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Tore Eid, MD, PhD

Professor of Laboratory Medicine, of Neurosurgery, and of Cellular and Molecular Physiology; Vice Chair for Education, Department of Laboratory Medicine; Director of Medical Education, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology; Thread Leader, Physiology, Office of Education; Associate Director, Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Yale-New Haven Hospital

Contact Information

Tore Eid, MD, PhD

Mailing Address

  • Laboratory Medicine

    PO Box 208035

    New Haven, CT 06520-8035

    United States

Research Summary

My laboratory’s research focuses on the discovery of novel diagnostics and therapeutics of epilepsy, one of the most common chronic neurological disorders in humans. Using state-of-the art techniques in chemical profiling by mass spectrometry, we are exploring alterations in the metabolome (entire profile of small molecule metabolites) in brain microdialysis fluids, blood, sweat and saliva samples from patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Changes in specific metabolites detected during the initial profiling will be further validated as potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for this disease. We are also investigating the role of glutamate, glutamine synthetase and astrocytes in the causation of epilepsy. Patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy have remarkably high levels of the excitatory and toxic amino acid glutamate in their brain. Recent studies by us have indicated that the glutamate overflow in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy may be due to a loss of the enzyme glutamine synthetase in astrocytes of the epileptic brain (Eid et al., Lancet 2004; 363: 28-37). An important goal of our research is to define the relationships among the loss of glutamine synthetase, brain glutamate concentrations, epileptic seizures and epilepsy-related brain damage. The laboratory is also involved in two additional research projects aimed at (1) discovering novel biomarkers of type 2 diabetes in Caribbean people and (2) studying the effects of exposure to electronic cigarette vapors in youths and adults.

Specialized Terms: Epilepsy; Neuropathology; Electron microscopy; Immunohistochemistry; Mass spectrometry; Clinical chemistry and toxicology; Therapeutic drug monitoring

Coauthors

Research Interests

Epilepsy; Immunohistochemistry; Neurosurgery; Mass Spectrometry; Medical Laboratory Science; Toxicology; Clinical Chemistry Tests

Public Health Interests

Chronic Diseases; Substance Use, Addiction

Selected Publications

Clinical Trials

ConditionsStudy Title
Diseases of the Nervous System; Mental Health & Behavioral ResearchExamination of Glutamate and mGluR5 in Psychiatric Disorders
Mental Health & Behavioral ResearchImaging mGluR5 and synaptic density in psychiatric disorders
Mental Health & Behavioral ResearchImaging SV2A in mood disorders
Mental Health & Behavioral ResearchStudying the Adult Brain