Research
The Division of Endocrinology is working to discover the underlying causes of
endocrine disease and to develop new and better therapies for them. The division
is involved in laboratory and clinical research of endocrine diseases, including
research in the areas of diabetes, growth and puberty.
Ongoing clinical studies - Open to enrollment
Pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes in children and adults
Dr. Wendy Brickman and the physicians and nurses of Children's Memorial
Hospital are studying children at risk for type 2 diabetes, most frequently
found in adults. Our goal is to increase the understanding of risk factors for
type 2 diabetes to delay the onset of the disease.
Please contact Jamie Calhoun, RN, BSN, at 773.880.4627 to see if your child
qualifies.
Coping in newly diagnosed diabetes
Special qualifications: Must be seen at diagnosis at Children's Memorial
Hospital. Children between age 8-17 years.
Contact: Dr. J. Weissberg-Benchell, PhD, 773.880.4818
Growth and bone metabolism in children with liver disease
We are working with the gastroenterology division of Children's Memorial
Hospital to explore growth and bone metabolism in children with cholestatic and
cirrhotic liver disease.
Special qualifications: Children with Alagille syndrome, progressive familial
interahepatic cholestasis and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
Contact: Dr. W. Brickman, 773.880.4440
Planned clinical studies
Detailed information regarding these studies cannot be released until the
studies receive approval from the Institutional Review Board. To receive
additional information when available, please call the division.
The use of a long-acting form of growth hormone for children with growth
hormone deficiency.
Contact: Denise Juzsak, RN, 773.880.4440
Risk factors for and pathophysiology of impaired glucose tolerance and type
2 diabetes in children and adolescents
Contact: Shirley Goodman, RN, 773.880.4440
Dr. Weissberg-Benchell,
773.880.4818
The impact of insulin pump use in children and adolescents
Contact: Dr. Weissberg-Benchell, 773.880.4818
Laboratory research
Our laboratory research program focuses on the molecular genetic basis of
endocrine disorders, including gonadotropin-independent precocious puberty. We
have research protocols for gene mutation detection in patients with
McCune-Albright syndrome, male-limited precocious puberty and Leydig cell
tumors.