Affiliation: University of Florida

Dr. Rola S. Zeidan is a senior NIA T32 postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physiology and Aging at the University of Florida. Her research focuses on the biological mechanisms underlying functional decline and resilience in older adults, with particular emphasis on the role of iron dysregulation in skeletal muscle aging and recovery following physiological stressors such as surgery and sepsis. She employs translational approaches that integrate human cohorts, molecular biology, multi-omics, and biomarker discovery to identify mechanisms contributing to heterogeneity in aging outcomes and functional recovery.

Dr. Zeidan has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed publications, secured funding for two pilot studies, and received multiple awards recognizing her research and leadership. As she establishes her independent research program, her work will investigate how iron dysregulation and ferroptosis contribute to mobility decline, with the long-term goal of developing mechanism-based strategies to promote resilience and preserve functional independence in older adults.