Shad Abid

Education

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  UT Southwestern Medical Center

  2013 - 2015

  Postdoctoral fellow II Gender disparities in cystic fibrosis

  Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting autosomal recessive disorder and there is a clear sex-specific mortality difference present. My research was focused towards understanding the mechanism behind this gender disparity by dissecting out the role of female hormones Estrogen and Progesterone in the mechanism of disease progression. Using a murine model of infection, I have shown that females have worse outcomes than males, and in the females, estrogen rather than progesterone worsens response to… Show more Cystic fibrosis is a life-limiting autosomal recessive disorder and there is a clear sex-specific mortality difference present. My research was focused towards understanding the mechanism behind this gender disparity by dissecting out the role of female hormones Estrogen and Progesterone in the mechanism of disease progression. Using a murine model of infection, I have shown that females have worse outcomes than males, and in the females, estrogen rather than progesterone worsens response to infection by increasing inflammatory cytokines and inhibiting neutrophil killing of bacteria. In mouse models and human samples, I have demonstrated, for the first time that impaired neutrophil killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is estrogen-dependent and is abolished by nuclear estrogen receptor antagonism. Show less

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  UT Southwestern Medical Center

  2009 - 2012

  Postdoctoral fellow Spermatogonial Stem cells

  My postdoctoral work involved elucidating how the testis controls sperm development at the stem cell level.Our studies identified a novel factor ERBB3 to be localized in a rare subset of germ cells which divide to form mature sperm. ERBB3+ spermatogonia form direct contact with Sertoli cells which are the nurse cells and are known to be present near the stem cell. By mapping this novel spermatogonial type we were able to define the microanatomy at the basement membrane of the rat… Show more My postdoctoral work involved elucidating how the testis controls sperm development at the stem cell level.Our studies identified a novel factor ERBB3 to be localized in a rare subset of germ cells which divide to form mature sperm. ERBB3+ spermatogonia form direct contact with Sertoli cells which are the nurse cells and are known to be present near the stem cell. By mapping this novel spermatogonial type we were able to define the microanatomy at the basement membrane of the rat seminiferous epithelium. Identifying genes expressed only by the stem spermatogonia like ERBB3 will be essential to advance our understanding on how spermatogenesis is maintained during reproductive life. As its known that A-single spermatogonia give rise to differentiating spermatogonia that progress into meiosis for sperm production, ERBB3 might be able to regulate spermatogonial stem cell fate (Abid et al 2014). Show less

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  National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health

  2003 - 2008

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Molecular Genetics

  My thesis was focused on understanding the genetic and molecular aspects of male infertility. I was involved not only in basic research on human samples but also active interactions with clinicians and patients. About 50% of the cases of infertility are attributed to the male factor which could be due to absent or low sperm count. There are many factors which could be responsible for male infertility but in some cases it’s idiopathic. My research focused on these cases of idiopathic male… Show more My thesis was focused on understanding the genetic and molecular aspects of male infertility. I was involved not only in basic research on human samples but also active interactions with clinicians and patients. About 50% of the cases of infertility are attributed to the male factor which could be due to absent or low sperm count. There are many factors which could be responsible for male infertility but in some cases it’s idiopathic. My research focused on these cases of idiopathic male infertility. Through my work I have shown that Y chromosome microdeletions play a critical role in male infertility and also cause a more severe testicular damage (Abid et al 2008). I have shown the involvement of an RNA binding protein (RBMY) in male infertility and had for the first time reported the role of RBMY in sperm motility (Abid et al 2013). My research also showed that lack of Progesterone Receptor expression in male germ cells can be linked to impaired spermatogenesis (Abid et al 2008). Show less

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  St. Xavier's College

  1993 - 1998

  BSc Botany and Zoology