Rob Hegele

Rob Hegele is a Distinguished University Professor at Western University, holding appointments in the Department of Medicine (Division of Endocrinology) and Biochemistry. He serves as a Scientist in Molecular Medicine at Robarts Research Institute and is the Director of the London Regional Genomics Centre. Dr. Hegele also holds two prestigious research chairs: the Jacob J. Wolfe Distinguished Medical Research Chair in Human Gene Function and the Martha G. Blackburn Chair in Cardiovascular Research.

Dr. Hegele's research focuses on the genetic basis of human disorders, particularly dyslipidemia (including high cholesterol and high triglycerides) and type 2 diabetes. With over 815 publications cited more than 60,000 times, he is recognized as one of the world's top 1% highly cited scientists. In 2021, Expertscape.com ranked him #1 globally in hypertriglyceridemia and #2 for disorders of lipid metabolism. His work bridges basic science and clinical practice, as evidenced by his care for over 2,400 patients in his lipid clinic at University Hospital and his involvement in pioneering new treatments.

Analysis of Dr. Hegele's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on clinical guidelines, genetic mechanisms of lipid disorders, and novel therapeutic approaches. His work spans from fundamental genetic discoveries to practical clinical applications, with particular focus on familial hypercholesterolemia, remnant cholesterol, and emerging treatments like gene silencing therapies for severe dyslipidemias. The publications demonstrate his leadership in developing consensus statements that shape global clinical practice.

• Young Investigator Award, American Federation for Clinical Research (1995)
• Canada Research Chair in Human Genetics, Tier I (2000)
• Elected to Membership, American Society for Clinical Investigation (2001)
• American Heart Association Top Ten Scientific Discoveries (2001)
• Government of Ontario Distinguished Researcher Award (2001)
• Canadian Diabetes Association Young Scientist Award (2002)
• Distinguished University Professor Award, UWO (2007)
• Elected to Fellowship, Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (2007)
• American Heart Association George Lyman Duff Memorial Lecture Award in Atherosclerosis Research (2019)
• Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists Award for Research Excellence (2020)

Dr. Hegele has made significant contributions to medical education and clinical practice, having trained numerous physicians, medical students, and graduate students. He has co-authored many clinical practice guidelines for cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes, and has contributed to international guidelines on familial hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. His laboratory has discovered the molecular genetic basis of 25 human diseases. Dr. Hegele's work exemplifies the translation of basic genetic discoveries into clinical applications that improve patient care.