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Joachim Herz, M.D.

Joachim Herz, M.D.

Professor

Endowed Title
Presbyterian Village North Foundation Distinguished Chair in Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutic Research; Thomas O. and Cinda Hicks Family Distinguished Chair in Alzheimer's Disease Research
School
Medical School
Department
Molecular Genetics | Neurology | Neuroscience
Graduate Programs
Neuroscience
  • 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

    Star Featured Publications

    Featured Featured Featured Featured Featured
    Regulation of the hippocampal translatome by Apoer2-ICD release.
    Wasser CR, Werthmann GC, Hall EM, Kuhbandner K, Wong CH, Durakoglugil MS, Herz J, Mol Neurodegener 2023 Sep 18 1 62
    Apoer2-ICD-dependent regulation of hippocampal ribosome mRNA loading.
    Wasser C, Werthmann GC, Hall EM, Kuhbandner K, Wong CH, Durakoglugil MS, Herz J, Res Sq 2023 Jun
    Reelin through the years: From brain development to inflammation.
    Alexander A, Herz J, Calvier L, Cell Rep 2023 Jun 42 6 112669
    Circulating Reelin promotes inflammation and modulates disease activity in acute and long COVID-19 cases.
    Calvier L, Drelich A, Hsu J, Tseng CT, Mina Y, Nath A, Kounnas MZ, Herz J, Front Immunol 2023 14 1185748
    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
  • Books

    Featured 

  • 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)