Month: October 2018

Meet the Endocrinologist: Leanne Hodson, expert on metabolic physiology

Published on by Society for Endocrinology1 Comment

Meet Leanne Hodson, Professor of Metabolic Physiology at the University of Oxford. She specialises in changes in metabolism caused by nutrition including the metabolic consequences of obesity.  She has been awarded the SfE Starling Medal and will be delivering her Medal Lecture at SfE BES 2018, 19-21 November in Glasgow. In our latest interview, she tells us more about her career and what she is looking forward to at this year’s conference.

Can you tell us a little about your current position and research?

I am currently a British Heart Foundation Senior Research Fellow in Basic Science and Professor of Metabolic Physiology at the University of Oxford. The lab is focussed on research related to human health and metabolism; this includes the influence of specific nutrients and the consequences of obesity and obesity-related diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although our work has a focus on hepatic metabolic physiology, it covers a number of broader areas including: endocrinology, nutrition, hepatology, diabetes and liver transplantation.  We use a combination of human in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro models to undertake our studies.

Can you share some of your proudest career moments?

I am originally from New Zealand and had various career paths before eventually making it to University, where I obtained my PhD.  In 2004, I received the Girdlers Health Research Council (New Zealand) career development fellowship which provided the opportunity to work at the University of Oxford with Professors Keith Frayn and Fredrik Karpe. I was awarded a British Heart Foundation Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellowship in 2011, and became an Associate Professor of Diabetes and Metabolism in 2014. In 2015, I was awarded a British Heart Foundation Senior Basic Science Research Fellowship and in 2018 became Professor of Metabolic Physiology.

I am proud of many things including the reputation and the quality of work my lab, which leads to collaboration requests from well-respected and very talented scientists. Getting my fellowships, becoming a professor and getting the SfE Starling medal are definitely highlights. However, I am most proud of the environment I have been able to create for my research group, which is dynamic, productive and supportive – I am fortunate to work (and collaborate) with a wonderful group of individuals.

What are you presenting at your Medal Lecture at SfE BES 2018?

My group is interested in understanding why fat starts to accumulate in the liver and what the effects of insulin and specific nutrients or therapies are on this process, including the subsequent effect this then has on metabolism. In my Medal Lecture I will present what we have learnt over the last 14 years and how we have further developed and incorporated new models and state-of-art methodologies to study human liver fat metabolism.

Is there anything you are particularly looking forward to at this year’s conference?

I am very much looking forward to hearing the Early Career talks and going to the poster sessions, as it is a great chance to learn what work is coming out. Also I am going to the applied physiology workshops, as these are something I have not experienced before and I am sure I will learn a lot from them.

What do you think are the biggest challenges in your research area right now?

Developing models (particularly in vitro models) that better recapitulate the human disease that we are trying to study, as the historical ones, although interesting, are not reflective of human physiology.

What do you think will be the next major breakthrough in your field?

Good question! I would like to think we will soon have more sensitive and specific biomarkers to detect the different stages of NAFLD. Improved biomarkers will allow us to study changes in hepatic metabolism at clearly defined stages during the progression of NAFLD, therefore increasing our likelihood of developing therapeutic agents to treat the disease.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

There are two things I most enjoy about my work:

  • the process of watching projects come to fruition and seeing the results come together is really exciting,
  • creating a supportive environment that challenges individuals to reach their full potential and grow in confidence.

Who do you most admire professionally?

Professionally, there have been many people (both senior and junior) past and present who I admire for a multitude of reasons; including their professionalism, patience, knowledge, determination, resilience and enthusiasm. They have passed on little gems of information – through their actions and words. These individuals know who they are and I cannot thank them enough for their support over the years.

I have been involved in the sport of rowing for over 30 years and, as a coxswain, I have been involved in boats that had world-class coaching and two coaches particularly stand out, despite their very different coaching manners. They both fostered a strong team commitment, had the ability to personalise their coaching to bring out an individual’s full potential (and beyond), and kept the focus on the process (rather than the outcome). For this I have huge admiration and have learnt to apply these techniques to my academic career.

Finally my grandfather, who passed away 4 years ago was a very important person in my life, along with a great work ethic (and zest for life) he was an incredibly well-respected rugby coach who had a unique ability to bring out the best in teams.

Any words of wisdom for aspiring endocrinologists out there?

Take the unexpected opportunities that present themselves (they could be the best decision you ever make) and if you are unsure find a mentor, who you trust and who is honest and constructive (listen to their advice, even if it is not what you want to hear). Remember that an academic career comes with disappointments. I don’t use the word failure as none of us fail, we just take different paths to successes, so it is important to persevere and build resilience but most importantly enjoy what you do!

 

You can hear Professor Hodson’s Starling Medal Lecture, “Hepatic fatty acid metabolism: the effect of metabolic and nutritional state” on Monday 19 November, in the Lomond Auditorium at 14:45-15:15. Find out more about the scientific programme for SfE BES 2018.

Meet the Endocrinologist: Maria-Christina Zennaro, expert in the genetic mechanisms of aldosterone-related disorders

Published on by Society for Endocrinology3 Comments

Meet Maria-Christina Zennaro, a professor in the Paris Cardiovascular Research Center at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm).  She specialises in genetic mechanisms of aldosterone-related disorders. She has been awarded the SfE European Medal and will be delivering her Medal Lecture at SfE BES 2018, 19-21 November in Glasgow. In our latest interview, she tells us more about her work and what she is looking forward to at the SfE BES 2018 conference.

Can you tell us a little about your current position and research?

I am a research professor heading the team exploring the genetic mechanisms of aldosterone-related disorders at the Paris Cardiovascular Research Centre at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm). My team is interested in unravelling the genetic and genomic mechanisms of aldosterone-related disorders, particularly primary aldosteronism, by combining clinical work with genome-wide strategies and mechanistic studies in cell and animal models. I am also an associated investigator at the Genetics Department of the European Hospital Georges Pompidou (HEGP) in Paris, where I coordinate the genetic diagnosis of pseudohypoaldosteronism type 1 and primary aldosteronism at the genetics laboratory, which is the French referral centre for the genetic diagnosis of these diseases.

What inspired you into endocrinology?

I received my MD and board certification in endocrinology at the University of Padova (Italy) and completed a PhD in molecular endocrinology at the University Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris. I had the chance to have great mentors, in particular Decio Armanini, who shared his passion for research with me, and John W Funder, who has supported my career ever since. In Paris, I had the chance to work with major players in the field of arterial hypertension and aldosterone, setting the basis for my future research.

What are you most proud of in your career so far?

After obtaining a tenured position as an Inserm researcher twenty years ago, I developed my own research group, which is now benefitting from the outstanding environment of the Paris Cardiovascular Research Centre and HEGP. I am particularly proud of having been able to create our research group, with the successive recruitment of two great researchers, with whom I have taken pleasure in sharing my working career with for many years.

What are you presenting in your Medal Lecture at SfE BES 2018?

I will present an update on the genetic and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of primary aldosteronism. In particular, I will summarise our current knowledge on the genetics of primary aldosteronism, notably our recent paper identifying a new gene in early onset primary aldosteronism, and discuss the pathogenic mechanisms leading to increased aldosterone production and cell proliferation. I will also discuss perspectives for clinical management of patients and open questions to be addressed by future research.

What are you looking forward to at this year’s conference?

There are many great sessions on the adrenal gland, featuring world-leading experts in the field, which I highly recommend. There are exciting plenary lectures and I am looking forward to hearing about the influence of the microbiome in endocrine disease on Tuesday afternoon.

What do you think are the biggest challenges in endocrinology right now?

I think the challenges are threefold. First, the scientific challenge of improving our understanding of common and rare endocrinological disorders. Second, to be able to efficiently transfer this knowledge to patient care, in particular the knowledge generated from large-scale ‘omics’ studies. Improving diagnosis, management and implementation of precision medicine in clinical practice is really important, and should be affordable and available for everyone anywhere. Lastly, but not least, a major challenge is gathering funding for research in endocrinology.

What do you think will be the next major breakthrough in your field?

I hope it will be the development of new diagnostic procedures for endocrine hypertension, which will have a major impact on treatment of those patients and prevention of cardiovascular and metabolic complications, improving their quality of life.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

Most certainly it is the scientific exchanges with my colleagues all over the world and mentoring young people to transmit my knowledge with passion to future generations.

Who do you most admire professionally?

I have had the chance to meet many extraordinary colleagues, many of whom I admire for different reasons. I particularly admire a few of my senior colleagues and mentors: I consider it a great opportunity to meet them every year at different meetings around the world, to have discussions with them and benefit from their profound scientific knowledge and incredible experience, especially when they talk about experiments they did 30 years ago!

Any words of wisdom for aspiring researchers out there?

Endocrinology requires a deep understanding of the complexity of endocrine feedbacks and interactions throughout the body. Research in the field of endocrinology is exciting, as it addresses the many questions we have on the mechanisms regulating endocrine physiology and hormone action. In this sense, it is also very diverse, ranging from genetics to cellular and molecular mechanisms, not only in hormone-producing organs but also in the multitude of target organs.

You can hear Professor Zennaro’s European Medal Lecture, “Molecular mechanisms in primary aldosteronism” on Wednesday 21 November, in the Lomond Auditorium at 15:30-16:00. Find out more about the scientific programme for SfE BES 2018.

Meet the Endocrinologist: Ursula Kaiser, expert in neuroendocrine regulation of puberty

Published on by Society for EndocrinologyLeave a comment

Meet Ursula Kaiser, Professor at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her research is focused on neuroendocrine regulation of puberty, reproductive health and fertility. She has been awarded the SfE International Medal and will be delivering her Medal Lecture at SfE BES 2018, 19-21 November in Glasgow. In our latest interview, she tells us more about her work and what she is looking forward to at the SfE BES 2018 conference.

Can you tell us a little about your current position and research?

At Harvard Medical School and as Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, I lead and direct a group of over 60 clinical and research endocrinologists at a large academic medical center. My laboratory studies the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroendocrine regulation of reproductive development and function, with an emphasis on the mechanisms regulating gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin production. We use translational approaches including clinical and laboratory observations in humans, investigations in mouse models, and molecular and cellular studies to elucidate the molecular and biological underpinnings of reproductive disorders.

Can you tell us a little about what inspired you into endocrinology?

I grew up in Canada, where I received my undergraduate degree in biology at University of New Brunswick followed by my medical degree at University of Toronto. Early in medical school, I became fascinated by the feedback loops of endocrinology and by the many systems affected by hormones, and was quickly convinced that endocrinology was my calling. I completed my clinical training and licensure in internal medicine and in endocrinology in Toronto, but became intrigued by the molecular underpinnings of endocrine disorders. I moved to Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital to pursue basic science research training in the regulation of gonadotropin gene expression under the mentorship of Dr. William Chin in the Genetics Division. My initial research focused on the mechanisms of differential regulation of luteinising hormone and follicle stimulating hormone; more recently, I have moved “further up” the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis to study the neuroendocrine regulation of GnRH secretion.

What you are most proud of in your career so far?

Scientifically, I’m most proud of our discovery that mutations in a gene known as MKRN3, or Makorin Ring Finger Protein 3, cause central precocious puberty. This was the first major genetic cause of precocious puberty to be identified and is now recognized to explain close to half of all cases of familial central precocious puberty. This discovery has identified the first known inhibitor of human GnRH secretion and has opened up an entirely new field of investigation. It is also important translationally and has highlighted the role of genetic imprinting in the control of human pubertal timing. I’m particularly proud of this accomplishment because of its collaborative and multidisciplinary nature – it has involved an international network of collaborators and has helped to launch the careers of several of our trainees.

What are you presenting in your Medal Lecture at SfE BES 2018?

I will be talking about our discovery of the role of MKRN3 in the timing of puberty and the link of loss of function mutations in MKRN3 with central precocious puberty.  In particular, I will expand on the studies we have performed since discovering this link in order to better understand the role and mechanisms of action of MKRN3 in puberty onset.

What are you looking forward to at this year’s conference?

I’m particularly looking forward to seeing my British and other international friends and colleagues, to catch up and hear about their new work, and to discuss ongoing and potential future collaborations. One thing that I would recommend to others is to take maximum advantage of the opportunity to catch up with new advances in their fields and to network with colleagues. It’s a great opportunity to meet new colleagues and make new connections!

What do you think are the biggest challenges in endocrinology right now?

Two of the biggest challenges in endocrinology are addressing the rising rates of obesity and diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of these metabolic disorders is rapidly increasing, not only in developed countries, but also in the developing world. We need more research to better understand the pathogenesis of these metabolic disorders. Interestingly, neuroendocrinology is increasingly recognized to play a key role in metabolic disorders, with neuropeptides and neural circuits playing key roles both in appetite and energy homeostasis, as well as linking metabolism to other areas of physiology such as reproduction and growth.

What do you think will be the next major breakthrough in your field?

I believe that neuroscience is an incredibly exciting area that is poised for major breakthroughs. The combination of advances in human genetics together with advances in our abilities to study the brain are allowing neural circuits to be mapped in detail and are leading to new discoveries in mechanisms underlying neurological and neuroendocrine diseases. I am hopeful that these advances will in turn lead to new treatments for these disorders. Endocrinology is particularly important for our understanding of sex differences in predisposition to and responses to treatments for neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

In addition, advances in our understanding of neuroendocrine circuits will lead to new therapies targeting neuroendocrine pathways controlling metabolism and reproduction. The recent discovery that menopausal vasomotor symptoms (i.e., hot flashes) are mediated by the neuropeptide, neurokinin B, and that neurokinin B antagonists can effectively target and reduce the frequency of these vasomotor symptoms, is a great example of such a breakthrough.

What do you enjoy most about your work?

I’m so fortunate to have one of the best jobs in the world! My work is intellectually and socially stimulating. No two days are alike – between teaching students, doing research, and seeing patients, I’m learning new things every day. I have wonderful opportunities to meet and interact with a broad variety of interesting and kind people.

Any words of wisdom for aspiring endocrinologists out there?

Endocrinology is a fantastic field! The diversity of endocrine disorders and the multi-system effects of hormones leads to a very integrative field that is intellectually stimulating and satisfying. There is still so much to be learned and so many research questions to be answered. Furthermore, the endocrine specialty provides the opportunity to have sustained, long-term relationships with patients and to observe the impact of treatment on their health and quality of life.

You can hear Professor Kaiser’s International Medal Lecture, “Puberty: what are the neuroendocrine triggers for the biological end of childhood?” on Monday 19 November, in the Lomond Auditorium at 14:15-14:45. Find out more about the scientific programme for SfE BES 2018.