Almudena Veiga-Lopez, DVM, PhD
Associate Professor
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About
Dr. Veiga-Lopez graduated from Veterinary School at the Universidad Complutense of Madrid (Spain). She conducted her Ph.D. studies in Reproductive Biology at the National Institute of Agricultural Research (Madrid, Spain). Her graduate work focused on the regulation of ovarian follicular dynamics. Afterwards, she joined the laboratory of Dr. Vasantha Padmanabhan at the University of Michigan to conduct a post-doctoral fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology. Her post-doctoral research focused on the role that prenatal exposures to excess steroids have in programming the polycystic ovary syndrome, one of the most common endocrinopathies leading to infertility. This was reflected in a profound placental, neuroendocrine and ovarian phenotype, as well as accompanying comorbidities, such as insulin resistance. Dr. Veiga-Lopez was the first Center Scientist of the University of Michigan NIEHS P30 Core Center (Lifestage Exposures and Adult Diseases) where she began investigating how xenosteroids, endocrine disrupting chemicals with steroidal activity, alter the development of the developing fetus. Now, her laboratory investigates the effect and mechanisms by which endocrine disrupting chemicals can impair fetal and placental development. Her laboratory combines animal models and human samples with in vitro approaches such as immunohistochemistry, microfluidics, flow cytometry, transcriptomics, and metabolomics analyses in primary cells and tissues. The combination of these approaches has proven to provide answers to complex questions addressing the effects of prenatal exposures to endocrine disruptors on postnatal outcomes.
Clinical and Research Interests:
- Toxicology (Endocrine disrupting chemicals and obesogens)
- Pregnancy exposures
- Placental dysfunction
- Ovarian development
- Adipogenesis
Awards and Honors:
2023 Stephen B. Harris Mid-Career Scientist Award, Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology Specialty Section, Society of Toxicology
2023 Rising Star Faculty Award, Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago
2022 Transformative Biomedical Research and Academic Faculty through Leadership Opportunities, Training, and Mentorship (TRANSFORM) Program, NIGMS/NIH.
2016 Transition to Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Career Award, NIEHS/NIH
2011 – 2013 NIEHS-P30 Center Scientist, Public Health School, University of Michigan
2010 Young Investigator Award, Women in Endocrinology, Endocrine Society
2008 Endocrine Scholar Award, Endocrine Society
2006 PhD Thesis Outstanding Award, Complutense University of Madrid
Education
BS, Cervantes Institute, Spain
DVM, Complutense University, Spain
PhD, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Spain
PostGraduate Training:
Post-Doctoral Fellow. Mentor: Vasantha Padmanabhan. Department of Pathology, University of Michigan