Lourdes J. Cruz (born May 19, 1942) is a Filipino biochemist whose research has contributed to the understanding of the biochemistry of toxic peptides from the venom of fish-hunting Conus marine snails.

She worked with many biochemists and began her research on Conus geographus, a venomous fish-hunting cone snail found in the waters of Marinduque and Mindoro of the Philippines whose sting can result in death in humans.

Today, conotoxin peptides are very important and they are extensively used biochemical probes such as to test calcium channels in neurons and prohibitory of muscular movement when investigation actions at synapses.

For example, two classes of conotoxins are used as analytical agents: ω-conotoxin has been widely used for studying neuronal calcium channels and μ-conotoxin has been used when controlling muscular activity to observe events at the synapse.

In 2001, she launched an initiative called the Rural LINC Program which allowed indigenous women in the Philippines to work at a fruit-processing plant in order to combat poverty.