Aldons J Lusis

Aldons J Lusis is a Professor at the University of California Los Angeles with appointments in Medicine, Human Genetics, and MIMG (Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics). His research spans multiple disciplines at the intersection of cardiovascular biology, metabolism, and genetics.

Dr. Lusis's research focuses on understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis. His work integrates systems genetics approaches to study complex traits, with emphasis on gene-environment interactions, sex differences in disease susceptibility, and the role of the gut microbiome in cardiometabolic disorders. His laboratory employs mouse models, human genetics, and multi-omics analyses to uncover novel pathways in heart disease, metabolic disorders, and tissue repair mechanisms.

The trends in Dr. Lusis's recent publications reveal a strong focus on cardiometabolic interactions, with particular attention to sex-specific differences in disease mechanisms. His work spans from basic molecular mechanisms (mitochondrial function, lipid metabolism) to translational applications (therapeutic targets for heart failure, atherosclerosis). A significant portion of his recent work examines the gut-heart axis and how microbial metabolites influence cardiovascular health.

Dr. Lusis has established himself as a leader in systems genetics approaches to cardiovascular disease, mentoring numerous students and postdoctoral fellows while securing substantial research funding. His work has been supported by NIH grants, including T32 training programs for graduate students in bioscience.

His laboratory is part of UCLA's broader cardiovascular research ecosystem, collaborating with multiple institutes and centers focused on genetics, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases. The team utilizes advanced genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches to study disease mechanisms across multiple model systems.