Menu

Latest news & events

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.

Read more
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.

Read more
More newsMore events
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

  • 2022
    • Hemmers, C., Schulte, C., Wollenhaupt, J., Wong, D. W. L., Harlacher, E., Orth-Alampour, S., Klinkhammer, B. M., Schirmer, S. H., Böhm, M., Marx, N., Speer, T., Boor, P., Jankowski, J., & Noels, H. (2022). Chemokine CCL9 Is Upregulated Early in Chronic Kidney Disease and Counteracts Kidney Inflammation and Fibrosis. Biomedicines, 10(2), Article 420. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10020420
    • Soppert, J., Frisch, J., Wirth, J., Hemmers, C., Boor, P., Kramann, R., Vondenhoff, S., Moellmann, J., Lehrke, M., Hohl, M., van der Vorst, E. P. C., Werner, C., Speer, T., Maack, C., Marx, N., Jankowski, J., Roma, L. P., & Noels, H. (2022). A systematic review and meta-analysis of murine models of uremic cardiomyopathy. Kidney International, 101(2), 256-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2021.10.025
    • Petra, E., Siwy, J., Vlahou, A., & Jankowski, J. (2022). Urine peptidome in combination with transcriptomics analysis highlights MMP7, MMP14 and PCSK5 for further investigation in chronic kidney disease. PLOS ONE, 17(1), e0262667. Article e0262667. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262667
    • Mavrogeorgis, E., Mischak, H., Latosinska, A., Vlahou, A., Schanstra, J. P., Siwy, J., Jankowski, V., Beige, J., & Jankowski, J. (2022). Collagen-Derived Peptides in CKD: A Link to Fibrosis. Toxins, 14(1), Article 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins14010010
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Schroer, J. R., Floege, J., Marx, N., Jankowski, J., Berger, M., & Noels, H. (2022). Platelet Abnormalities in CKD and Their Implications for Antiplatelet Therapy. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 17(1), 155-170. https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.04100321
  • 2021
    • Schunk, S. J., Hermann, J., Sarakpi, T., Triem, S., Lellig, M., Hahm, E., Zewinger, S., Schmit, D., Becker, E., Mollmann, J., Lehrke, M., Kramann, R., Boor, P., Lipp, P., Laufs, U., Marz, W., Reiser, J., Jankowski, J., Fliser, D., ... Jankowski, V. (2021). Guanidinylated Apolipoprotein C3 (ApoC3) Associates with Kidney and Vascular Injury. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 32(12), 3146-3160. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2021040503
    • Orth-Alampour, S., Gayrard, N., Salem, S., Bhargava, S., Jankowski, V., Jover, B., Notarnicola, C., Noels, H., van der Vorst, E. P. C., Kuppe, C., Wolf, M., Goettsch, C., Theelen, W., Bruck, H., Fliser, D., Loscalzo, J., Wu, Z. J., Marx, N., Zidek, W., ... Jankowski, J. (2021). Prevention of vascular calcification by the endogenous chromogranin A-derived mediator that inhibits osteogenic transdifferentiation. Basic Research in Cardiology, 116(1), Article 57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-021-00899-z
    • Mavrogeorgis, E., Mischak, H., Latosinska, A., Siwy, J., Jankowski, V., & Jankowski, J. (2021). Reproducibility Evaluation of Urinary Peptide Detection Using CE-MS. Molecules, 26(23), Article 7260. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26237260
    • Schumacher, D., Liehn, E. A., Singh, A., Curaj, A., Wijnands, E., Lira, S. A., Tacke, F., Jankowski, J., Biessen, E. A. L., & van der Vorst, E. P. C. (2021). CCR6 Deficiency Increases Infarct Size after Murine Acute Myocardial Infarction. Biomedicines, 9(11), Article 1532. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9111532
    • Saar-Kovrov, V., Zidek, W., Orth-Alampour, S., Fliser, D., Jankowski, V., Biessen, E. A. L., & Jankowski, J. (2021). Reduction of protein-bound uraemic toxins in plasma of chronic renal failure patients: A systematic review. Journal of Internal Medicine, 290(3), 499-526. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13248
    • Petra, E., He, T., Lygirou, V., Latosinska, A., Mischak, H., Vlahou, A., & Jankowski, J. (2021). Urine peptidome analysis in cardiorenal syndrome reflects molecular processes. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Article 16219. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-95695-z
    • Noels, H., Lehrke, M., Vanholder, R., & Jankowski, J. (2021). Lipoproteins and fatty acids in chronic kidney disease: molecular and metabolic alterations. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 17(8), 528-542. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-021-00423-5
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Sternkopf, M., Henning, T., Marx, N., Jankowski, J., & Noels, H. (2021). Platelet Function in CKD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 32(7), 1583-1598. https://doi.org/10.1681/asn.2020101440
    • Vanholder, R., Argiles, A., Jankowski, J., & European Uraemic Toxin Work Group (EUTox) (2021). A history of uraemic toxicity and of the European Uraemic Toxin Work Group (EUTox). Clinical Kidney Journal, 14(6), 1514-1523. https://doi.org/10.1093/ckj/sfab011
    • Sundararaman, S. S., Peters, L. J. F., Jansen, Y., Gencer, S., Yan, Y., Nazir, S., Marquez, A. B., Kahles, F., Lehrke, M., Biessen, E. A. L., Jankowski, J., Weber, C., Doering, Y., & van der Vorst, E. P. C. (2021). Adipocyte calcium sensing receptor is not involved in visceral adipose tissue inflammation or atherosclerosis development in hyperlipidemic Apoe(-/-) mice. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Article 10409. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89893-y
    • Hermann, J., Noels, H., Theelen, W., Lellig, M., Orth-Alampour, S., Boor, P., Jankowski, V., & Jankowski, J. (2021). Correction to: Sample preparation of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections for MALDI-mass spectrometry imaging. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 413(11), 3141-3141. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-021-03276-w
    • Jankowski, J., Floege, J., Fliser, D., Bohm, M., & Marx, N. (2021). Cardiovascular Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease: Pathophysiological Insights and Therapeutic Options. Circulation, 143(11), 1157-1172. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.120.050686
    • Hermann, J., Brehmer, K., Jankowski, V., Lellig, M., Hohl, M., Mahfoud, F., Speer, T., Schunk, S. J., Tschernig, T., Thiele, H., & Jankowski, J. (2021). Registration of Image Modalities for Analyses of Tissue Samples Using 3D Image Modelling. Proteomics Clinical Applications, 15(1), Article 1900143. https://doi.org/10.1002/prca.201900143
  • 2020
    • Jankowski, J. (2020). Proteomic Biomarkers to Guide Stratification for Covid-19 Treatment: Exemplifying a Path Forward Toward Implementation?Proteomics, 20(24), Article 2000229. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.202000229
    • Holmar, J., de la Puente-secades, S., Floege, J., Noels, H., Jankowski, J., & Orth-Alampour, S. (2020). Uremic Toxins Affecting Cardiovascular Calcification: A Systematic Review. Cells, 9(11), Article 2428. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9112428
    • Holmar, J., Noels, H., Boehm, M., Bhargava, S., Jankowski, J., & Orth-Alampour, S. (2020). Development, establishment and validation of in vitro and ex vivo assays of vascular calcification. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 530(2), 462-470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.05.085
    • Peters, L. J. F., Floege, J., Biessen, E. A. L., Jankowski, J., & van der Vorst, E. P. C. (2020). MicroRNAs in Chronic Kidney Disease: Four Candidates for Clinical Application. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(18), Article 6547. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21186547
    • Asare, Y., Koehncke, J., Selle, J., Simsekyilmaz, S., Jankowski, J., Shagdarsuren, G., Gessner, J. E., Bernhagen, J., & Shagdarsuren, E. (2020). Differential Role for Activating FcγRIII in Neointima Formation After Arterial Injury and Diet-Induced Chronic Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice. Frontiers in physiology, 11, Article 673. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00673
    • Popowski, E., Kohl, B., Schneider, T., Jankowski, J., & Schulze-Tanzil, G. (2020). Uremic Toxins and Ciprofloxacin Affect Human Tenocytes In Vitro. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(12), Article 4241. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21124241
    • Noels, H., & Jankowski, J. (2020). Editorial on the Special Issue "Comorbidities in Chronic Kidney Disease". Toxins, 12(6), Article 384. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12060384
    • Curaj, A., Schumacher, D., Rusu, M., Staudt, M., Li, X., Simsekyilmaz, S., Jankowski, V., Jankowski, J., Dumitrascu, A. R., Hausenloy, D. J., Schuh, A., & Liehn, E. A. (2020). Neutrophils Modulate Fibroblast Function and Promote Healing and Scar Formation after Murine Myocardial Infarction. International journal of molecular sciences, 21(10), Article 3685. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21103685
    • Sternkopf, M., Nagy, M., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Kuijpers, M. J. E., Tullemans, B. M. E., Wirth, J., Theelen, W., Mastenbroek, T. G., Lehrke, M., Winnerling, B., Baerts, L., Marx, N., De Meester, I., Doring, Y., Cosemans, J. M. E. M., Daiber, A., Steven, S., Jankowski, J., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & Noels, H. (2020). Native, Intact Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Is a Natural Suppressor of Thrombus Growth Under Physiological Flow Conditions. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 40(3), E65-E77. https://doi.org/10.1161/atvbaha.119.313645
    • Hermann, J., Noels, H., Theelen, W., Lellig, M., Orth-Alampour, S., Boor, P., Jankowski, V., & Jankowski, J. (2020). Sample preparation of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections for MALDI-mass spectrometry imaging. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 412(6), 1263-1275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-02296-x
    • Zewinger, S., Reiser, J., Jankowski, V., Alansary, D., Hahm, E., Triem, S., Klug, M., Schunk, S. J., Schmit, D., Kramann, R., Koerbel, C., Ampofo, E., Laschke, M. W., Selejan, S.-R., Paschen, A., Herter, T., Schuster, S., Silbernagel, G., Sester, M., ... Speer, T. (2020). Apolipoprotein C3 induces inflammation and organ damage by alternative inflammasome activation. Nature Immunology, 21(1), 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-019-0548-1
    • Tilstam, P., Soppert, J., Hemmers, C., Harlacher, E., Doering, Y., van der Vorst, E. P. C., Schulte, C., Alampour-Rajabi, S., Theelen, W., Asare, Y., de Winther, M. P. J., Lawrence, T., Bernhagen, J., Schober, A., Zernecke, A., Jankowski, J., Weber, C., & Noels, H. (2020). Non-activatable mutant of inhibitor of kappa B kinase α (IKKα) exerts vascular site-specific effects on atherosclerosis in Apoe-deficient mice. Atherosclerosis, 292, 23-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2019.10.023
    • Wu, Z., Bagarolo, G. I., Thoroee-Boveleth, S., & Jankowski, J. (2020). "Lipidomics": Mass spectrometric and chemometric analyses of lipids. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 159, 294-307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2020.06.009
    • Soppert, J., Lehrke, M., Marx, N., Jankowski, J., & Noels, H. (2020). Lipoproteins and lipids in cardiovascular disease: from mechanistic insights to therapeutic targeting. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 159, 4-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2020.07.019
  • 2019
    • van der Made, T. K., Fedecostante, M., Scotcher, D., Rostami-Hodjegan, A., Torano, J. S., Middel, I., Koster, A. S., Gerritsen, K. G., Jankowski, V., Jankowski, J., Hoenderop, J. G. J., Masereeuw, R., & Galetin, A. (2019). Quantitative Translation of Microfluidic Transporter in Vitro Data to in Vivo Reveals Impaired Albumin-Facilitated Indoxyl Sulfate Secretion in Chronic Kidney Disease. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 16(11), 4551-4562. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00681
    • Vollmer, T., Ljungberg, B., Jankowski, V., Jankowski, J., Glorieux, G., & Stegmayr, B. G. (2019). An in-vitro assay using human spermatozoa to detect toxicity of biologically active substances. Scientific Reports, 9(1), Article 14525. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-50929-z
    • Gajjala, P. R., Bruck, H., Noels, H., Heinze, G., Ceccarelli, F., Kribben, A., Saez-Rodriguez, J., Marx, N., Zidek, W., Jankowski, J., & Jankowski, V. (2019). Novel plasma peptide markers involved in the pathology of CKD identified using mass spectrometric approach. Journal of Molecular Medicine, 97(10), 1451-1463. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-019-01823-8
    • Sternkopf, M., Thoroee-Boveleth, S., Beck, T., Oleschko, K., Erlenkoetter, A., Tschulena, U., Steppan, S., Speer, T., Goettsch, C., Jankowski, V., Jankowski, J., Noels, H., & European Uremic Toxin Work Group-EUTox (2019). A Bifunctional Adsorber Particle for the Removal of Hydrophobic Uremic Toxins from Whole Blood of Renal Failure Patients. Toxins, 11(7), Article 389. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11070389
    • Mossanen, J. C., Kohlhepp, M., Wehr, A., Krenkel, O., Liepelt, A., Roeth, A. A., Moeckel, D., Heymann, F., Lammers, T., Gassler, N., Hermann, J., Jankowski, J., Neumann, U. P., Luedde, T., Trautwein, C., & Tacke, F. (2019). CXCR6 Inhibits Hepatocarcinogenesis by Promoting Natural Killer T- and CD4(+) T-Cell-Dependent Control of Senescence. Gastroenterology, 156(6), 1877-1889.e4. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2019.01.247
    • Schumacher, D., Alampour-Rajabi, S., Ponomariov, V., Curaj, A., Wu, Z., Staudt, M., Rusu, M., Jankowski, V., Marx, N., Jankowski, J., Brandenburg, V., Liehn, E. A., & Schuh, A. (2019). Cardiac FGF23: new insights into the role and function of FGF23 after acute myocardial infarction. Cardiovascular Pathology, 40, 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carpath.2019.02.001
  • 2018
    • Kork, F., Jankowski, J., Goswami, A., Weis, J., Brook, G., Yamoah, A., Anink, J., Aronica, E., Fritz, S., Huck, C., Schipke, C., Peters, O., Tepel, M., Noels, H., & Jankowski, V. (2018). Golgin A4 in CSF and granulovacuolar degenerations of patients with Alzheimer disease. Neurology, 91(19), E1799-E1808. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000006457
    • Magalhaes, P., Pontillo, C., Pejchinovski, M., Siwy, J., Krochmal, M., Makridakis, M., Carrick, E., Klein, J., Mullen, W., Jankowski, J., Vlahou, A., Mischak, H., Schanstra, J. P., Zurbig, P., & Pape, L. (2018). Comparison of Urine and Plasma Peptidome Indicates Selectivity in Renal Peptide Handling. Proteomics Clinical Applications, 12(5), Article 1700163. https://doi.org/10.1002/prca.201700163
    • Hegner, B., Schaub, T., Janke, D., Zickler, D., Lange, C., Girndt, M., Jankowski, J., Schindler, R., & Dragun, D. (2018). Targeting proinflammatory cytokines ameliorates calcifying phenotype conversion of vascular progenitors under uremic conditions in vitro. Scientific Reports, 8(1), Article 12087. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30626-z
    • Noels, H., Theelen, W., Sternkopf, M., Jankowski, V., Moellmann, J., Kraemer, S., Lehrke, M., Marx, N., Martin, L., Marx, G., Jankowski, J., Goetzenich, A., & Stoppe, C. (2018). Reduced post-operative DPP4 activity associated with worse patient outcome after cardiac surgery. Scientific Reports, 8(1), Article 11820. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-30235-w
    • Schmitz, C., Noels, H., El Bounkari, O., Straussfeld, E., Megens, R. T. A., Sternkopf, M., Alampour-Rajabi, S., Krammer, C., Tilstam, P. V., Gerdes, N., Burger, C., Kapurniotu, A., Bucala, R., Jankowski, J., Weber, C., & Bernhagen, J. (2018). Mif-deficiency favors an atheroprotective autoantibody phenotype in atherosclerosis. Faseb Journal, 32(8), 4428-4443. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.201800058R
    • Sawant, M., Schwarz, N., Windoffer, R., Magin, T. M., Krieger, J., Mucke, N., Obara, B., Jankowski, V., Jankowski, J., Wally, V., Lettner, T., & Leube, R. E. (2018). Threonine 150 Phosphorylation of Keratin 5 Is Linked to Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex and Regulates Filament Assembly and Cell Viability. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 138(3), 627-636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2017.10.011
    • Kumar, R. K., Heuchel, M., Kratz, K., Lendlein, A., Jankowski, J., & Tetali, S. D. (2018). Effects of extracts prepared from modified porous poly(ether imide) microparticulate absorbers on cytotoxicity, macrophage differentiation and proinflammatory behavior of human monocytic (THP-1) cells. Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, 69(1-2), 175-185. https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-189112
  • 2017
    • Siwy, J., Zuerbig, P., Argiles, A., Beige, J., Haubitz, M., Jankowski, J., Julian, B. A., Linde, P. G., Marx, D., Mischak, H., Mullen, W., Novak, J., Ortiz, A., Persson, F., Pontillo, C., Rossing, P., Rupprecht, H., Schanstra, J. P., Vlahou, A., & Vanholder, R. (2017). Noninvasive diagnosis of chronic kidney diseases using urinary proteome analysis. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 32(12), 2079-2089. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfw337
    • Pontillo, C., Zhang, Z.-Y., Schanstra, J. P., Jacobs, L., Zuerbig, P., Thijs, L., Ramirez-Torres, A., Heerspink, H. J. L., Lindhardt, M., Klein, R., Orchard, T., Porta, M., Bilous, R. W., Charturvedi, N., Rossing, P., Vlahou, A., Schepers, E., Glorieux, G., Mullen, W., ... Jankowski, J. (2017). Prediction of Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3 by CKD273, a Urinary Proteomic Biomarker. Kidney International Reports, 2(6), 1066-1075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2017.06.004
    • Pontillo, C., Jacobs, L., Staessen, J. A., Schanstra, J. P., Rossing, P., Heerspink, H. J. L., Siwy, J., Mullen, W., Vlahou, A., Mischak, H., Vanholder, R., Zuerbig, P., & Jankowski, J. (2017). A urinary proteome-based classifier for the early detection of decline in glomerular filtration. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 32(9), 1510-1516. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfw239
    • Krochmal, M., Cisek, K., Filip, S., Markoska, K., Orange, C., Zoidakis, J., Gakiopoulou, C., Spasovski, G., Mischak, H., Delles, C., Vlahou, A., & Jankowski, J. (2017). Identification of novel molecular signatures of IgA nephropathy through an integrative -omics analysis. Scientific Reports, 7(1), Article 9091. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-09393-w
Overview