Gloria Vega

Gloria Vega is a Professor in the Department of Clinical Nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center's School of Health Professions, holding the Dr. Scott M. Grundy Distinguished Professorship in Human Nutrition. Her research focuses on dyslipidemia mechanisms, lipid metabolism, and cardiovascular risk factors. She has discovered novel causes of hypercholesterolemia, including familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 and metabolic pathways linking triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TGRLP) to LDL and HDL cholesterol levels.

Her work extends to evaluating lipid-lowering therapies (statins, fibrates, nicotinic acid) and their mechanisms of action. She has contributed to understanding the role of insulin resistance, adipose tissue dysfunction, and environmental factors like PFAS in lipid disorders. Her studies also address the interplay between obesity, diabetes, renal disease, and cardiovascular outcomes.

Key research trends in her publications include lipid biomarker analysis in metabolic syndrome, risk stratification in intermediate-risk populations, and optimizing statin use in vulnerable groups (e.g., women, CKD patients). She collaborates with institutions like the Gladstone Foundation and the Dallas Heart Study to advance translational research.

Dr. Vega’s lab investigates lipid pathways in dyslipidemia, drug efficacy, and metabolic syndrome pathophysiology. While no specific awards are listed, her contributions to lipidology are recognized through her extensive publication record and endowed professorship.