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Professorship Julie Staals

Professorship Julie Staals

22 April 2024

Dr Julie Staals (Dept. of Neurology) has been appointed as professor 'Neurovascular disease' as of 1 April 2024.

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ERC Advanced Grant awarded to Prof. Andy Baker

ERC Advanced Grant awarded to Prof. Andy Baker

15 April 2024

Prof. Andy Baker (Dept of Pathology) has been awarded a European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant of €2,5M for his research project PolymiRize: Poly-miRNA targeting to prevent and reverse complex tissue remodelling after acute cardiovascular events'.

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Rory Koenen

Professor

Dr Rory  Koenen studied biochemistry in Sittard (BSc) and at the Radboud University in Nijmegen (MSc), the Netherlands from 1993-1999. He completed his PhD in cardiovascular sciences at CARIM Maastricht University in 2005. He then worked in Germany at IMCAR, RWTH Aachen University until 2010 and then moved to IPEK at the LMU in Munich chaired by Christian Weber. In 2012, he returned to CARIM as the recipient of a Vidi grant.

Dr Koenen is currently investigating the functions of platelets beyond hemostasis, platelet microvesicles and the role of particular inflammatory molecules in vascular disease e.g. thrombosis and atherosclerosis. For example, he aims to characterise the molecular aspects of chemokine RANTES and platelet factor 4 secretion from platelets and its importance in the development of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, Dr Koenen is interested in the role of cell adhesion molecules in platelet function and in how platelets maintain interactions with other cell types (leukocytes, endothelial and smooth muscle cells). Finally, Dr Koenen investigates how platelets and their microvesicles can influence the behavior and phenotype of these cells.

As of 1 March 2023, Prof. Koenen holds a professorship of Vascular Inflammation and Thrombosis.

Rory-koenen

Department of Biochemistry
Universiteitsingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room number: 4.366a
T: +31(0)43 388 33 90

  • 2014
    • Blanchet, X., Cesarek, K., Brandt, J., Herwald, H., Teupser, D., Kuechenhoff, H., Karshovska, E., Mause, S. F., Siess, W., Wasmuth, H., Soehnlein, O., Koenen, R. R., Weber, C., & von Hundelshausen, P. (2014). Inflammatory role and prognostic value of platelet chemokines in acute coronary syndrome. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 112(6), 1277-1287. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH14-02-0139
    • Bot, I., Daissormont, I. T. M. N., Zernecke, A., van Puijvelde, G. H. M., Kramp, B., de Jager, S. C. A., Sluimer, J. C., Manca, M., Herias, V., Westra, M. M., Bot, M., van Santbrink, P. J., van Berkel, T. J. C., Su, L., Skjelland, M., Gullestad, L., Kuiper, J., Halvorsen, B., Aukrust, P., ... Biessen, E. A. L. (2014). CXCR4 blockade induces atherosclerosis by affecting neutrophil function. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 74, 44-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yjmcc.2014.04.021
    • Schmitt, M. M. N., Fraemohs, L., Hackeng, T. M., Weber, C., & Koenen, R. R. (2014). Atherogenic mononuclear cell recruitment is facilitated by oxidized lipoprotein-induced endothelial junctional adhesion molecule-A redistribution. Atherosclerosis, 234(2), 254-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2014.03.014
    • Projahn, D., Simsekyilmaz, S., Singh, S., Kanzler, I., Kramp, B. K., Langer, M., Burlacu, A., Bernhagen, J., Klee, D., Zernecke, A., Hackeng, T. M., Groll, J., Weber, C., Liehn, E. A., & Koenen, R. R. (2014). Controlled intramyocardial release of engineered chemokines by biodegradable hydrogels as a treatment approach of myocardial infarction. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 18(5), 790-800. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.12225
    • Koenen, R. R. (2014). CX(3)CL1, a special deputy at the intersection of platelets and the vessel wall. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 111(4), 567-567. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH14-02-0173
    • Li, X., Zhu, M., Penfold, M. E., Koenen, R. R., Thiemann, A., Heyll, K., Akhtar, S., Koyadan, S., Wu, Z., Gremse, F., Kiessling, F., van Zandvoort, M., Schall, T. J., Weber, C., & Schober, A. (2014). Activation of CXCR7 Limits Atherosclerosis and Improves Hyperlipidemia by Increasing Cholesterol Uptake in Adipose Tissue. Circulation, 129(11), 1244-1253. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.006840
    • Tilstam, P. V., Gijbels, M. J., Habbeddine, M., Cudejko, C., Asare, Y., Theelen, W., Zhou, B., Doering, Y., Drechsler, M., Pawig, L., Simsekyilmaz, S., Koenen, R. R., de Winther, M. P. J., Lawrence, T., Bernhagen, J., Zernecke, A., Weber, C., & Noels, H. (2014). Bone Marrow-Specific Knock-In of a Non-Activatable Ikk alpha Kinase Mutant Influences Haematopoiesis but Not Atherosclerosis in Apoe-Deficient Mice. PLOS ONE, 9(2), Article e87452. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087452
    • Jaczewska, J., Abdulreda, M. H., Yau, C. Y., Schmitt, M. M., Schubert, I., Berggren, P.-O., Weber, C., Koenen, R. R., Moy, V. T., & Wojcikiewicz, E. P. (2014). TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma promote lymphocyte adhesion to endothelial junctional regions facilitating transendothelial migration. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 95(2), 265-274. https://doi.org/10.1189/jlb.0412205
    • Schmitt, M. M. N., Megens, R. T. A., Zernecke, A., Bidzhekov, K., van den Akker, N. M., Rademakers, T., van Zandvoort, M. A., Hackeng, T. M., Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2014). Endothelial Junctional Adhesion Molecule-A Guides Monocytes Into Flow-Dependent Predilection Sites of Atherosclerosis. Circulation, 129(1), 66–76. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.004149
  • 2013
    • Agten, S. M., Suylen, D., Ippel, H., Kokozidou, M., Tans, G., van de Vijver, P., Koenen, R. R., & Hackeng, T. M. (2013). Chemoselective Oxime Reactions in Proteins and Peptides by Using an Optimized Oxime Strategy: The Demise of Levulinic Acid. Chembiochem, 14(18), 2431-2434. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.201300598
    • Manthey, H. D., Cochain, C., Barnsteiner, S., Karshovska, E., Pelisek, J., Koch, M., Chaudhari, S. M., Busch, M., Eckstein, H.-H., Weber, C., Koenen, R. R., & Zernecke, A. (2013). CCR6 selectively promotes monocyte mediated inflammation and atherogenesis in mice. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 110(6), 1267-77. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH13-01-0017
    • Kramp, B. K., Megens, R. T. A., Sarabi, A., Winkler, S., Projahn, D., Weber, C., Koenen, R. R., & von Hundelshausen, P. (2013). Exchange of extracellular domains of CCR1 and CCR5 reveals confined functions in CCL5-mediated cell recruitment. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 110(4), 795-806. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH13-05-0420
    • Soehnlein, O., Drechsler, M., Doering, Y., Lievens, D., Hartwig, H., Kemmerich, K., Ortega-Gomez, A., Mandl, M., Vijayan, S., Projahn, D., Garlichs, C. D., Koenen, R. R., Hristov, M., Lutgens, E., Zernecke, A., & Weber, C. (2013). Distinct functions of chemokine receptor axes in the atherogenic mobilization and recruitment of classical monocytes. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 5(3), 471-481. https://doi.org/10.1002/emmm.201201717
    • Vasina, E. M., Cauwenberghs, S., Staudt, M., Feijge, M. A., Weber, C., Koenen, R. R., & Heemskerk, J. W. (2013). Aging- and activation-induced platelet microparticles suppress apoptosis in monocytic cells and differentially signal to proinflammatory mediator release. American Journal of Blood Research, 3(2), 107-23. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23675563/
  • 2012
    • Projahn, D., & Koenen, R. R. (2012). Platelets: key players in vascular inflammation. Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 92(6), 1167-1175. https://doi.org/10.1189/jlb.0312151
    • Van de Vijver, P., Schmitt, M., Suylen, D., Scheer, L., Thomassen, M. C. L. G. D., Schurgers, L. J., Griffin, J. H., Koenen, R. R., & Hackeng, T. M. (2012). Incorporation of Disulfide Containing Protein Modules into Multivalent Antigenic Conjugates: Generation of Antibodies against the Thrombin-Sensitive Region of Murine Protein S. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 134(47), 19318-19321. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja306993t
    • Nazari-Jahantigh, M., Wei, Y., Noels, H., Akhtar, S., Zhou, Z., Koenen, R. R., Heyll, K., Gremse, F., Kiessling, F., Grommes, J., Weber, C., & Schober, A. (2012). MicroRNA-155 promotes atherosclerosis by repressing Bcl6 in macrophages. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 122(11), 4190-4202. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI61716
    • Doering, Y., Soehnlein, O., Drechsler, M., Shagdarsuren, E., Chaudhari, S. M., Meiler, S., Hartwig, H., Hristov, M., Koenen, R. R., Hieronymus, T., Zenke, M., Weber, C., & Zernecke, A. (2012). Hematopoietic Interferon Regulatory Factor 8-Deficiency Accelerates Atherosclerosis in Mice. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 32(7), 1613-1623. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.111.236539
    • Postea, O., Vasina, E. M., Cauwenberghs, S., Projahn, D., Liehn, E. A., Lievens, D., Theelen, W., Kramp, B. K., Butoi, E. D., Soehnlein, O., Heemskerk, J. W. M., Ludwig, A., Weber, C., & Koenen, R. R. (2012). Contribution of Platelet CX(3)CR1 to Platelet-Monocyte Complex Formation and Vascular Recruitment During Hyperlipidemia. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 32(5), 1186-1193. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.111.243485
    • Doering, Y., Manthey, H. D., Drechsler, M., Lievens, D., Megens, R. T. A., Soehnlein, O., Busch, M., Manca, M., Koenen, R. R., Pelisek, J., Daemen, M. J., Lutgens, E., Zenke, M., Binder, C. J., Weber, C., & Zernecke, A. (2012). Auto-Antigenic Protein-DNA Complexes Stimulate Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells to Promote Atherosclerosis. Circulation, 125(13), 1673-U190. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.046755
    • Grommes, J., Alard, J.-E., Drechsler, M., Wantha, S., Morgelin, M., Kuebler, W. M., Jacobs, M., von Hundelshausen, P., Markart, P., Wygrecka, M., Preissner, K. T., Hackeng, T. M., Koenen, R. R., Weber, C., & Soehnlein, O. (2012). Disruption of Platelet-derived Chemokine Heteromers Prevents Neutrophil Extravasation in Acute Lung Injury. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 185(6), 628-636. https://doi.org/10.1164/rccm.201108-1533OC
    • Kanzler, I., Liehn, E. A., Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2012). Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutic Approaches to Reduce Acute Atherosclerotic Complications. Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, 13(1), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.2174/138920112798868557
  • 2011
    • Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2011). Chemokines: established and novel targets in atherosclerosis. EMBO Molecular Medicine, 3(12), 713-725. https://doi.org/10.1002/emmm.201100183
    • Butoi, E. D., Gan, A. M., Manduteanu, I., Stan, D., Calin, M., Pirvulescu, M., Koenen, R. R., Weber, C., & Simionescu, M. (2011). Cross talk between smooth muscle cells and monocytes/activated monocytes via CX3CL1/CX3CR1 axis augments expression of pro-atherogenic molecules. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Molecular Cell Research, 1813(12), 2026-2035. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamcr.2011.08.009
    • Liehn, E. A., Tuchscheerer, N., Kanzler, I., Drechsler, M., Fraemohs, L., Schuh, A., Koenen, R. R., Zander, S., Soehnlein, O., Hristov, M., Grigorescu, G., Urs, A. O., Leabu, M., Bucur, I., Merx, M. W., Zernecke, A., Ehling, J., Gremse, F., Lammers, T., ... Weber, C. (2011). Double-Edged Role of the CXCL12/CXCR4 Axis in Experimental Myocardial Infarction. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 58(23), 2415-2423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2011.08.033
    • Vasina, E. M., Cauwenberghs, S., Feijge, M. A. H., Heemskerk, J. W. M., Weber, C., & Koenen, R. R. (2011). Microparticles from apoptotic platelets promote resident macrophage differentiation. Cell Death & Disease, 2, 10. Article e211. https://doi.org/10.1038/cddis.2011.94
    • Kramp, B. K., Sarabi, A., Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2011). Heterophilic chemokine receptor interactions in chemokine signaling and biology. Experimental Cell Research, 317(5), 655-663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexcr.2010.11.014
    • de Jager, S. C. A., Bermudez, B., Bot, I., Koenen, R. R., Bot, M., Kavelaars, A., de Waard, V., Heijnen, C. J., Muriana, F. J. G., Weber, C., van Berkel, T. J. C., Kuiper, J., Lee, S.-J., Abia, R., & Biessen, E. A. L. (2011). Growth differentiation factor 15 deficiency protects against atherosclerosis by attenuating CCR2-mediated macrophage chemotaxis. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 208(2), 217-225. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20100370
    • Sarabi, A., Kramp, B. K., Drechsler, M., Hackeng, T. M., Soehnlein, O., Weber, C., Koenen, R. R., & von Hundelshausen, P. (2011). CXCL4L1 inhibits angiogenesis and induces undirected endothelial cell migration without affecting endothelial cell proliferation and monocyte recruitment. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 9(1), 209-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-7836.2010.04119.x
  • 2010
    • Ren, M., Guo, Q., Guo, L., Lenz, M., Qian, F., Koenen, R. R., Xu, H., Schilling, A. B., Weber, C., Ye, R. D., Dinner, A. R., & Tang, W.-J. (2010). Polymerization of MIP-1 chemokine (CCL3 and CCL4) and clearance of MIP-1 by insulin-degrading enzyme. The Embo Journal, 29(23), 3952-3966. https://doi.org/10.1038/emboj.2010.256
    • Liehn, E. A., Piccinini, A.-M., Koenen, R. R., Soehnlein, O., Adage, T., Fatu, R., Curaj, A., Popescu, A., Zernecke, A., Kungl, A. J., & Weber, C. (2010). A New Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1/Chemokine CC Motif Ligand-2 Competitor Limiting Neointima Formation and Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Mice. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 56(22), 1847-1857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2010.04.066
    • Berres, M.-L., Koenen, R. R., Rueland, A., Zaldivar, M. M., Heinrichs, D., Sahin, H., Schmitz, P., Streetz, K. L., Berg, T., Gassler, N., Weiskirchen, R., Proudfoot, A., Weber, C., Trautwein, C., & Wasmuth, H. E. (2010). Antagonism of the chemokine Ccl5 ameliorates experimental liver fibrosis in mice. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 120(11), 4129-4140. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI41732
    • Rana, O. R., Schauerte, P., Kluttig, R., Schroeder, J. W., Koenen, R. R., Weber, C., Nolte, K. W., Weis, J., Hoffmann, R., Marx, N., & Saygili, E. (2010). Acetylcholine as an age-dependent non-neuronal source in the heart. Autonomic Neuroscience-basic & Clinical, 156(1-2), 82-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2010.04.011
    • Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2010). Manipulating the chemokine system: Therapeutic perspectives for atherosclerosis. Current Opinion in Investigational Drugs, 11(3), 265-272.
    • Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2010). Platelet-Derived Chemokines in Vascular Remodeling and Atherosclerosis. Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, 36(2), 163-169. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0030-1251500
    • Koenen, R. R., & Weber, C. (2010). Therapeutic targeting of chemokine interactions in atherosclerosis. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 9(2), 141-153. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd3048
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