Improving patients' lives through research

The Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism is highly active in research, including active programs in basic, translational and clinical research. Although many areas of endocrinology are included in our research portfolio, we have focused on three main areas –thyroid cancer and endocrine oncology, osteoporosis and metabolic disease and diabetes.

Thyroid Cancer and Endocrine Oncology

In thyroid cancer, our division and The Ohio State University Thyroid Cancer Unit has a 40-year history of outstanding research. Our thyroid cancer investigators have helped define the natural history of thyroid cancer, identify treatment options, clone thyroid cancer related genes, create mouse models, develop therapies, perform clinical trials and indentify risk factors for the disease. Division investigators lead both a program project grant (PPG) and a specialized program of research excellence (SPORE) that are independently funded by the National Cancer Institute. These two translational research grants, in addition to other funded research in thyroid cancer and clinical trials, are run in conjunction with the Arthur G. James Comprehensive Cancer Center and are multi-college and multi-institutional in scope. Building on the unique history of Zollinger-Ellison’s Syndrome discovery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, in conjunction with the OSUCCC – James, we have a large clinical research program in neuroendocrine tumors.

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Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center (DMRC)

Our diabetes program is a strength of the division and research is performed in conjunction with The Ohio State University Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center (DMRC). Clinical research projects in diabetes are focused on obesity and the metabolic aspects of diabetes, evaluating disparities among populations, predicting and preventing type 1 and type 2 diabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes therapeutics, glucose monitoring and new technologies, optimizing in-hospital care and islet replacement strategies. Our division has been a leader in national and international NIH and other externally funded diabetes clinical trials. Our work in diabetes is performed collaboratively across campus with the Transplant Center, the Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, the Food Innovation Center, the Weight Management Center and a variety of other groups.

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Osteoporosis and Metabolic Disease

In addition, the division has been a leader in women's health and osteoporosis research. Performed in conjunction with the Center for Women's Health, we have a long track record of funded and high impact research in this area.