Naïma Moustaïd-Moussa

Naïma Moustaïd-Moussa is the Inaugural Executive Director of the Institute for One Health Innovation at Texas Tech University (TTU), where she also holds the Paul W. Horn Distinguished Professorship in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She is a Professor at TTU Health Sciences Center's Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry and founded TTU's Obesity Research Institute in 2019. A native of Morocco, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Paris and conducted postdoctoral work at Harvard School of Public Health.

• Education:
  • B.S. in Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Paris Sud-Orsay
  • M.S. & Ph.D. in Endocrinology (Cell, Molecular, Metabolic Aspects), Sorbonne University
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship in Molecular Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health

Her research focuses on nutrigenomics, obesity-related inflammation, and nutrient-gene interactions in metabolic diseases. She investigates how bioactive compounds (e.g., fish oil, curcumin, sorghum) reduce white fat inflammation, activate brown fat, and mitigate neuroinflammation. Her work bridges molecular biology, nutrition, and chronic disease prevention, with over 190 peer-reviewed publications funded by NIH, USDA, AHA, ADA, and industry partners.

Recent trends in her publications highlight anti-inflammatory dietary compounds, thermogenic adipose tissue, microbiome interactions, and neuro-metabolic effects of obesity. She holds prestigious fellowships from the American Heart Association, The Obesity Society, and National Academy of Inventors. Her lab (Nutrigenomics, Inflammation & Obesity Research) collaborates across disciplines, including biomedical engineering, plant sciences, and medicine.