Her independent study project, “Role of CPK Isoenzymes in the Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction,” was co-mentored by Galen Wagner at Duke University.
She left after two semesters but was encouraged to continue working on creatine phosphokinase (CPK) isoenzyme detection as a research assistant with Charles Roe at Duke University.
Limbird's research, showing the importance of the MB isozyme of CPK in myocardial tissue for diagnosis of cardiac infarction, was accepted as the basis for her PhD degree, awarded in 1973 by UNC Chapel Hill.
[8] After 25 years at Vanderbilt, Limbird chose to join minority-serving institutions, in hopes of using her scientific administrative, and personal experience to help counter the impact of systemic racism.
She has demonstrated how alpha-2 adrenergic receptors are involved in regulation of blood pressure, suppression of pain, sedation and the action of opioid drugs.