Folami Ideraabdullah, PhD

About

Dr. Folami Ideraabdullah is an assistant professor with a joint appointment in the Department of Nutrition and the Department of Genetics at UNC. She studies epigenetic mechanisms of development and disease. Her lab focuses on elucidating intersections between genetics and epigenetics that determine the extent and heritability of offspring response to maternal exposures under the paradigm of developmental origins of health and disease.

Her current projects investigating mouse models of maternal folate and vitamin D deficiency and maternal exposure to the endocrine-disrupting pesticide vinclozolin. The lab has also recently begun characterizing the role of human maternal obesity and gestational diabetes in offspring developmental outcomes via placental epigenetic mechanisms (SOWETO 1000, South Africa). These studies are critical to understanding mechanisms by which maternal health (determined by nutrition, toxicant exposure and genetics) influences offspring outcomes. The emphasis on the role of induced and naturally occurring genetic differences increases relevance in multiethnic/global populations.

Key Publications

Maternal Vitamin D depletion alters DNA methylation at imprinted loci in multiple generations. Xue J, Schoenrock SA, Valdar W, Tarantino L, and Ideraabdullah FY (2016). J Clin Epig, 8(107).

An assessment of molecular pathways of obesity susceptible to nutrient, toxicant and genetically induced epigenetic perturbation. Xue J, and Ideraabdullah FY (2016). Jour of Nutr Biochem.

Intergenerational response to the endocrine disruptor vinclozolin is influenced by maternal genotype and crossing scheme. Edward Pietryk, Kiristin Clement, Marwa Elnagheeb, Kuster R, Kilpatrick K, Love MI, Ideraabdullah FY (2018). Reprod Toxicol.

Dietary Modulation of the Epigenome. Ideraabdullah FY, Zeisel SH (2018). Physiol Rev.

Education