A single memory can shape the course of a person’s entire life. For Farah Lubin, Ph.D., distinguished professor in the UAB Department of Neurobiology, memories didn’t just influence her life—they shaped her career, driving her to become a trailblazer in the field of epigenetics and memory research.
Lubin’s academic journey began in immunology, where she earned her Ph.D. in molecular genetics and immunology. Fueled by a deep curiosity and passion, she explored the molecular mechanisms behind immune memory, studying T and B memory cells.
“I fell in love with immunology from undergrad,” Lubin said. “This field had every type of ‘ology’ or science you could imagine—physics, chemistry, pharmacology—and that’s what really made me fall in love with immunology and science in general.”
But as Lubin entered her postdoctoral phase and began applying for fellowships, she found herself drawn to neuroscience. While looking through available fellowships, one molecule stood out to her: NF-κB, a transcription factor that plays a major role in the immune response in B memory cells.
“I started reading about memory formation and came across the work of Eric Kandel,” she said, referencing the Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist often credited with proving the molecular basis of memory. “The literature was placing NF-κB solely in the context of inflammation, while another transcription factor, CREB, was being linked to synaptic plasticity.” (Synaptic plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change the strength of connections between synapses in response to activity and experience—a fundamental mechanism underlying learning and memory that allows the brain to adapt and reorganize itself.)
Lubin, whose background was deeply rooted in immunology, saw something others hadn’t. “As an immunologist, I knew CREB is just as involved in immune responses as NF-κB. They’re both transcription factors—they just regulate different gene networks. So why was one only associated with plasticity and the other with inflammation?”
“The dual role of these transcription factors eventually brought me to the neuroscience field and epilepsy research,” Lubin said. Studying temporal lobe epilepsy improved her understanding of how the brain learns and retains memories, as epilepsy reveals these processes.
During her second fellowship, Lubin shifted her focus from brain changes in memory formation to life's molecular marks on DNA. This led her into the world of neuroepigenetics—the study of how gene expression changes in brain cells are shaped by experience.
Not long after, Lubin made history by discovering that a form of epigenetic regulation—DNA methylation—can directly influence BDNF, a key molecule for learning and memory, in the adult brain. It was a discovery that challenged longstanding assumptions and reframed how scientists think about gene regulation in non-dividing neurons.
Today, Lubin continues to break ground by laying the foundation for the next generation of scientists. “My work stands for itself,” she said. “All I've ever wanted is to do something meaningful—something that can help improve lives.” That mission is already inspiring others. “I have high school students emailing me,” she added. “They’re like, ‘I want to talk about epigenetics.’”
Looking ahead, Lubin aims to deepen our understanding of the epigenome, explore non-coding RNAs, and identify new drug targets for memory-related disorders. But her vision goes beyond the lab. She’s passionate about how everyday choices—exercise, sleep, diet, stress management—can influence brain function on a molecular level. Our memories are our history ... I think people can become better versions of themselves just by remembering who they really are and where they come from.”