardiac remodeling, inflammation and inter-organ crosstalk. The laboratory combines high-resolution mass spectrometry, proteomics, peptidomics, metabolomics, lipidomics and mass-spectrometry imaging with cell and animal models and deeply phenotyped patient cohorts. The overarching goal is to identify causal mediators, clinically useful biomarkers and new therapeutic targets. Current work is embedded in major collaborative programs, including the DFG-funded SFB/TRR219 on cardiovascular complications in chronic kidney disease, SFB1739 on periodontal remodeling in systemic disease, SFB1382 on gut-liver communication, and KFO5011/InteraKD on acute kidney injury. Additional projects address peptide-based therapies, prevention of pathogenic protein modifications and multi-omics strategies for precision medicine in kidney and cardiovascular disease.

Joachim jankowski 6a959425a284c

Department of Pathology

Phone number: +49 241 80 -80580

  • 2026
    • Junho, C. V. C., Dai, Y., Schieren, L., Hourtz, S., Rykova, T., Vondenhoff, S., Wessiepe, M., Zou, J., Jankowski, J., Goettsch, C., & Noels, H. (2026). Advanced glycation end product (AGE)-modified albumin does not enhance neutrophil extracellular trap formation and minimally impacts endothelial inflammation in large vessels. Life Sciences, 398, Article 124467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2026.124467
    • Jankowski, J., & Wu, Z. (2026). Paraspeckles, ferroptosis, and cardiac hypertrophy: a new axis in heart failure biology. European Heart Journal, Article ehag207. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag207
    • Niederau, C., Ali, A. A., Chahboun, S., Kalim, S., Portillo, M. R., Kramann, R., Schulze-Späte, U., Wolfart, S., Jankowski, J., Wolf, M., & Craveiro, R. B. (2026). Oral Health in Early and Advanced Stages (1-4) of Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Dental Journal, 76(4), Article 109610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2026.109610
    • Wolf, M., Schulze-Spate, U., Van Dyke, T., Wolfart, S., Dietrich, T., Ortiz, A., Wu, Z., & Jankowski, J. (2026). Impact of systemic diseases on periodontal remodeling: Mechanisms, mediators, and clinical relevance. Periodontology 2000. https://doi.org/10.1111/prd.70048
    • Huchzermeier, R., de Jong, R. J., Rakateli, L., Bonnin-Marquez, A., Maas, S. L., Maassen-Pottgens, C., Abschlag, K., Jin, H., Geiselhoringer, A.-L., Triantafyllidou, V., Santovito, D., Jankowski, J., Biessen, E. A. L., Ohnmacht, C., & van der Vorst, E. P. C. (2026). Whole-Body Knockout of the AhR (Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor) Ameliorates Atherosclerosis Due to Altered Lipid Metabolism-Brief Report. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 46(3), Article e323673. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.125.323673
    • de Vries, J. C., Bras, J. G., de Vries, G. M., Vollenbroek, J. C., Wieringa, F. P., Jankowski, J., Verhaar, M. C., Stamatialis, D., Masereeuw, R., & Gerritsen, K. G. F. (2026). Strategies for Removal of Protein-Bound Uremic Toxins in Hemodialysis. Toxins, 18(1), Article 57. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins18010057
    • Mikolajetz, D., Kalim, S., Noels, H., Wu, Z., Jankowski, V., Jankowski, J., & de la Puente-secades, S. (2026). Impact of amino acid supplementation on cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases: a systematic review. Cardiovascular Research, 122(2), 178-194. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvag007
    • Bhargava, S., Rao, Z., Vanholder, R., Tacke, F., Noels, H., Jankowski, V., Hermann, J., & Jankowski, J. (2026). The impact of gut-liver-derived mediators on the organ crosstalk with brain, heart, and kidney: A systematic review. Molecular Metabolism, 103, Article 102295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2025.102295
    • Glorieux, G., Burtey, S., Evenepoel, P., Jankowski, J., Koppe, L., Masereeuw, R., & Vanholder, R. (2026). A guide to uraemic toxicity. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 22(1), 50-68. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-025-01006-4
  • 2025
    • Peters, L. J. F., Bidzhekov, K., Bonnin-Marquez, A., Sundararaman, S. S., Huchzermeier, R., Maas, S. L., Abschlag, K., Jans, A., Lin, C., Haberbosch, M., Jansen, Y., Yu, B., Sluimer, J. C., Gijbels, M. J., Jankowski, J., Bartneck, M., Biessen, E. A. L., Weber, C., Doring, Y., & Van Der Vorst, E. P. C. (2025). MicroRNA-26b<SUP>-/-</SUP> augments atherosclerosis, while mimic-loaded nanoparticles reduce atherogenesis. Cardiovascular Research, 121(17), 2700-2713. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvaf234
    • Berger, M., Reugels, M., Heinzmann, A., Lysaja, K., Rizk, M., Kern, J.-S., Wolf, M., Wolfart, S., Jankowski, V., Jankowski, J., Marx, N., & Marx-Schütt, K. (2025). Association of Complement Factor D with Cardiovascular Mortality and Clot Lysis in CKD. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 36(12), 2469-2472. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.0000000870
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Wollenhaupt, J., Henning, T. M., Vondenhoff, S., Schröer, J. R., Stamellou, E., Saritas, T., Kurt, B., Boger, L., Antwerpen, A., Hermann, J., Nagy, M., Sternkopf, M., Buhl, E. M., Raffetseder, U., van der Meijden, P. E. J., Kuijpers, M. J. E., Spronk, H. M. H., Schunk, S. J., ... Noels, H. (2025). Impaired Secondary Platelet Response in Chronic Kidney Disease as a Consequence of Prior Platelet Activation. JACC: Basic to Translational Science, 10(9), Article 101355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacbts.2025.101355
    • Saar-Kovrov, V., Pawlowska, A., Guillot, A., Gijbels, M. J. J., Sluimer, J. C., Temmerman, L., Goossens, P., Mees, B. M. E., Tacke, F., Jankowski, V., Jankowski, J., Donners, M. M. P. C., & Biessen, E. A. L. (2025). Correction: Protein carbamylation in atherosclerotic plaques correlates with uremia and disease progression, localizing predominantly to foam cells. Frontiers in Immunology, 16, Article 1637511. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1637511
    • Stojanov, R., Jovanovik, M., Gramatikov, S., Mishkovski, I., Zdravevski, E., Sasanski, D., Karapancheva, Z., Spasovski, G., Vasileska, I., Eftimov, T., Wu, Z., Jankowski, J., & Trajanov, D. (2025). Applicability Assessment of Technologies for Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics of Nephrology Big Data. Proteomics, 25(11-12), Article e202400135. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.202400135
    • Saar-Kovrov, V., Pawlowska, A., Guillot, A., Gijbels, M. J. J., Sluimer, J. C., Temmerman, L., Goossens, P., Mees, B. M. E., Tacke, F., Jankowski, V., Jankowski, J., Donners, M. M. P. C., & Biessen, E. A. L. (2025). Protein carbamylation in atherosclerotic plaques correlates with uremia and disease progression, localizing predominantly to foam cells. Frontiers in Immunology, 16, Article 1532250. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1532250
    • Noels, H., van der Vorst, E. P. C., Rubin, S., Emmett, A., Marx, N., Tomaszewski, M., & Jankowski, J. (2025). Renal-Cardiac Crosstalk in the Pathogenesis and Progression of Heart Failure. Circulation Research, 136(11), 1306-1334. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.325488
    • Kaesler, N., Kaushik, S., Frisch, J., Ziegler, S., Grommes, J., Gombert, A., Roma, L. P., Kuppe, C., Jankowski, J., Floege, J., de la Puente-Secades, S., Kramann, R., & Jankowski, V. (2025). Vitamin K preserves gamma-glutamyl carboxylase activity against carbamylations in uremia: Implications for vascular calcification and adjunct therapies. Acta Physiologica, 241(5), Article e70040. https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.70040
    • Jankowski, J. (2025). Diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney diseases and Type 2 diabetes mellitus: a paradigm shift for enhancing cardiovascular prognosis. Journal of Internal Medicine, 297(5), 454-456. Article 20060. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.20060
    • Bonnin-Marquez, A., Jankowski, J., Maas, S. L., Hermann, J., Kahles, F., Lellig, M., Fliser, D., Schunk, S., Stamellou, E., Berger, M., Speer, T., Kalim, S., Leong Wong, D. W., van der Vorst, E. P. C., & Jankowski, V. (2025). Guanidinylation compromises the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties of apolipoprotein A-I in chronic kidney disease progression. Kidney International, 107(5), 916-929. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2025.02.010
    • Peters, L., Rakateli, L., Huchzermeier, R., Bonnin-Marquez, A., Maas, S. L., Lin, C., Jans, A., Geng, Y., Gorter, A., Gijbels, M., Rensen, S., Olinga, P., Hendrikx, T., Krawczyk, M., Brisbois, M., Jankowski, J., Bidzhekov, K., Weber, C., Biessen, E. A. L., ... van der Vorst, E. (2025). MicroRNA-26b protects against MASH development in mice and can be efficiently targeted with lipid nanoparticles. Elife, 13. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.97165
    • Zoccali, C., Mallamaci, F., Kanbay, M., Dounousi, E., Kotanko, P., Jankowski, J., & Chertow, G. M. (2025). Autonomic Dysfunction and Inflammation in CKD: A High-Risk Pathway. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 36(3), 529-532. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.0000000591
    • Vanholder, R., Glorieux, G., Argiles, A., Burtey, S., Cohen, G., Duranton, F., Koppe, L., Massy, Z. A., Ortiz, A., Masereeuw, R., Stamatialis, D., Jankowski, J., & European Uremic Toxins Work Group (EUTox) (2025). Metabolomics to Identify Unclassified Uremic Toxins: A Comprehensive Literature Review. Kidney Medicine, 7(3), Article 100955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xkme.2024.100955
    • de la Puente-secades, S., Mikolajetz, D., Gayrard, N., Hermann, J., Jankowski, V., Bhargava, S., Meyer, A., Argiles, A., Saritas, T., van der Vorst, E. P. C., Wu, Z., Noels, H., Tepel, M., Alghamdi, K., Ward, D., Zidek, W., Wolf, M., Floege, J., Schurgers, L., ... Jankowski, J. (2025). Vasoconstriction-inhibiting factor: an endogenous inhibitor of vascular calcification as a calcimimetic of calcium-sensing receptor. Cardiovascular Research, 121(3), 507-521. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvaf016
    • Negm, S., Wolf, M., Craveiro, R. B., Schurgers, L., Jankowski, J., Schneider, R. K., Rizk, M., Coenen, F., Knaup, I., Brenji, S., & Niederau, C. (2025). Resveratrol modulates phosphorylation of ERK and AKT in murine cementoblasts during in vitro orthodontic compression. BMC Oral Health, 25(1), Article 226. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05591-5
  • 2024
    • Rama, E., Mohapatra, S. R., Sugimura, Y., Suzuki, T., Siebert, S., Barmin, R., Hermann, J., Baier, J., Rix, A., Lemainque, T., Koletnik, S., Elshafei, A. S., Pallares, R. M., Dadfar, S. M., Tolba, R. H., Schulz, V., Jankowski, J., Apel, C., Akhyari, P., ... Kiessling, F. (2024). In vitro and in vivo evaluation of biohybrid tissue-engineered vascular grafts with transformative 1H/19F MRI traceable scaffolds. Biomaterials, 311, Article 122669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122669
    • Niederau, C., Tolba, R. H., Jankowski, J., Marx, N., Wolf, M., & Craveiro, R. B. (2024). Xanthohumol: Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Mechanically Stimulated Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells. Biomedicines, 12(12), Article 2688. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12122688
    • Lellig, M., Rodríguez, M., López-Baltanás, R., Hermann, J., Wollenhaupt, J., Noels, H., Zidek, W., Tepel, M., Mahfoud, F., Jankowski, J., Muñoz-Castañeda, J. R., & Jankowski, V. (2024). Pyridoxal-5'-phosphate: A cost-effective treatment candidate for hypertensive patients?Journal of Internal Medicine, 296(5), 435-448. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.20015
    • Mouzakis, F. L., Hima, F., Kashefi, A., Greven, J., Rink, L., van der Vorst, E. P. C., Jankowski, J., Mottaghy, K., & Spillner, J. (2024). Molecular Hydrogen and Extracorporeal Gas Exchange: A Match Made in Heaven? An In Vitro Pilot Study. Biomedicines, 12(8), Article 1883. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12081883
    • Noels, H., Jankowski, V., Schunk, S. J., Vanholder, R., Kalim, S., & Jankowski, J. (2024). Post-translational modifications in kidney diseases and associated cardiovascular risk. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 20(8), 495-512. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00837-x
    • Jaimes Campos, M. A., Mavrogeorgis, E., Latosinska, A., Eder, S., Buchwinkler, L., Mischak, H., Siwy, J., Rossing, P., Mayer, G., & Jankowski, J. (2024). Urinary peptide analysis to predict the response to blood pressure medication. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 39(5), 873-883. Article gfad223. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfad223
    • Mavrogeorgis, E., Valkenburg, S., Siwy, J., Latosinska, A., Glorieux, G., Mischak, H., & Jankowski, J. (2024). Integration of Urinary Peptidome and Fecal Microbiome to Explore Patient Clustering in Chronic Kidney Disease. Proteomes, 12(2), Article 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/proteomes12020011
    • Harlacher, E., Schulte, C., Vondenhoff, S., Schmitt-Kopplin, P., Diederich, P., Hemmers, C., Moellmann, J., Wollenhaupt, J., Veltrop, R., Biessen, E., Lehrke, M., Peters, B., Schlieper, G., Kuppe, C., Floege, J., Jankowski, V., Marx, N., Jankowski, J., & Noels, H. (2024). Increased levels of a mycophenolic acid metabolite in patients with kidney failure negatively affect cardiomyocyte health. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 11, Article 1346475. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2024.1346475
    • Curaj, A., Vanholder, R., Loscalzo, J., Quach, K., Wu, Z., Jankowski, V., & Jankowski, J. (2024). Cardiovascular Consequences of Uremic Metabolites: an Overview of the Involved Signaling Pathways. Circulation Research, 134(5), 592-613. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.324001
    • Bhargava, S., & Jankowski, J. (2024). The PRIDE database resources in 2023. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 39(1), 4-6. Article gfad176. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfad176
  • 2023
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Vondenhoff, S., Jankowski, J., & Noels, H. (2023). Thrombozytenstörungen bei Urämie: Mediator von Herz- und Gefäßschäden. Die Nephrologie, 18(6), 346–354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11560-023-00682-2
    • Soppert, J., Brandt, E. F., Heussen, N. M., Barzakova, E., Blank, L. M., Kuepfer, L., Hornef, M. W., Trebicka, J., Jankowski, J., Berres, M.-L., & Noels, H. (2023). Blood endotoxin levels as biomarker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology, 21(11), 2746-2758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cgh.2022.11.030
    • Bhargava, S., Jankowski, J., Merckelbach, E., Roth, C. E., Craveiro, R. B., & Wolf, M. (2023). Development, Establishment, and Validation of a Model for the Mineralization of Periodontium Remodelling Cells: Cementoblasts. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(18), Article 13829. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241813829
    • Jaimes Campos, M. A., Andújar, I., Keller, F., Mayer, G., Rossing, P., Staessen, J. A., Delles, C., Beige, J., Glorieux, G., Clark, A. L., Mullen, W., Schanstra, J. P., Vlahou, A., Rossing, K., Peter, K., Ortiz, A., Campbell, A., Persson, F., Latosinska, A., ... Jankowski, J. (2023). Prognosis and Personalized In Silico Prediction of Treatment Efficacy in Cardiovascular and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Proof-of-Concept Study. Pharmaceuticals, 16(9), Article 1298. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16091298
    • Noels, H., & Jankowski, J. (2023). Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Complications in Chronic Kidney Disease: Introduction to a Compendium. Circulation Research, 132(8), 899-901. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.322806
    • Wu, Z. J., Lohmoeller, J., Kuhl, C., Wehrle, K., & Jankowski, J. (2023). Use of Computation Ecosystems to Analyze the Kidney-Heart Crosstalk. Circulation Research, 132(8), 1084-1100. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.321765
    • Bhargava, S., & Jankowski, J. (2023). Fosl1: friend or foe?Kidney International, 103(4), 656-658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2022.12.019
    • Zewinger, S., Reiser, J., Jankowski, V., Alansary, D., Hahm, E., Triem, S., Klug, M., Schunk, S. J., Schmit, D., Kramann, R., Korbel, C., Ampofo, E., Laschke, M. W., Selejan, S. R., Paschen, A., Herter, T., Gaul, S., Silbernagel, G., Sester, M., ... Speer, T. (2023). Reply to: Apolipoprotein C3 induces inflammasome activation only in its delipidated form. Nature Immunology, 24(3), 412-413. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-023-01424-1
  • 2022
    • Böhler, H., Orth-Alampour, S., Baaten, C., Riedner, M., Jankowski, J., & Beck, T. (2022). Assembly of chemically modified protein nanocages into 3D materials for the adsorption of uremic toxins. Journal of Materials Chemistry. B, Materials for Biology and Medicine, 11(1), 55-60. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2tb02386e
    • Bhargava, S., Merckelbach, E., Noels, H., Vohra, A., & Jankowski, J. (2022). Homeostasis in the Gut Microbiota in Chronic Kidney Disease. Toxins, 14(10), Article 648. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14100648
    • Wollenhaupt, J., Frisch, J., Harlacher, E., Wong, D. W. L., Jin, H., Schulte, C., Vondenhoff, S., Moellmann, J., Klinkhammer, B. M., Zhang, L., Baleanu-Curaj, A., Liehn, E. A., Speer, T., Kazakov, A., Werner, C., van der Vorst, E. P. C., Selejan, S.-R., Hohl, M., Böhm, M., ... Noels, H. (2022). Pro-oxidative priming but maintained cardiac function in a broad spectrum of murine models of chronic kidney disease. Redox Biology, 56, Article 102459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2022.102459
    • Thiele, K., Rau, M., Hartmann, N.-U. K., Möller, M., Möllmann, J., Jankowski, J., Keszei, A. P., Böhm, M., Floege, J., Marx, N., & Lehrke, M. (2022). Empagliflozin reduces markers of acute kidney injury in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Esc heart failure, 9(4), 2233-2238. https://doi.org/10.1002/ehf2.13955
    • Wu, Z., & Jankowski, J. (2022). Impact of post-translational modification on the genesis and progression of diseases. Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 86, Article 101105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mam.2022.101105
    • Wu, Z., Jankowski, V., & Jankowski, J. (2022). Irreversible post-translational modifications - Emerging cardiovascular risk factors. Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 86, Article 101010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mam.2021.101010
    • Bhargava, S., de la Puente-Secades, S., Schurgers, L., & Jankowski, J. (2022). Lipids and lipoproteins in cardiovascular diseases: a classification. Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism, 33(6), 409-423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tem.2022.02.001
    • Peters, L. J. F., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Maas, S. L., Lu, C., Nagy, M., Jooss, N. J., Bidzhekov, K., Santovito, D., Moreno-Andrés, D., Jankowski, J., Biessen, E. A. L., Döring, Y., Heemskerk, J. W. M., Weber, C., Kuijpers, M. J. E., & van der Vorst, E. P. C. (2022). MicroRNA-26b Attenuates Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation in Mice. Biomedicines, 10(5), Article 983. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10050983
Overview