Vijay Hegde

Vijay Hegde is an Associate Professor at Texas Tech University's College of Human Sciences, Department of Nutritional Sciences. His research focuses on the interplay between obesity, diabetes, and their associated comorbidities, including cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

• Education:
  • B.S. in Botany, University of Mumbai (1990)
  • M.S. in Plant Physiology, University of Mumbai (1992)
  • Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield (1997)

Hegde’s work centers on the E4orf1 protein from human adenovirus type 36 (Ad36), investigating its potential to improve glycemic control and mitigate obesity-related pathologies. Recent studies highlight its applications in Alzheimer’s disease and fatty liver prevention.

His research trends include:

• Exploring the role of E4orf1 in distal insulin signaling
• Developing nanoparticle delivery systems for metabolic therapies
• Investigating branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in neurodegenerative diseases
• Linking obesity-diabetes-inflammation to Alzheimer’s pathology
• Studying antidiabetic agents like Insparin for novel treatments
• Examining mitochondrial dysfunction in metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders

Hegde teaches NS4320 Nutritional Biochemistry and serves as a Graduate Advisor. He operates the Obesity and Metabolic Health Lab, which focuses on translational research bridging molecular mechanisms to population-level health solutions.