Biography

Joachim Herz graduated from Medical School at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, in 1983. He continued training as a resident in surgery in Germany and England until he joined the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in 1985. There, he received training in Molecular Biology and conducted research work that included the identification and cloning of a novel member of the LDL receptor gene family, the LDL receptor-related protein (LRP). In 1989 Dr. Herz joined the Department of Molecular Genetics where in 1998 he attained his current position of Professor. He is the holder of the Thomas O. Hicks Family Distinguished Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease Research and the Presbyterian Village North Foundation Distinguished Chair in Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic Research. 

Dr. Herz’s current research focuses on the the molecular mechanisms by which the members of the LDL receptor gene family function as signaling and endocytic receptors in the brain and in the vascular wall.  Recent work from his laboratory have revealed therapeutically amenable mechanisms that can be exploited for the development of novel treatment approaches for Multiple Sclerosis and the prevention of late-onset Alzheimer's Disease. 

Education

Medical School
Heidelberg University (1983), Medicine

Research Interest

  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
  • Frontotemporal Dementia
  • Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Synaptic Physiology and Alzheimer's Disease

Publications

Featured Publications LegendFeatured Publications

Correction: Blood-brain barrier-associated pericytes internalize and clear aggregated amyloid-β42 by LRP1-dependent apolipoprotein E isoform-specific mechanism.
Ma Q, Zhao Z, Sagare AP, Wu Y, Wang M, Owens NC, Verghese PB, Herz J, Holtzman DM, Zlokovic BV, Mol Neurodegener 2022 Nov 17 1 71
Interplay of Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptors, LRPs, and Lipoproteins in Pulmonary Hypertension.
Calvier L, Herz J, Hansmann G, JACC Basic Transl Sci 2022 Feb 7 2 164-180
Wnt5a Promotes Lysosomal Cholesterol Egress and Protects Against Atherosclerosis.
Awan S, Lambert M, Imtiaz A, Alpy F, Tomasetto C, Oulad-Abdelghani M, Schaeffer C, Moritz C, Julien-David D, Najib S, Martinez LO, Matz RL, Collet X, Silva-Rojas R, Böhm J, Herz J, Terrand J, Boucher P, Circ Res 2021 Dec
Reelin changes hippocampal learning in aging and Alzheimer's disease.
Marckx AT, Fritschle KE, Calvier L, Herz J, Behav Brain Res 2021 Sep 414 113482
Serum amyloid A delivers retinol to intestinal myeloid cells to promote adaptive immunity.
Bang YJ, Hu Z, Li Y, Gattu S, Ruhn KA, Raj P, Herz J, Hooper LV, Science 2021 09 373 6561 eabf9232

Books

Featured Books Legend Featured Books

Honors & Awards

  • Harrington Innovator Award
    (2019)
  • NIH CMND Study Section
    Standing Member (2019)
  • Presbyterian Village North Foundation
    Distinguished Chair in Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic Research (2017)
  • NIH Merit Award
    (2015-2020)
  • Alexander Humboldt Foundation, Germany
    Advisory Board (2014)
  • Pitt-Hopkins Research Foundation
    Advisory Board (2014)
  • Alexander-von-Humboldt Professorship
    (2009)
  • Heinrich-Wieland Prized
    International Lipid Research Award (2007)
  • Thomas O. and Cinda Hicks Family Distinguished Chair
    (2002)
  • Wolfgang Paul Award
    Humboldt Foundation of Germany (2001)
  • Lucille P. Markey Scholar
    (1991)
  • Syntex Scholar
    (1991)