Area Academic Contact: Professor Jon Frampton, Director of Research and Knowledge Transfer, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, j.frampton@bham.ac.uk
Birmingham-based hormone and metabolism research is widely recognised as world-class and encompasses clinical problems that affect large sections of the population, such as diabetes, obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome.
The area incorporates groups from the Research Domains of Hormones & Metabolism, Genetics & Development, Cancer, and Immunity & Infection, the research covering a broad range of activity including steroid hormone action, adrenal and gonadal disorders, endocrine (thyroid, pituitary, adrenal) and endocrine-related cancer, aspects of cardiovascular science, as well as basic cell signalling.
Major strategic initiatives in this area include the Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (CEDAM) and the Centre for Obesity Research. CEDAM research is committed to a bench-to-bedside approach, taking research through from basic science discovery to clinical application. This is facilitated by the close proximity of laboratory facilities, Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust).
Specific Research Themes
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Steroid hormone synthesis, metabolism and action including pre-receptor regulation of glucocorticoid and sex steroid action
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Diabetes, obesity and metabolism
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Fetal and reproductive endocrinology
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Molecular investigations of endocrine and hormone-dependent cancer predisposition and pathology
Recent Research Grants
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Experimental Medicine Network of Excellent, Advantage West Midlands “Science City” investment
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The Role of Redox Potential Regulation in the Molecular Pathogenesis of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, Wellcome Trust
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ENS@T-CANCER: European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumorus - Structuring Clinical Research on Adrenal Cancers in Adults EU FP7 collaboration
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Steroid Profiling as a Biomarker Tool in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Adrenal Tumours, MRC
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Hexose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase and Glucose-6-Phosphate: Novel Regulators of Corticosteroid Hormone Metabolism and Adrenal Function, Wellcome Trust
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PRECORT: Pre-receptor Cortisol Metabolism and Human Ageing, ERC Advanced Grant
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Novel Pathways Promoting Thyroid Tumourigenesis and Growth, MRC
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Glucocorticoid Metabolism and the Control of Metabolic Phenotype, MRC
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P450 Oxidoreductase: Novel Regulator of Steroid Synthesis and Metabolism in Health and Disease
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Investigating Hexose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in the Control of Skeletal Muscle Function and Carbohydrate Metabolism, BBSRC
Recent Publications
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Morgan SA, et al (2009) 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 regulates glucocorticoid-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Diabetes, 58: 2506-15.
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Noordam C, Dhir V, et al (2009) Inactivating PAPSS2 mutations in a patient with premature pubarche. N Engl J Med, 360: 2310-8.
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James SR, et al (2009) Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) in neural cell growth. Endocrinol, 150: 1961-9.
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Reynolds LE, et al (2010) Tumour angiogenesis is reduced in the Tc1 mouse model of Down Syndrome. Nature, 465: 813-7.
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Sinclair AJ, et al (2010) Low energy diet and intracranial pressure in women with idiopathic intracranial hypertension: prospective cohort study. BMJ, 341: c2701
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Watkins RJ, et al (2010) PTTG Binding Factor – a New Gene in Breast Cancer. Cancer Res, 70: 3739-49.
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Shivu GN, et al (2010) Relationship between coronary microvascular dysfunction and cardiac energetics impairment in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Circulation, 121: 1209-15.
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Lawson AJ, et al (2011) Cortisone-reductase deficiency associated with heterozygous mutations in 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1. Proc Natl Acad Sci, 108: 4111-6.
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Chan SY, et al (2011) The expression of thyroid hormone transporters in the human fetal cerebral cortex during early development and in N-Tera-2 neurodifferentiation. J Physiol, [Epub ahead of print].