Lina Obeid, M.D.
Executive Committee Member, Center on Aging
Boyle Professor of Medicine, Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry & Molecular
Biology
Associate Director of Research Program, Center on Aging
Office: 843-876-5169
Fax: 843-876-5172
Email: obeidl@musc.edu
Interests:
We work with lipid molecules, which were thought to be primarily structural components
of cells. We and others have shown that, in fact, they are also functional components
whereby they are broken down in a regulated manner on cellular membranes and
parts of them transmit messages inside the cell.
We have demonstrated a role for one of these lipids (ceramide) in cell aging and in cell death. We have used yeast genetic techniques to obtain enzymes involved in synthesizing and breaking down these lipids.
Using these yeast genes and the human genome, we have been able to obtain the complementary human genes. These studies in yeast and in human cells have led us to implicate these lipids in cellular stress responses.
Caloric restriction is the only thing that has been demonstrated to prolong life span in several organisms. Though the mechanisms by which this occurs are largely unknown, it is thought that pathways involved in resistance to stress responses (such as oxidative stress, UV irradiation, heat stress, etc.) are potential unifying, underlying mechanisms for prolonging life span.
Our current work is focused on studying the mechanisms by which these lipid
molecules mediate cellular stress responses and consequently modulate the aging
process.
Professional History:
Dr. Obeid received her M.D. degree from the American University in Beirut in
1983. She did her internship and residency training in medicine at Duke University
in North Carolina from 1983 to 1986. Dr. Obeid then performed fellowship training
in Endocrinology at Duke coupled with post-doctoral training in Dr. Robert J.
Lefkowitz laboratory.
In 1988 Dr. Obeid participated in a faculty re-training in Geriatrics at Duke University and joined the Duke faculty as an instructor. In 1992 she became assistant professor and progressed to associate professor in 1996. In 1998, Dr. Obeid was recruited to the Medical University of South Carolina as the Boyle Professor of Medicine.
Dr. Obeid’s research has focused on the role of novel lipid second messengers in the regulation of apoptosis and senescence. Dr. Obeid has two R01 grants; one of which is funded by the National Institute on Aging. She has a Veteran's Administration Merit Award, which is also related to her work in cell aging.
Dr. Obeid has published more than 80 articles in peer-reviewed journals. She is on the scientific advisory board for the Paul Beeson Physicians Faculty in Aging Research Program. Dr. Obeid is also a permanent member of the NIH Study Section Medical Biochemistry. She was recently elected to the Association of American Physicians.