International Graduate School of Neuroscience

Research Interests

Prof. Dr. Jeremias Motte is a senior consultant neurologist at the Department of Neurology, St. Josef University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, and holds a W1TTW2 professorship for the immunophenotyping of neuroimmunological diseases. His translational research addresses autoimmunity of both the central and peripheral nervous system.

A central focus of this work is the contribution to the development and use of patient cohorts and biobanks that enable multimodal modelling of neuroimmunological disorders, with the aim of advancing mechanistic understanding and informing therapeutic strategies across diseases. Building on these resources, his working group uses a hiPSC-based cell culture platform to study disease processes in vitro. Using neuronal and astrocytic readouts, the influence of human biospecimens on cell function is examined. Methodologically, the work draws on a broad range of immunological techniques, including live-cell imaging, suppression assays, flow cytometry (FACS), and various immunoassays.

Complementary to this methodological and biological programme, a second pillar is the clinical evaluation, application, and scientific accompaniment of cell- and antibody-based immunotherapies in neuroimmunology. This includes CAR T cell therapy, T cell engagers — including bi- and trispecific antibodies — and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Activities span the full translational arc, from compassionate-use experience and biomarker-guided patient selection to the design, conduct, and scientific accompaniment of clinical trials in multiple phases, with a particular focus on investigator-initiated trials. This rapidly evolving field holds high relevance for both translational science and future patient care, and connects directly to the cohorts, biobanks, and immunophenotyping work of the first pillar.

The research is decisively shaped by a long-standing scientific and clinical mentorship by Prof. Dr. Ralf Gold, Director of the Department of Neurology at St. Josef University Hospital, who serves as principal partner across both pillars of this work. Beyond this central collaboration, the research is embedded in close, cross-disciplinary cooperation between several clinics and institutes of the Medical Faculty at Ruhr University Bochum, integrating expertise in neurology, hematology/oncology, rheumatology, and immunology, and is connected to international partners in clinical and basic neuroscience. Within IGSN, further close collaborations exist with PD Dr. Kalliopi Pitarokoili, Prof. Dr. Katrin Marcus-Alic, Prof. Dr. Simon Faissner, and with the team of Prof. Dr. Ingo Schmitz from the department of Molecular Immunology.

Applications for Bachelor’s and Master’s theses from students in biology as well as medical doctoral theses are welcome.