PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics, Department of Nutrition
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Genetics
Area of Interest
Folami Ideraabdullah, PhD, is an assistant professor of Genetics in the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine and holds a joint secondary appointment in the Department of Nutrition in the Gillings School of Global Public Health. She earned her PhD in comparative mouse genetics at UNC-Chapel Hill and completed postdoctoral training in epigenetic regulation of genomic imprinting at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Ideraabdullah lab studies mechanisms of environmental modulation of the epigenome during development as it contributes to Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, DOHAD. We examine persistent impacts on progeny development and health across the lifespan as well as potential for transmission to subsequent generations. A key focus is to identify naturally occurring genetic differences that drive susceptibility to these outcomes for the purpose of identifying and helping susceptible populations through precision medicine. Ongoing projects investigate the impact of maternal diet & pesticide exposure during pregnancy on offspring cellular & systemic metabolism in the context of obesity and related sequelae (e.g. NAFLD/NASH).
Awards and Honors
- Young Investigator Award for scientific merit, 22nd Vitamin D workshop, New York City, 2019
- Early Stage Investigator honoree for scientific merit & demonstrated potential for future leadership, Environmental Health Sciences Core Center Annual Meeting, Iowa City, 2019
