Dr. Peter Tontonoz, a distinguished professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and holder of the Frances and Albert Piansky Endowed Chair, has been selected to receive the Basic Research Prize from the American Heart Association (AHA). The award will be presented during the AHA’s Scientific Sessions 2025, scheduled for November 7-10 in New Orleans.
Dr. Tontonoz is recognized for his significant contributions to understanding cholesterol, fatty acid, and phospholipid metabolism. His research has provided insights into how fat levels are regulated in the body, which has aided scientists and clinicians in developing improved treatments for heart disease, diabetes, and related conditions.
His work includes identifying a protein that controls the removal of LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream, suggesting new therapeutic approaches beyond statins. Dr. Tontonoz also helped establish connections between metabolism and immune function, contributing to the development of immunometabolism as a field. Additionally, he discovered enzymes involved in fat processing by the intestine and liver and recently identified a protein called Aster that plays a role in intracellular cholesterol movement and dietary fat absorption.
“Lipids such as cholesterol are critical determinants of cardiovascular disease, but there is still much to learn about how they affect the body. The mission of my work is to illuminate the intricate ways fat-related processes influence both normal tissue function and disease pathology in hopes of finding new ways to prevent or treat cardiovascular conditions,” Tontonoz said.
In addition to his laboratory research, Dr. Tontonoz has mentored scientists who now lead their own research groups. He serves on National Institutes of Health study sections and sits on editorial boards for several scientific journals, including the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Genes & Development.
