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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

  • 2017
    • Gajjala, P. R., Jankowski, V., Heinze, G., Bilo, G., Zanchetti, A., Noels, H., Liehn, E., Perco, P., Schulz, A., Delles, C., Kork, F., Biessen, E., Narkiewicz, K., Kawecka-Jaszcz, K., Floege, J., Soranna, D., Zidek, W., & Jankowski, J. (2017). Proteomic-Biostatistic Integrated Approach for Finding the Underlying Molecular Determinants of Hypertension in Human Plasma. Hypertension, 70(2), 412-419. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.08906
    • Jansen, J., Jankowski, J., Gajjala, P. R., Wetzels, J. F. M., & Masereeuw, R. (2017). Disposition and clinical implications of protein-bound uremic toxins. Clinical Science, 131(14), 1631-1647. https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20160191
    • Drube, J., Zuerbig, P., Beige, J., Mischak, H., & Jankowski, J. (2017). Proteome Analysis: New Approaches for Improved Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy. Diabetologie Und Stoffwechsel, 12(3), 213-221. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-106192
    • Asare, Y., Ommer, M., Azombo, F. A., Alampour-Rajabi, S., Sternkopf, M., Sanati, M., Gijbels, M. J., Schmitz, C., Sinitski, D., Tilstam, P. V., Lue, H., Gessner, A., Lange, D., Schmid, J. A., Weber, C., Dichgans, M., Jankowski, J., Pardi, R., de Winther, M. P. J., ... Bernhagen, J. (2017). Inhibition of atherogenesis by the COP9 signalosome subunit 5 in vivo. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(13), E2766-E2775. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1618411114
    • Kork, F., Balzer, F., Krannich, A., Bernardi, M. H., Eltzschig, H. K., Jankowski, J., & Spies, C. (2017). Back-calculating baseline creatinine overestimates prevalence of acute kidney injury with poor sensitivity. Acta Physiologica, 219(3), 615-626. https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.12763
    • Rowinska, Z., Koeppel, T. A., Sanati, M., Schelzig, H., Jankowski, J., Weber, C., Zernecke, A., & Liehn, E. A. (2017). Role of the CX3C chemokine receptor CX3CR1 in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis after aortic transplantation. PLOS ONE, 12(2), Article 0170644. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0170644
  • 2016
    • Krochmal, M., Fernandes, M., Filip, S., Pontillo, C., Husi, H., Zoidakis, J., Mischak, H., Vlahou, A., & Jankowski, J. (2016). PeptiCKDdb-peptide- and protein-centric database for the investigation of genesis and progression of chronic kidney disease. Database-The Journal of Biological Databases and Curation, 2016, Article baw128. https://doi.org/10.1093/database/baw128
    • Smith, A., L'Imperio, V., De Sio, G., Ferrario, F., Scalia, C., Dell'Antonio, G., Pieruzzi, F., Pontillo, C., Filip, S., Markoska, K., Granata, A., Spasovski, G., Jankowski, J., Capasso, G., Pagni, F., & Magni, F. (2016). alpha-1-Antitrypsin detected by MALDI imaging in the study of glomerulonephritis: Its relevance in chronic kidney disease progression. Proteomics, 16(11-12), 1759-1766. https://doi.org/10.1002/pmic.201500411
    • Tetali, S. D., Jankowski, V., Luetzow, K., Kratz, K., Lendlein, A., & Jankowski, J. (2016). Adsorption capacity of poly(ether imide) microparticles to uremic toxins. Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, 61(4), 657-665. https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-152026
    • Kumar, R. K., Basu, S., Lemke, H.-D., Jankowski, J., Kratz, K., Lendlein, A., & Tetali, S. D. (2016). Effect of extracts of poly(ether imide) microparticles on cytotoxicity, ROS generation and proinflammatory effects on human monocytic (THP-1) cells. Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, 61(4), 667-680. https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-152027
    • Kumar, R. K., Basu, S., Lemke, H.-D., Jankowski, J., Kratz, K., Lendlein, A., & Tetali, S. D. (2016). Influence of nanoporous poly(ether imide) particle extracts on human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs). Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, 64(4), 931-940. https://doi.org/10.3233/CH-168046
    • Scholze, A., Jankowski, J., Pedraza-Chaverri, J., & Evenepoel, P. (2016). Oxidative Stress in Chronic Kidney Disease. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, 2016, Article 8375186. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8375186
  • 2015
    • Gajjala, P. R., Fliser, D., Speer, T., Jankowski, V., & Jankowski, J. (2015). Emerging role of post-translational modifications in chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 30(11), 1814-1824. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfv048
    • Glorieux, G., Mullen, W., Duranton, F., Filip, S., Gayrard, N., Husi, H., Schepers, E., Neirynck, N., Schanstra, J. P., Jankowski, J., Mischak, H., Argiles, A., Vanholder, R., Vlahou, A., & Klein, J. (2015). New insights in molecular mechanisms involved in chronic kidney disease using high-resolution plasma proteome analysis. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 30(11), 1842-1852. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfv254
    • Selle, J., Asare, Y., Kohncke, J., Alampour-Rajabi, S., Shagdarsuren, G., Klos, A., Weber, C., Jankowski, J., & Shagdarsuren, E. (2015). Atheroprotective role of C5ar2 deficiency in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 114(4), 848-858. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH14-12-1075
    • Pena, M. J., Jankowski, J., Heinze, G., Kohl, M., Heinzel, A., Bakker, S. J. L., Gansevoort, R. T., Rossing, P., de Zeeuw, D., Heerspink, H. J. L., & Jankowski, V. (2015). Plasma proteomics classifiers improve risk prediction for renal disease in patients with hypertension or type 2 diabetes. Journal of Hypertension, 33(10), 2123-2132. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000000685
    • Rueth, M., Lemke, H. .-D., Preisinger, C., Krieter, D., Theelen, W., Gajjala, P., Devine, E., Zidek, W., Jankowski, J., & Jankowski, V. (2015). Guanidinylations of albumin decreased binding capacity of hydrophobic metabolites. Acta Physiologica, 215(1), 13-23. https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.12518
    • Salem, S., Jankowski, V., Asare, Y., Liehn, E., Welker, P., Raya-Bermudez, A., Pineda-Martos, C., Rodriguez, M., Rafael Munoz-Castaneda, J., Bruck, H., Marx, N., Machado, F. B., Staudt, M., Heinze, G., Zidek, W., & Jankowski, J. (2015). Identification of the Vasoconstriction-Inhibiting Factor (VIF), a Potent Endogenous Cofactor of Angiotensin II Acting on the Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor. Circulation, 131(16), 1426-1434. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.013168
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