BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum
Bochum, Germany
Country
Germany
Institution
Director, Department of Neurology, BG University Hospital Bochum with Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, Germany;
Research Group Leader, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Germany
Education summary
University of Würzburg, Germany
- Medical school 2004-2011, state examination
- Department of Neurology 2009-2014
Doctor of Medicine (Dr. med.), summa cum laude, 2014
Thesis: Role of NKG2D and its ligands in autoimmune myopathies and CNS inflammation
University of Münster, Germany
- Department of Neurology
Resident Neurology, 2012-2018
Postdoctoral Lecturer Qualification (Habilitation) in Clinical Neurology, 2020
Title: Immunregulatory Mechanisms in the Peripheral and Central Nervous System
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
- Master of Health Business Administration (MHBA), 2022
Additional Qualification:
Board Certification in Neurology (Facharzt), 2018
Special Qualification in Intensive Care Medicine, 2020
Career summary
Prof. Tobias Ruck is a neurologist and clinician-scientist specialising in neuroimmunology and muscle diseases. In 2025, he was appointed Director of the Department of Neurology and Head of the Heimer Institute for Muscle Research at University Hospital Bergmannsheil in Bochum, Germany. Previously, he served as Deputy Director of Neurology at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf and held senior consultant roles at the University of Münster leading the Neuromuscular Center Münster/Osnabrück.
His career has combined leadership in clinical care, translational research, and academic mentoring. He has led national and international multi-disciplinary teams and published more than 220 peer-reviewed articles, with a special focus on inflammatory myopathies, myasthenia gravis, and tissue-specific immune regulation. Prof. Ruck has received multiple awards, including the Felix-Jerusalem Prize (DGM), Dr.-Helmar-Lange-Preis (DMSG), and the DGN Pflegepreis.
He is a founding member of the International Myositis Society (iMyoS), serves on national guideline committees focused on neuromuscular disorders, and is Associate Editor of Frontiers in Immunology. His translational research integrates cell culture, animal models, and human systems by employing molecular and histopathological analyses, immune profiling, multi-omics technologies, and digital health approaches, backed by substantial public and industry funding.
What is the personal or professional achievement you’re most proud of?
Being appointed as Director of the Department of Neurology at the BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil and entrusted with the leadership of the Heimer Institute for Muscle Research is the achievement I am most proud of. This position reflects both clinical and scientific recognition and allows me to shape integrated patient care, foster translational research in neuromuscular and neuroimmunological disorders, and build sustainable academic structures. It also represents a unique opportunity to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and mentorship within one of Germany’s most respected institutions for neuromuscular research.
Why did you first join the WMS?
I joined the WMS to connect with an international community of researchers and clinicians dedicated to advancing neuromuscular disease research and care. The Society’s interdisciplinary and inclusive spirit, particularly its support of young investigators and translational science, reflects my own academic mission.
What is your goal in joining the Executive Board?
My goal is to contribute actively to shaping the future direction of the WMS by strengthening its role as a global catalyst for innovation, education, and clinical excellence. I aim to foster research and mentoring at the interface of neuroimmunology and neuromuscular medicine, where new disease concepts and overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms are emerging.
As we are entering a new therapeutic era—marked by targeted immunotherapies, genetic interventions, and digital biomarkers—the neuromuscular field is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges. I intend to support the WMS in proactively addressing these shifts by promoting translational collaboration, personalised treatment strategies, and structured support for young clinician-scientists working at the borders of traditional disciplines.
