Joachim Herz, M.D.

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. 

Medical School

Heidelberg University (1983), Medicine

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

Featured Publications

NHE6 depletion corrects ApoE4-mediated synaptic impairments and reduces amyloid plaque load.

Pohlkamp T, Xian X, Wong CH, Durakoglugil MS, Werthmann GC, Saido TC, Evers BM, White CL, Connor J, Hammer RE, Herz J, Elife 2021 Oct 10

Reelin regulates neuronal excitability through STriatal Enriched Protein Tyrosine phosphatase (STEP₆₁) and Calcium Permeable AMPARs in an NMDAR-dependent manner.

Durakoglugil MS, Wasser CR, Wong CH, Pohlkamp T, Xian X, Lane-Donovan C, Fritschle K, Naestle L, Herz J, J Neurosci 2021 Jul

Reelin Depletion Protects Against Atherosclerosis by Decreasing Vascular Adhesion of Leukocytes.

Calvier L, Xian X, Lee R, Sacharidou A, Mineo C, Shaul PW, Kounnas MZ, Tsai S, Herz J, Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2021 Feb ATVBAHA121316000

Reelin depletion protects against autoimmune encephalomyelitis by decreasing vascular adhesion of leukocytes.

Calvier L, Demuth G, Manouchehri N, Wong C, Sacharidou A, Mineo C, Shaul PW, Monson NL, Kounnas MZ, Stüve O, Herz J, Sci Transl Med 2020 Aug 12 556

Lipidomic and Transcriptomic Basis of Lysosomal Dysfunction in Progranulin Deficiency.

Evers BM, Rodriguez-Navas C, Tesla RJ, Prange-Kiel J, Wasser CR, Yoo KS, McDonald J, Cenik B, Ravenscroft TA, Plattner F, Rademakers R, Yu G, White CL, Herz J Cell Rep 2017 Sep 20 11 2565-2574

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

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

 Featured Books

Homologous Recombination for Gene Replacement in Mouse Cell Lines. In Methods in Cell Biology 43: Protein Expression in Animal Cells

Thomas E. Willnow and Joachim Herz (1994). San Diego, M. Roth, ed., Academic Press

Genetic Manipulation of Lipoprotein Receptors: Implications for Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis. In Cardiovascular Disease 94: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms, Prevention, Treatment

Thomas E. Willnow, Shun Ishibashi and Joachim Herz (1994). New York, L. Gallo, ed., Pienum Press

Gene Inactivation by Homologous Recombination-Animal Models of Plasma Lipoprotein Disorders, Chapter 8. In Concepts in Gene Therapy

Thomas E. Willnow and Joachim Herz (1997). Berlin, New York, Michael Strauss and John Barranger, eds., Walter de Gruyter

Physiology of the LDL Receptor-Related Protein: Functions in ApoE-Mediated Remnant Metabolism and Other Biological Processes, Chapter 18. In Lipoproteins in Health and Disease

Joachim Herz (1999). London, Betteridge, Illingworth, and Shepherd, eds., Edward and Arnold

ApoE Receptors in the Brain: Novel Signaling Pathways with Potential Relevance for Alzheimer's Disease. In Research and Perspectives in Alzheimer's Disease

Joachim Herz, Uwe Beffert, Thomas Hiesberger, Michael Gotthardt (2001). Berlin, Heidelberg, Hong Kong, London, Milan, Paris, Tokyo, Beyreuther, Christensen, Masters, eds.; Springer Verlag

Lipoprotein Receptors. In Encyclopedia of Molecular Medicine

Joachim Herz (). T. Creighton, ed; John Wiley and Sons

Lipoprotein Transport. In Transgenic Models in Pharmacology, Part 4. Cardiovascular System

Hans H. Bock, Petra May, Joachim Herz (2003). Berlin, Heidelberg, Hong Kong, London, Milan, Paris, Tokyo;, Stefan Offermanns, Lutz Hein, eds.; Springer Verlag,

Apolipoprotein E receptor 2 and very low density lipoprotein receptor: An overview.. In Fatemi, S.H. (ed), Reelin Glycoprotein, Structure, Biology and Roles in Health and Disease

Hans H. Bock and Joachim Herz (2008). New York, Springer

Conditional Animal Models for the Study of Lipid Metabolism and Lipid Disorders. In Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology

Hans H. Bock and Joachim Herz, Petra May (2007). Berlin, Heidelberg, Springer-Verlag

• 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)