Jan Weiler

DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Novartis (Switzerland)

Papers

Total Citations

377

H-Index

About

Jan Weiler is a pioneer in nucleic acid technologies, with a career defined by transformative contributions to molecular diagnostics and RNA biology. His early work introduced hybridisation-based DNA screening using peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomer arrays, a groundbreaking approach that enabled the synthesis of up to 1,000 individual PNA sequences on polymer membranes with ~96% stepwise efficiency. This 1997 study, cited over 219 times, laid the foundation for high-throughput, sequence-specific detection platforms. A decade later, Weiler developed a novel microarray method to profile mammalian microRNAs, revealing new tissue-specific signatures of both known and predicted miRNAs. This 2007 work, with 158 citations, became a key tool for understanding RNA-based regulation and its implications in human disease. By bridging synthetic chemistry and functional genomics, Weiler’s innovations have empowered researchers to explore gene expression and regulatory networks with unprecedented precision. His work remains essential for students and scientists advancing diagnostics, therapeutics, and the study of non-coding RNAs.