Lipoproteins emerged and developed in consequence of the interest they awakened in public health and clinic.

By the beginning of XX century in the US, statistics indicated an increase of coronary heart disease (CHD), but the cause-effect model applied to infectious diseases was not applicable to heart disease. While the American government decided to outline the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), under the aegis of the National Heart Institute (NHI) from 1948 onwards, Gofman, in Berkeley, with the analytical ultracentrifuge elucidated the form of transportation of lipids in circulation, thus opening a new representation of lipoproteins; in 1949 he reported that Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) are increased in patients who suffered a myocardial infarction.

Following Gofman’s reports, NHI recruits young physicians who establish a bridge between research and clinic. Among them, Fredrickson stands out by his classification of hyperlipoproteinemias, endorsed by the World Health Organization, in 1970, popularizing phenotyping among physicians. Electrophoresis on paper allowed an important clinical application.

LDL, putative risk factors for CHD since 1950, were so confirmed, in 1977, by the FHS.

Alaupovic, arriving to this field in 1960s, put the emphasis on the protein moiety of lipoproteins, isolating a 3rd apolipoprotein, Apo C; he redefined the concept of lipoprotein, stressing the role of apolipoproteins in the atherosclerotic process.

Some laboratories force a change in itinerary to the other labs—new apolipoproteins could not be ignored. The rulers of NHI were constrained to integrate them in canonical knowledge, in 1973. Why? because the laboratories involved shared a common culture and apolipoproteins contributed to the elucidation of biochemical mechanisms of hypercholesterolemia.

Members of existing fields adapt to shifts in content, perspective or techniques because scientists’ goals and resources are defined in a process of interaction with scientific objects, other scientists and actors operating in various institutional settings.

Finally, success of scientists who reconfigure disciplinary matrixes also depends on captivating young disciples to further develop their research, a strategy followed by the scientists involved in lipoprotein’s studies; besides, they exercised influence through collaborations with clinicians, opening up new avenues in the practical application of the determination of lipoproteins.