Nicholas Hertz, Ph.D

Nicholas T. Hertz, Ph.D. is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Montara Therapeutics, Inc., a startup focused on developing treatments for central nervous system (CNS) diseases based on precision medicine and genetically validated targets.31

Background and Education

Dr. Hertz is originally from Santa Monica, California. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry in 2006.4 He then pursued his Ph.D. in chemistry and chemical biology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), working with Drs. Kevan Shokat and Al Burlingame.4 After completing his Ph.D. in 2013, he conducted postdoctoral research at Stanford University with Dr. Marc Tessier-Lavigne.42

Career Highlights

1. During his time at UCSF, Dr. Hertz made a significant discovery related to PINK1, a mitochondrial kinase implicated in early-onset Parkinson's disease.2

2. In 2013, he co-founded Mitokinin with Dr. Kevan Shokat to develop treatments for Parkinson's disease based on their discoveries at UCSF.2

3. Mitokinin was acquired by AbbVie in 2023 for $110 million upfront, with a total potential deal value of up to $655 million.12

4. In 2024, Dr. Hertz launched Montara Therapeutics to pursue therapies for CNS diseases, particularly focusing on Alzheimer's and other dementias.23

Achievements and Recognition

Dr. Hertz is an accomplished scientific leader with over 20 publications in prestigious journals such as Cell, Neuron, and others.5 He received the 2024 UCSF Alumni Early-Career Award for his achievements in the field of biomedical research.2

Personal Interests

Outside of his scientific work, Dr. Hertz is an avid surfer and finds inspiration in nature. He is married to Janel Molton Hertz, a fashion entrepreneur, and they have three children.2