Karen Reue, PhD

Associate Director

Karen Reue, PhD, is a professor of Human Genetics in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Reue received her BS in Microbiology at the University of Arizona, and PhD in Microbiology at UCLA. She performed post-doctoral studies in molecular genetics of cardiovascular disease at the Rockefeller University in New York City.

The Reue laboratory is interested in the identification of novel genes and pathways that are required for metabolic homeostasis. A key goal is to understand molecular and physiological factors that determine sex differences in obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Current studies in mouse models and humans focus on the role of X chromosome gene dosage in the development of adipose tissue, regulation of serum lipid levels, and response to lipid-lowering drugs.  Dr. Reue is the Director of an NIH SCORE (Scientific Center of Research Excellence) on Sex Differences in the Metabolic Syndrome.