UCLA Researcher Peter Tontonoz Receives 2025 Basic Research Prize for Transformative Lipid Metabolism Discoveries

Peter Tontonoz, M.D., Ph.D., distinguished professor at the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA Health, will receive the Basic Research Prize from the American Heart Association during its Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans. The award recognizes Dr. Tontonoz's transformative contributions to understanding cholesterol, fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism, which have fundamentally changed how heart disease and metabolic disorders are understood and treated.

Dr. Tontonoz's research has identified critical mechanisms that maintain fat balance in the body, from cellular levels to entire organ systems. His most impactful discovery includes the identification of an E3 ligase that targets and degrades the LDL receptor, opening new avenues for cholesterol-lowering therapies beyond traditional statin treatments. This breakthrough provides alternative approaches for patients who cannot tolerate statins or require additional cholesterol management options.

His work on the nuclear receptor Liver X Receptor (LXR) demonstrated the crucial intersection between immunology and metabolism, helping establish the emerging field of immunometabolism. Additionally, Dr. Tontonoz discovered important membrane phospholipid remodeling enzymes that affect intestinal and liver physiology. Most recently, he characterized a novel cholesterol transfer protein called Aster, which moves cholesterol from the plasma membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum and serves as a key factor in dietary lipid uptake.

According to Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's 2025-2026 volunteer president, Dr. Tontonoz's research has transformed scientific understanding of lipid metabolism and its role in cardiometabolic disease. His contributions impact every individual's heart health and have paved the way for more precise and effective treatments that can improve outcomes for millions of patients worldwide. The American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, where Dr. Tontonoz will receive his award, serves as a premier global exchange for the latest scientific advancements in cardiovascular science.

Beyond his laboratory achievements, Dr. Tontonoz has mentored numerous scientists who now lead successful research groups throughout the scientific community. He serves on several National Institutes of Health study sections and editorial boards for peer-reviewed scientific journals including the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Genes & Development. His early career showed remarkable promise, with 12 scientific publications as a graduate student, including identification of PPAR-gamma as the master regulator of adipose tissue development and SREBP1c as a controller of fat production.

Dr. Tontonoz expressed that being recognized by the Association is a privilege, noting that lipids such as cholesterol remain critical determinants of cardiovascular disease with much still to learn about their effects on the body. His mission continues to focus on illuminating the intricate ways fat-related processes influence both normal tissue function and disease pathology, aiming to discover new prevention and treatment strategies for cardiovascular conditions. The American Heart Association, as described on https://www.heart.org, remains a relentless force for longer, healthier lives through groundbreaking research and health advocacy.