Endocrine Research
Among the things that distinguish an academic medical center is a strong commitment to research. At Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, Medical College physicians and scientists continually search for new ways to diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases and disorders.
Medical College of Wisconsin physicians specializing in endocrinology, metabolism and clinical nutrition are involved in many clinical research studies and basic-science research programs.
Diabetes Research
Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin are engaged in many clinical trials for diabetes and related disease. These include:
- In collaboration with faculty at Marquette University, clinical researchers are evaluating non-invasive testing of vascular integrity of patients with diabetes.
- In collaboration with scientists at Syracuse University, a study is evaluating a non-invasive glucose monitoring device.
- In collaboration with scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, research is looking at laser technology to assess the vasculature of the retina.
- A study will soon be underway to examine inpatient insulin resistance in post-operative coronary artery bypass patients.
- In collaboration with Edith Burns, MD, a computer program is being developed to provide diabetic patients with self-management advice based on trends from their glucose meters.
- An initiative is underway to develop an inpatient data warehouse for diabetes surveillance.
- A clinical study is assessing individual differences among people with diabetes mellitus regarding cholesterol metabolism
- A protocol is in development to conduct an industry-sponsored, Phase II, multi-center randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PROCHYMAL™ for the treatment of recently diagnosed Type 1 diabetes.
Hypertension Research
A clinical study is looking at the genetics and physiological determinants of hypertension.
Basic research is being done to investigate sterol metabolism and steroid hormone metabolism. (Sterols are substances that occur naturally in plants and animals, and the most familiar type of animal sterol is cholesterol; steroids hormones are steroids (made from cholesterol) that act as hormones)
Obesity Research
Medical College of Wisconsin researchers are conducting clinical research looking at the genetics of obesity and metabolic syndrome. In addition, basic endocrinology research studies are underway to study genes involved in fat cell metabolism, and the regulation of fat metabolism and energy utilization.
Pituitary Research
Medical College of Wisconsin researchers have conducted basic and clinical research for pituitary disorders including:
- Researching prolactin regulation at the molecular and physiological level.
- Clinical studies involving patients with Cushing’s disease.
- Studying cell cultures to determine the effect of extensive radiation to pituitary tumor cells.
The Medical College maintains a tissue bank of pituitary tumors that have been removed. The tumors are frozen for future use in research studies.
Cushing’s Research
For the treatment of Cushing’s syndrome, Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin are participating in a multi-site clinical trial of the drug Corlux, designed to treat Cushing’s syndrome.
A clinical study is assessing ACTH and cortisol dynamics in human disease.
Thyroid Research
In thyroid disease, current research involves:
- Looking at molecular pathways that lead to the development of thyroid cancer.
- Investigating diagnostic strategies for thyroid cancer.
- Conducting clinical drug trials for thyroid cancer.