Dr. Peter Tontonoz, holder of the Frances and Albert Piansky Endowed Chair and distinguished professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and of biological chemistry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, is set to receive the Basic Research Prize from the American Heart Association. 

A former investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine, Tontonoz has made significant contributions to the understanding of cholesterol, fatty acid and phospholipid metabolism in the body. His laboratory work has helped uncover how the body keeps fat levels in balance, from individual cells to entire organ systems, helping scientists and doctors develop better treatments for heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.

Tontonoz has made groundbreaking discoveries that are reshaping how scientists understand and treat heart disease and metabolic disorders. He uncovered new ways the body regulates cholesterol, including finding a protein that controls how LDL (“bad”) cholesterol is removed from the blood — leading to potential therapies beyond statins. His research also revealed how metabolism and the immune system are linked, helping launch the field of immunometabolism. In addition, he identified enzymes that influence how the intestine and liver process fats, and more recently discovered a protein called Aster that helps move cholesterol inside cells and plays a key role in how the body absorbs dietary fat. Together, these findings are opening the door to more precise and effective treatments that could improve the lives of millions.

“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. 

Tontonoz will be presented with the Basic Research Prize from the American Heart Association during its Scientific Sessions 2025, taking place Nov. 7-10, 2025, in New Orleans. 

Read more about Tontonoz on the UCLA Health website.