The hypothalamic-pituitary axis regulates multiple endocrine systems (thyroid, adrenal, gonadal, growth, lactation). Hypothalamic and pituitary disorders are associated with high morbidity related to hormone dysregulation and post-surgical complications. Specifically, patients with pituitary adenomas suffer from severe complications especially when hormone excess is involved. For example, children with ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas leading to hypercortisolemia (Cushing disease) manifest with growth stagnation, obesity, glucose metabolism abnormalities and others. Other than hormone excess, several patients present with pituitary hormone deficiencies, either due to compression of the normal pituitary gland by a growing tumor or after surgical intervention, which can also be associated with life-threatening conditions and long-term decline in quality of life.

Our lab is focusing on identifying novel phenotyping and laboratory/molecular biomarkers of these disorders that could serve in the early diagnosis/detection of pituitary disorders, and explain the clinical and biochemical presentation of these patients and predict the course of their disease and response to treatment.