Research interests

Major aims of research: To understand the pathomechanisms of neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases including protective and regenerative processes. A major current focus is the role of endoplasmic reticulum pathology as well as autophagy and related cellular processes in neurodegeneration.

Methods: Basic research approaches using cell culture and mouse models are combined with clinicopathological assessments of biopsy and autopsy tissues of human patients, providing a unifying viewpoint on both aspects. Genotype-phenotype correlations in neuromuscular disorders are performed in cooperation with several clinical and genetic partners.

Current external grants

• DFG research grant “SIL1 in human familial and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)”
  Applicant: J. Weis (Aachen), Co-Investigator: A. Goswami (Aachen)
  Duration: 2019-2024. Project number 425908322
   
• DFG research grant ”ATL gene family: How mutations in ER-shaping proteins cause axonopathy”
  Applicants: Ch. Kaether (Jena), I. Kurth (Aachen), J. Weis (Aachen)
  Duration 2022-2025. Project number 471920208
   
• Federal Ministry of Health Joint Project „Cancer Registries and Contributor’s Primary Data
  Connected for AI-based Analysis – CanConnect“ with partners from Bremen, Bonn, Berlin and Hannover
  Applicants Aachen: J. Weis, S. Nikolin
  Duration: 2022-2025. Reference number ZMI5-2522DAT15E

Publications