Clinical Research in Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders

Our physicians and scientists are committed to advancing the treatment of diseases and improving the care of patients through clinical research studies. These studies include investigations of new treatments for diabetes and other endocrine disorders, newer surgical approaches to parathyroid and thyroid conditions, and surgical and medical management of obesity.

Diabetes and Metabolic Research

The University Hospitals Diabetes and Metabolic Research program brings together scientists, clinicians, educators, and trainees to study diabetes, obesity, and metabolic diseases. The program focuses on both laboratory and clinical research to better understand how these conditions develop and how they can be prevented and treated. Researchers work across disciplines to address health disparities, test new therapies, and improve patient outcomes. Through clinical trials, translational studies, and shared research resources, the program aims to advance care and improve the lives of people affected by metabolic disease.

Thyroid Research

Research in thyroid disease has focused on understanding how hormonal factors influence thyroid function in patients with cancer, including the role of gonadal steroids in thyroid cancer biology and management. Long-term follow-up of large patient cohorts has also been central to this work, with investigators studying clinical, biochemical, and imaging characteristics to better predict outcomes and guide long-term care for individuals with thyroid cancer.

Pituitary and Adrenal Research

Research on pituitary hormone secretion began in the early 1980s and has since included extensive studies of patients with pituitary hormone abnormalities. These populations include individuals with primary or metastatic pituitary tumors, hypothalamic tumors, and other mass lesions affecting the pituitary region. This body of work has helped clarify the mechanisms underlying pituitary hormone loss (hypopituitarism) and has demonstrated that, in some cases, pituitary function may be reversible.

Prior to these findings, loss of pituitary hormone function was widely believed to be permanent, requiring lifelong hormone replacement therapy. Research findings challenged this view by identifying mechanisms of dysfunction and providing evidence that recovery of pituitary function is possible in select patients. A large, longitudinal database of patients with pituitary tumors, developed over more than 40 years, continues to support multiple ongoing and retrospective sub-studies.

Current Studies on Adrenal Function

Adrenal function during critical illness has been a major focus of our investigations. Studies conducted over the past few years have significantly impacted the management of critically ill patients with adrenal dysfunction. Our studies addressed important issues in the current understanding of adrenal function during critical illness, the role of adrenal hormones, and the serious limitations of biochemical testing of adrenal steroid secretion.

Another study examines the best method to provide glucocorticoid replacement for those with deficiencies during a critical illness such as surgery.

The impact of liver disease on adrenal steroid metabolism is also under investigation. The liver is the primary organ that metabolizes glucocorticoids, and any alterations in liver function are highly likely to slow down steroid metabolism and alter the doses needed to replace or treat conditions requiring glucocorticoid therapy.    

Studies on Patients with Adrenal Tumors  

Benign adrenal tumors are often discovered incidentally in patients, and the incidences increase with age. While most of these tumors do not function, some have a variable degree of hormone secretion leading to various clinical manifestations. The current recommendation is to have all functional tumors surgically removed. The current practice is to treat all patients who are having surgery to remove these tumors is to treat them with large doses of hydrocortisone for a while. We are conducting a study to identify through some hormonal testing those who would and others who would not need to be treated with glucocorticoids before, during, and after that surgery.