Jochen Herms

Prof. Dr. Jochen Herms is a group leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Munich. His research focuses on the mechanisms of synaptic dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and Parkinson’s disease.

• Investigates synaptic damage as a key driver of neuronal death and dementia progression
• Utilizes transgenic and knockout mouse models to study disease-related proteins (APP, presenilins, BACE, tau, alpha-synuclein)
• Specializes in chronic in vivo two-photon microscopy for longitudinal disease tracking
• Collaborates with medical technology companies to develop early diagnostic optical methods

His work integrates molecular biology, electrophysiology, and advanced imaging to explore therapeutic approaches targeting synaptic loss, while also examining roles of glial cells, extracellular matrix, vascularization, and mitochondrial function in disease progression.