Research

Overview

The faculty and fellows in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology have a wide variety of research interests in clinical, translational, and basic investigation related to childhood endocrine disorders. Duke has a strong tradition of interdisciplinary research collaboration; our fellows and faculty currently collaborate with colleagues in the Duke Departments of Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, and Immunology and have appointments in the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute. Pediatric endocrine fellows also have the option to work with faculty at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC.

Research Faculty

Michael Freemark, MD, Chief
Areas of interest: Roles of fetal and placental hormones in the regulation of maternal metabolism and fetal growth; celiac disease in type 1 diabetes; control of food intake and weight gain in Prader Willi syndrome and Down syndrome; metabolomics of malnutrition in children

Deanna Adkins, MD
Areas of interest: Management of children with gender identity disorders, type 1 diabetes exchange

Pinar Gumus Balikcioglu, MD
Areas of interest: Metabolomics of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes

Robert Benjamin, MD
Areas of interest: Type 1 diabetes exchange, mobile teaching applications for graduate and undergraduate medical education

Laura Caitlin Page, MD
Areas of interest: Pediatric thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer

Clinical Research

  • Pathogenesis of insulin resistance and the prevention of type 2 diabetes in high risk children
  • Pathogenesis and treatment of childhood malnutrition in the developing world
  • Pathogenesis of obesity in children with Prader Willi syndrome and Down syndrome
  • Pathogenesis and management of celiac disease in children with type 1 diabetes
  • Control of gonadotropin secretion during puberty
  • Roles of the incretins (ghrelin, GLP-1 and GIP) in the regulation of glucose metabolism and the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes
  • Role of GH in the regulation of cardiac growth and function in puberty

Basic/Translational Research

  • Hormonal control of maternal metabolism and fetal growth
  • Roles of hormones and nutrition in immune cell development, function, and metabolism
  • Roles of macronutrients and gastrointestinal hormones in the control of appetite and weight gain 

Clinical Trials

For information about clinical trials currently being conducted in Division of Endocrinology, please visit dukechildrens.org.