Dr. José M. Ordovás stands as a preeminent figure in nutritional genomics, currently serving as Professor of Nutrition and a Senior Scientist at the USDA-Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University where he also directs the Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory. Born in Zaragoza, Spain in 1956, he completed his undergraduate work in chemistry and received his doctorate in Human Lipoprotein Metabolism from the University of Zaragoza in 1982 before conducting postdoctoral research at MIT, Harvard, and Tufts University. His distinguished academic journey includes appointments as Associate Professor of Nutrition from 1991 to 1998, Professor of Genetics at the Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences since 2000, and Director of the Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory since 2001, establishing him as a foundational leader in the integration of nutrition science with genomic research. Dr. Ordovás maintains significant international collaborations as a Senior Collaborating Scientist at the CNIC in Madrid and leads the Nutritional Genomics and Epigenomics Group at IMDEA Food, reflecting his global impact on the field.
Dr. Ordovás' pioneering research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of how genetic factors predispose individuals to cardiovascular disease and obesity through intricate interactions with dietary patterns and environmental influences. With an impressive publication record exceeding 950 peer-reviewed articles and an h-index of approximately 120, he has established himself as one of the most influential researchers in nutrigenomics, particularly recognized for his groundbreaking work on gene-diet interactions related to cardiometabolic traits. His laboratory's discoveries regarding the APOA2 gene and dietary fat interaction, the role of TCF7L2 gene in dietary prevention of type 2 diabetes, and the influence of gut microbiota on metabolic health have provided critical insights for personalized nutrition strategies. This body of work has positioned him as a world authority on how genetic variation modulates individual responses to dietary components, creating the scientific foundation for precision nutrition approaches to chronic disease prevention.
Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Ordovás has received numerous prestigious honors including the USDA Secretary's Award, the American Nutrition Society's Centrum Award, and the Gold Medal from the Spanish Society of Cardiology, while also being recognized with honorary doctorates from CEU San Pablo University and the Catholic University of Cordoba. He maintains influential positions as a member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Pharmacy, the Academia Europaea, and the American Society of Nutrition, where his expertise shapes national and international research priorities in nutrition science. Dr. Ordovás continues to advance the field through innovative research on AI-driven digital twins for personalized aging strategies and actively contributes to shaping global agendas on planetary health, food systems resilience, and the impact of ultra-processed foods. His ongoing leadership in training the next generation of scientists and directing major international consortia ensures his enduring influence on the future of nutritional genomics and precision health.
