Elizabeth Joanna Tarling

Elizabeth Joanna Tarling is a Professor-in-residence in the Department of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), where she serves as a Principal Investigator leading the Tarling Lab. Her research focuses on the critical role of lipids in health and disease, with particular emphasis on cholesterol metabolism, macrophage function, and pulmonary diseases.

Dr. Tarling earned her BSc in Biochemistry and Biological Chemistry (2002) and PhD in Biochemistry and Nutritional Sciences (2006), both from the University of Nottingham. Her academic journey has positioned her at the forefront of research on lipid homeostasis and its implications for cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases.

Her research program investigates how lipids function as essential building blocks and signaling molecules, with particular focus on conditions where lipid dysregulation leads to diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fibrosis, and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). She has published extensively on ABC transporters, particularly ABCG1, and their role in lipid metabolism, inflammation, and immunity. Her work spans from basic molecular mechanisms to translational research with clinical applications, including investigating novel therapies for PAP such as statins and pioglitazone.

Dr. Tarling's publication record demonstrates consistent productivity with research spanning cardiovascular biology, pulmonary disease, and lipid metabolism. Her most recent work shows a strong emphasis on pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, macrophage lipid metabolism, and novel therapeutic approaches targeting lipid pathways. Her research integrates molecular biology, physiology, and clinical observations to develop precision medicine approaches for lung diseases.

• MBIDP First-Year Curriculum Instructor Award, UCLA MBIDP, 2022
• Irvine H. Page Young Investigator Research Award, ATVB Council of the American Heart Association, 2018
• David L. Williams Lectureship & Award for Outstanding Research in the field of Lipids & Lipoproteins, Kern Lipid Conference, 2017
• George J. Popjàk Award for Outstanding Contributions in the field of Atherosclerosis Research, UCLA, 2011

Dr. Tarling actively mentors a diverse team of researchers including postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, and staff scientists. Her lab members work on various aspects of lipid metabolism, from basic molecular mechanisms to clinical applications. She has secured substantial research funding that supports her team's investigations into novel regulators of lipid homeostasis using both targeted and unbiased screening approaches. Her collaborative work with Dr. Thomas Vallim has established the Tarling-Vallim Lab as a leading center for research on lipid metabolism and its implications for human disease.

The Tarling Lab utilizes advanced techniques including lipidomics, CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, and mouse physiology models to understand how lipids are handled, transported, and stored in normal and diseased states. Current research directions include precision medicine approaches for pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, crosstalk between lipid metabolism and immune responses, and identification of novel regulators of lipid homeostasis.