Endocrinology Research

World-Class Research in Endocrinology

The Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at BIDMC is a global leader in endocrinology, offering expertise for a wide range of endocrine disorders, including diabetes, obesity, and pituitary, thyroid and adrenal diseases. The Division is also home to a nationally recognized fellowship program and cutting-edge research.

Our endocrinologists are involved in a broad array of research initiatives supported by NIH, private foundations, and the pharmaceutical industry. Our world-class research involves investigations into the full spectrum of endocrine diseases, including diabetes, thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, adrenal, bone and mineral disorders.

Endocrinology Laboratories 

The Division's research ranges from clinical trials and physiology to basic investigations of gene structure and function, cell signaling, gene transcription, mouse genetics and hormone resistance. Learn more about our Endocrinology Labs:

• Andermann Lab: Led by Mark Andermann, PhD, this laboratory seeks to understand how the needs of the body determine which sensory cues are attended to, learned and remembered. In particular, the Andermann Lab is investigating the circuit, cellular and molecular mechanisms by which brainstem and hypothalamic neurons regulate feeding and pain-related behaviors, and the consequences for obesity, anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders.
• Banks Lab: Led by Alexander Banks, PhD, investigations in the Banks Lab focus on understanding the mechanisms linking obesity with insulin resistance and ultimately the development of type 2 diabetes. The goal of this work is to provide new insights that may lead to novel therapeutic interventions. Approaches used in our work include pharmacologic and genetic approaches in mice and in human cells to mechanistically model aspects of human metabolic disease.
• Hochbaum Lab: Led by Daniel Hochbaum, PhD, this laboratory seeks to understand the mechanisms by which circulating factors coordinate the physiology of the body with behavioral outputs of the brain, and how this coordination frays in the context of neurological and metabolic disease.
• Kahn Lab: Led by Barbara Kahn, MD, investigations in the Kahn Lab focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes and, in particular, the role of adipocytes as master regulators of whole-body insulin sensitivity. The lab’s discovery of a novel class of anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory lipids has extended studies to the pathogenesis and prevention of auto-immune type 1 diabetes.
• Kajimura Lab: Led by Shingo Kajimura, PhD, investigators in this laboratory study the molecular mechanisms of bioenergetics in health and disease. The long-term goal of the Kajimura Lab is to leverage these insights to reprogram metabolic pathways, ultimately leading to new therapeutic interventions for treating metabolic disorders, cancer, and the effects of aging.
• Kim Lab: Led by Young-Bum Kim, PhD, this lab investigates the molecular and physiological mechanisms of glucose and energy metabolism, with a focus on insulin and leptin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Using integrated molecular, cellular, and in vivo approaches, the Kim Lab seeks to uncover how disrupted signaling contributes to metabolic disease and to identify therapeutic targets for restoring metabolic health.
• Lowell Lab: Led by Bradford Lowell, MD, PhD, the Lowell Lab's research investigates the neural basis for hunger/satiety and brain control of the stomach and intestines via the parasympathetic nervous system. To isolate specific neurons and circuits for investigation, they use neuron-specific recombinase driver mice, in combination with recombinase-enabled neuroscience “tools.”
• Mantzoros Lab: Led by Christos Mantzoros, MD, DSc, this lab studies the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of metabolic diseases, including obesity, NAFLD/NASH, diabetes and their associated comorbidities, including cardiovascular diseases, strokes and several malignancies. Investigators seek to understand the mechanisms underlying these disorders, to prevent, diagnose and treat these disease states by developing rational novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools for these conditions.
• Rosen Lab: Led by Evan Rosen, MD, PhD, this lab studies the biology of adipose tissue, answering questions about how fat develops, how it behaves in normal physiology, and how it becomes altered in disease states like obesity and type 2 diabetes.