Abhimanyu Garg, M.D.

Abhimanyu Garg, M.D.

  • Distinguished Chair in Human Nutrition Research
  • Internal Medicine - Endocrinology

Biography

Abhimanyu Garg, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and a member of its Division of Endocrinology. He also is a Director of Metabolic Diseases in the Center for Human Nutrition, Director of the Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Fellowship Program, and holder of the Distinguished Chair in Human Nutrition Research.

Dr. Garg is the leading expert worldwide on lipodystrophy treatment and research. He was the first researcher to test the hormone leptin as treatment for lipodystrophy as part of a clinical trial that started at UT Southwestern in 2000. In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug form of leptin for treatment of generalized lipodystrophy.

Dr. Garg received his medical degree and completed his residency in internal medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. He performed fellowships in endocrinology and metabolism at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and at UT Southwestern. He joined the faculty of UT Southwestern in 1988.

In his recent research, Dr. Garg is investigating whether leptin therapy will improve metabolic complication in hypoleptinemic patients with partial lipodystrophies.

In 2014, Dr. Garg received the Jean D. Wilson, M.D. Award for excellence in scientific mentorship in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at UT Southwestern. He is a member of the American Diabetes Association, the Endocrine Society, the American Society of Human Genetics, and the Association of Specialty Professors, among other professional organizations.

Meet Dr. Garg

Lipodystrophy Specialist

Patients travel from around the world seeking advice and treatment from Abhimanyu Garg, M.D., an expert in lipodystrophies, a group of acquired and inherited disorders affecting adipose (fat) tissue and characterized by selective loss of fat from various parts of the body. Lipodystrophies predispose patients to develop diabetes, fatty liver, and high blood levels of lipids.

Dr. Garg has studied lipodystrophy for nearly 30 years and was the first to test the hormone leptin as treatment for lipodystrophy as part of a clinical trial that started at UT Southwestern in 2000.

In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved metreleptin, which is the drug form of leptin, for treatment of generalized lipodystrophy – a huge accomplishment for Dr. Garg and his team that has proven to be life-changing for some patients.

Prior to that approval, standard treatment for lipodystrophy consisted of high-dose insulin plus triglyceride- or lipid-lowering medications. Metreleptin curbs the appetite and normalizes lipodystrophy patients’ metabolism, offsetting the metabolic abnormalities common in these patients.

In addition to his ongoing research and treatment of lipodystrophies, Dr. Garg also specializes in patients with lipid metabolism disorders that affect the way cholesterol and fat are used in their bodies.

These complicated disorders cause patients to experience high cholesterol or triglyceride levels that can lead to cardiovascular complications such as heart disease or stroke. Treatment involves the ongoing management of the underlying issues to minimize the risk of those severe outcomes.

As accomplished as Dr. Garg is in these areas, his approach to compassionate patient care has never changed.

“Each patient is unique. I believe in talking to them, listening to them, and learning from them,” he says. “I have been seeing some of my patients nearly their whole lives, and they mean a lot to me.”

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Education & Training
  • Internship - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India (1978-1978), Rotatory
  • Medical School - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India (1978-1982)
  • Residency - All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India (1979-1983), Internal Medicine
  • Fellowship - UT Southwestern Medical Center (1985-1987), Endocrinology & Metabolism
  • Fellowship - University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine (1983-1985), Endocrinology & Metabolism
Professional Associations & Affiliations
  • American Society of Clinical Investigation
  • American Heart Association
  • American Federation of Medical Research
  • American Diabetes Association
Honors & Awards
  • Keynote Speaker 1991, 8th Japan Diabetes-Lipid Research Seminar
  • Member 2000, American Society for Clinical Investigation
  • Endowed Chair in Human Nutrition Research 2001, UT Southwestern
  • Silver Jubilee Oration Award 2003, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Books & Publications
Research
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Disorders of Adipose Tissue
  • Diabetes