Unsolicited applications for scientific doctoral positions (m/f/d) and postdoctoral positions (m/f/d) are always welcome!
The same applies to applications for Bachelor's (B.Sc.) and Master's (M.Sc.) theses.
All applications should include an informative curriculum vitae in tabular form, a transcript of the modules completed to date or proof of previous degrees as well as a brief description of your professional aptitude and personal motivation. Further attachments are optional.
The Functional Genetics of Neurodegeneration laboratory, led by Dr. Dr. Hans Zempel, investigates the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative and rare genetic neurological disorders. Our research aims to identify disease mechanisms that regulate neuronal function and to develop innovative therapeutic strategies for genetic and neurodegenerative diseases.
Research Focus: Translational neuroscience and gene therapy
Alzheimer’s disease and tauopathies
We study the role of Tau isoforms, microtubule regulation, and cytoskeletal dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies, combining molecular, cellular, and in vivo imaging approaches, with a particular focus on Tau and modulating enzymes (TTLL, MARK, SPASTIN)
Mitochondrial and neurometabolic disorders
We investigate how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to neuronal degeneration using patient-derived cells and iPSC-based neuronal models, with a particular focus on mitochondrial DNA maintenance, bioenergetics, and cellular homeostasis, but also rare neurometabolic disorders, including L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria, with the goal of developing and evaluating targeted gene therapy approaches that bridge basic research and clinical application.
AAV vector platform
We operate an in-house AAV vector platform for vector design, production, purification, and quality control across multiple serotypes. The platform supports disease modelling, functional genomics, and preclinical gene therapy studies and serves as the foundation for an emerging university-wide AAV/Lentiviral Core Facility.
- Else Kröner Fresenius Foundation
- Jürgen Manchot Foundation
- German National Academic Foundation
- Cologne Fortune
- German Research Foundation (DFG)
- German Research Council (GRC)
- Alzheimer's Research Initiative (AFI)
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
- China Scholarship Council
Zempel H.
MAPT isoform 0N3R is essential for human brain development: Loss-of-function models for novel TAU-associated disease paradigms. Neural Regen Res. Aug. 1, 2026;21(8):3349-3351. doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-25-00298. Epub Sep 29, 2025.
PubMed PMID: 41017666
Bell-Simons M, Breuer H, Wunderlich L, Chmes H, Adam D, Klimek J, Buchholz S, Zempel H.
Tau Axonal Sorting and Interaction With Synaptic Plasticity Modulators Is Domain- and Isoform-Dependent in Human iPSC-Derived Neurons. Aging Cell. Nov 2025;24(11):e70215. doi: 10.1111/acel.70215. Published online Sep 24, 2025.
PubMed PMID: 40990631
Sakthivelu V, Schmitt A, Odenthal F, Ndoci K, Touet M, Shaib AH, Chihab A, Wani GA, Nieper P, Hartmann GG, Pintelon I, Kisis I, Boecker M, Eckert NM, Iannicelli Caiaffa M, Ibruli O, Weber J, Maresch R, Bebber CM, Chitsaz A, Lütz A, Kim Alves Carpinteiro M, Morris KM, Franchino CA, Benz J, Pérez-Revuelta L, Soriano-Campos JA, Huetzen MA, Goergens J, Jevtic M, Jahn-Kelleter HM, Zempel H, Placzek A, Hennrich AA, Conzelmann KK, Tumbrink HL, Hunold P, Isensee J, Werr L, Gaedke F, Schauss A, Minère M, Müller M, Fenselau H, Liu Y, Heimsoeth A, Gülcüler Balta GS, Walczak H, Frezza C, Jachimowicz RD, George J, Schmiel M, Brägelmann J, Hucho T, von Karstedt S, Peifer M, Annibaldi A, Hänsel-Hertsch R, Persigehl T, Grüll H, Sos ML, Reifenberger G, Fischer M, Adriaensen D, Büttner R, Sage J, Brouns I, Rad R, Thomas RK, Anstötz M, Rizzoli SO, Bergami M, Motori E, Reinhardt HC, Beleggia F.
Functional synapses between neurons and small cell lung cancer. Nature. Oct 2025;646(8087):1243-1253. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09434-9. Published online September 10, 2025. Erratum in: Nature. October 2025;646(8086):E17. doi: 10.1038/s41586-025-09638-z.
PubMed PMID: 40931078
Guo Q, Löhr T, Giavalisco P, Riehmer V, Zempel H.
A Pathogenic L2HGDH Variant Impairs Mitochondrial Targeting and Enzyme Function in L-2-Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria: Clinical and Functional Evidence from Two Affected Siblings. Genes (Basel). Aug 20, 2025;16(8):982. doi: 10.3390/genes16080982.
PubMed PMID: 40870031
Çakmak Durmaz Ç, Langerscheidt F, Mantey I, Xia X, Zempel H.
Knockdown of POLG Mimics the Neuronal Pathology of Polymerase-γ Spectrum Disorders in Human Neurons. Cells. March 22, 2025;14(7):480. doi: 10.3390/cells14070480.
PubMed PMID: 40214434
Buchholz S, Kabbani MAA, Bell-Simons M, Kluge L, Cagmak C, Klimek J, Haag N, Iohan LC, Coulon A, Costa MR, Kilinc D, Zempel H.
The tau isoform 1N4R confers vulnerability of MAPT-knockout human iPSC-derived neurons to amyloid beta and phosphorylated tau-induced neuronal dysfunction. Alzheimers Dement. May 2025;21(5):e14403. doi: 10.1002/alz.14403. Epub Feb 28, 2025.
PubMed PMID: 40019008
Al Kabbani MA, Köhler C, Zempel H.
Effects of P301L-TAU on post-translational modifications of microtubules in human iPSC-derived cortical neurons and TAU transgenic mice. Neural Regen Res. Aug 1, 2025;20(8):2348-2360. doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-23-01742. Epub June 26, 2024.
PubMed PMID: 38934386
Langerscheidt F, Wied T, Al Kabbani MA, van Eimeren T, Wunderlich G, Zempel H.
Genetic forms of tauopathies: inherited causes and implications of Alzheimer’s disease-like TAU pathology in primary and secondary tauopathies. J Neurol. June 2024;271(6):2992-3018. doi: 10.1007/s00415-024-12314-3. Epub 2024 Mar 30.
PubMed PMID: 38554150
Chudobová J, Zempel H.
Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase (MARK/Par1) isoforms differentially regulate Alzheimer’s-like TAU misassembly and Aβ-mediated synaptic pathology. Neural Regen Res. Feb 2023;18(2):335-336. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.346477.
PubMed PMID: 35900423
Schützmann MP*, Hasecke F*, Bachmann S*, Zielinski M, Hänsch S, Schröder GF, Zempel H#, Hoyer W.#(* indicates shared first authorship, #indicates shared last authorship)
Endo-lysosomal Aβ concentration and pH trigger the formation of Aβ oligomers that potently induce Tau mis-sorting. Nat Commun. July 30, 2021;12(1):4634. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-24900-4.
PubMed PMID: 34330900
Please support our research on Alzheimer's, dementia, and rare neurogenetic and mitochondrial diseases.
Donations can be made to the University Hospital of Cologne’s donation account.
The team
Leila Al Abed, MD candidate
Faruk Beletikin, cand. med.
Emilie Borgart, cand. med.
Elnaz Jajin, PhD, postdoctor
David Benitez Alvarez, M. Sc., PhD candidate
Hanin Chmes, M. Sc., PhD candidate
Malin Diercks B. Sc., M.Sc. candidate
Qiang Guo, M. Sc., PhD candidate
Meng Hou, M. Sc., PhD candidate
MhD Aghyad Al Kabbani, PhD, postdoctor
Jennifer Klimek, biological-technical assistant
Laura Köhler, M. Sc., PhD candidate
Andrew Naylor, PhD, postdoctor
Ubaid Ur Rehman, M. Sc., PhD candidate
Mitra Torabi, PharmD, Research Assistant
Maren Wojke, B. Sc., M.Sc. candidate
Laura Wunderlich, M. Sc., PhD candidate
Xinyu Xia, M. Sc., PhD candidate