Stephen G. Young

Stephen G. Young is a distinguished Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). With appointments in both the Department of Medicine and Department of Human Genetics, he has established himself as a leading researcher in lipoprotein metabolism, cardiovascular disease, and nuclear lamin biology. His research has significantly advanced our understanding of triglyceride metabolism, particularly through his groundbreaking work on GPIHBP1 and lipoprotein lipase.

Dr. Young received his AB in History from Princeton University (1974), his MD from Washington University (1978), completed Internal Medicine training at UCSF (1981), and Cardiovascular Disease training at UCSD (1983). His research interests span multiple interconnected areas including lipoprotein metabolism, triglyceride regulation, nuclear lamins, progeria syndrome, and cardiovascular disease mechanisms. His laboratory has made seminal contributions to understanding how GPIHBP1 transports lipoprotein lipase across capillary endothelial cells and how this process regulates plasma triglyceride metabolism.

Analysis of his most recent publications reveals a strong focus on molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism, with particular emphasis on protein-protein interactions involving GPIHBP1, lipoprotein lipase, and ANGPTL proteins. His work increasingly integrates structural biology approaches with physiological studies to understand how subtle molecular changes affect whole-body lipid homeostasis. Notably, his research bridges basic science and clinical applications, with implications for treating hypertriglyceridemia and understanding premature aging disorders.

Among his significant honors are election to the National Academy of Sciences (2016), the Ernst Jung Prize in Medicine (2010), and being named a Corresponding Member Abroad of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (2021). He was also awarded an Inaugural Fellowship from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2021) and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden (2009).

Dr. Young's laboratory has received extensive funding from the National Institutes of Health, particularly through R01 grants and training programs. His work has established critical links between basic molecular mechanisms and clinical disorders of lipid metabolism, with his discoveries directly informing potential therapeutic approaches for metabolic diseases. His mentorship has shaped numerous careers in biomedical research, with his trainees establishing independent research programs across multiple institutions.

His research group operates at the intersection of biochemistry, cell biology, and physiology, utilizing advanced techniques including NanoSIMS imaging, structural biology approaches, and sophisticated mouse models. Current work focuses on the molecular mechanisms of intravascular lipolysis, the role of nuclear lamins in vascular aging, and the development of novel approaches to visualize and quantify metabolic processes at cellular and subcellular levels.