Claudio Villanueva

Claudio Villanueva serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine. His research focuses on metabolic adaptations to environmental stressors, particularly cold exposure, with emphasis on adipocyte-liver communication and energy balance regulation. Affiliated with the Integrative Biology and Physiology program, he directs an active research laboratory investigating obesity-related metabolic diseases.

• B.A. in Biology, California State University, San Bernardino (2001)
• Ph.D. in Lipid Biochemistry, University of California, San Francisco (2007)

Professor Villanueva's research centers on how cells sense and control metabolism during stress responses, particularly temperature fluctuations. His laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms of energy expenditure, with special focus on adipocyte regulation of metabolic homeostasis and inter-organ communication between fat and liver tissues. This work bridges integrative physiology with molecular metabolism to identify therapeutic targets for obesity-related disorders.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent focus on adipose tissue plasticity, thermogenic mechanisms, and transcriptional regulation of metabolism. Key themes include PPARγ signaling networks, mitochondrial function in brown/beige fat, lipid remodeling during metabolic stress, and cross-tissue communication in obesity pathogenesis. His work employs interdisciplinary approaches spanning molecular biology, physiology, and systems metabolism.

Professor Villanueva maintains active research collaborations across UCLA and national institutions, with significant contributions to understanding transcriptional coregulators (TLE3, PATZ1), mitochondrial carriers (MPC), and lipid signaling in metabolic disease. His laboratory employs cutting-edge techniques including polysome profiling, lipidomics, and genetic models to dissect metabolic pathways. Current projects focus on translational regulation in adipose progenitors and hepatic-adipose crosstalk during metabolic stress.

The Villaneuvalab operates within UCLA's Center for Health Sciences, utilizing advanced facilities for metabolic phenotyping and molecular analysis. The laboratory maintains active collaborations with endocrinology, cardiology, and microbiome research groups to investigate systemic metabolic regulation.