Dr Alessandro Prete MBBS, MD

Department of Metabolism and Systems Science
Clinical Associate Professor in Endocrinology and Diabetes

Contact details

Telephone: +44 (0)121 414 2764
Email: a.prete@bham.ac.uk
Twitter: @AlePreteUoB

Address: University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Alessandro Prete completed his training in Endocrinology and Diabetes in Rome, Italy. In 2016, he joined the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research (now the Department of Metabolism and Systems Science) at the University of Birmingham. Since 2018, he is a Diabetes UK Sir George Alberti Research Fellow and is currently working towards a PhD. The title of his PhD thesis is "Exploring the metabolic impact of mild autonomous cortisol excess (MACE), an underestimated cause of diabetes".

Dr Prete’s area of research interest focuses on the cardio-metabolic impact of autonomous cortisol secretion associated with adrenal tumours, as well as improving the therapeutic management of patients with adrenal insufficiency. See 'Stress hormones and risk of Type 2 diabetes' for more information about Dr Prete's area of research.

Qualifications

Associate member of the Royal College of Physicians, 2020
CCT in Endocrinology and Diabetes Mellitus (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy), 2016
Full registration with licence to practice, General Medical Council, UK, 2016
Full registration with licence to practice, General Medical Council, Italy, 2010
MBBS Summa Cum Laude (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy), 2010

Biography

In 2016, Dr Alessandro Prete successfully obtained funding from the European Society of Endocrinology, which allowed him to join the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research at the University of Birmingham. Here, he gathered experiences in steroid mass spectrometry, human in vivo physiology studies and clinical trials guided by his supervisors, Professor Wiebke Arlt and Dr Konstantinos Manolopoulos.

In 2017, Dr Prete obtained a Birmingham Mayo Clinic Academic Exchange visiting fellowship and worked with Dr Irina Bancos at the Department of Endocrinology at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA.

Diabetes UK awarded Dr Prete in 2018 with a Sir George Alberti Research Fellowship, which is allowing him to carry out his research and training project for his PhD. Dr Prete’s research focuses on the cardio-metabolic impact of mild autonomous cortisol excess (MACE) associated with incidentally discovered adrenal tumours, a very common condition also known as subclinical Cushing’s syndrome.

Other activities

Dr Alessandro Prete works as an Honorary Consultant in Endocrinology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. He cares for patients suffering with adrenal tumours, Cushing’s syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Since 2019, Dr Alessandro Prete is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, where he also works as an investigator for several clinical trials recruiting patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal insufficiency, and adrenal tumours.

Dr Prete also serves as a member of the Editorial Board of Associazione Medici Endocrinology (AME, Italian Society of Endocrinology).

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Xu, M, Tourigny, D, Lippert, J, Crastin, A, Appenzeller, S, Asia, M, Podstawka, O, Smith, G, Elhassan, Y, Skordilis, K, Prete, A & Ronchi, C 2025, 'ccfDNA analysis for the classification of adrenocortical adenomas', Journal of endocrinological investigation, vol. 48, pp. 1207–1216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-025-02540-5

Arlt, W, Brac de la Perrière, A, Hirschberg, AL, Merke, DP, Newell-Price, JDC, Prete, A, Rees, DA, Reisch, N, Touraine, PA, Bendfeldt, H, Porter, J, Coope, H & Ross, RJM 2025, 'Long-term outcomes in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia treated with hydrocortisone modified-release hard capsules', European Journal of Endocrinology , vol. 193, no. 1, pp. 76-84. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejendo/lvaf130

Saygili, ES, Elhassan, Y, Prete, A, Lippert, J, Altieri, B & Ronchi, C 2025, 'Machine learning-based survival prediction tool for adrenocortical carcinoma', Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, vol. 110, no. 10, pp. e3185-e3192. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaf096

Lawrence, NR, Dawson, J, Lang, Z-Q, Prete, A, Baranowski, ES, Schiffer, L, Taylor, AE, Brac de la Perrière, A, Hirschberg, AL, Juul, A, Merke, DP, Newell-Price, J, Rees, DA, Reisch, N, Stikkelbroeck, N, Touraine, PA, Krone, N, Keevil, B, Collins, GS, Arlt, W & Ross, RJM 2025, 'Modelling adrenal steroid profiles to inform monitoring guidance in congenital adrenal hyperplasia', EBioMedicine, vol. 116, 105749. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.105749

Tucci, L, Xu, M, Asia, M, Skordilis, K, Kalkat, MS, Djearaman, MG, Sutcliffe, RP, Elhassan, Y, Prete, A & Ronchi, C 2025, 'Prolonged mitotane administration in metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma with over a decade of survival: a case series', Case Reports in Endocrinology.

Lippert, J, Smith, G, Appenzeller, S, Landwehr, L-S, Prete, A, Steinhauer, S, Asia, M, Urlaub, H, Elhassan, Y, Kircher, S, Arlt, W, Fassnacht, M, Altieri, B & Ronchi, C 2024, 'Circulating cell-free DNA-based biomarkers for prognostication and disease monitoring in adrenocortical carcinoma', European Journal of Endocrinology, vol. 190, no. 3, pp. 234-247. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejendo/lvae022

Abstract

Johannsson, G, Velusamy, A, Prete, A, Falhammar, H, Mølgaard Binderup, ML, Larsen, KG, Flensburg, MF, Luthman, J & Srirangalingam, U 2025, 'MON-468 A Novel Anti-ACTH Antibody Lu AG13909 in Clinical Development for Treatment of Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Phase 1 Open-Label, Multiple-Ascending-Dose Study', Journal of the Endocrine Society, vol. 9, no. Supplement_1, bvaf149.226, pp. A121-A122. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.226

Prete, A, Theiler-Schwetz, V, Arlt, W, Chifu, IO, Harbeck, B, Napier, C, Newell-Price, JDC, Rees, A, Reisch, N, Stalla, GK, Coope, H, Maltby, K, Porter, J, Quirke, J & Ross, RJM 2025, 'OR07-08 A Double-blind Study of Modified-release Hydrocortisones, Chronocort versus Plenadren, in Adrenal Insufficiency (CHAMPAIN)', Journal of the Endocrine Society, vol. 9, no. Supplement_1, bvaf149.274, pp. A147-A148. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.274

Prete, A, Bain, JT, Karavitaki, N, Taylor, AE & Arlt, W 2025, 'OR18-04 Urine Steroid Metabolomics and Timed Urine Steroid Profiling: A Novel Test for the Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Cushing’s Syndrome', Journal of the Endocrine Society, vol. 9, no. Supplement_1, bvaf149.276, pp. A148-A150. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.276

Tourigny, D, Tucci, L, Elhassan, Y, Skordilis, K, Asia, M, Prete, A, Crastin, A, David Onesimu, ELS, Taylor, AE, Chortis, V & Ronchi, CL 2025, 'OR32-07 Integrated liquid biopsy by ccfDNA and urinary steroid metabolomics for longitudinal monitoring of adrenocortical carcinoma', Journal of the Endocrine Society, vol. 9, no. Supplement_1, bvaf149.284, pp. A153-A154. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.284

Srirangalingam, U, Prete, A, Frederiksen, T, Mølgaard Binderup, ML, Flensburg, MF, Luthman, J & Auchus, RJ 2025, 'SAT-455 A Phase 2, Open-Label Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Anti-ACTH Antibody Lu AG13909 in Adults With Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: Trial Design', Journal of the Endocrine Society, vol. 9, no. Supplement_1, bvaf149.323, pp. A174-A175. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.323

Prete, A, Theiler-Schwetz, V, Arlt, W, Oana Chifu, I, Harbeck, B, Napier, C, Newell-Price, JDC, Rees, A, Reisch, N, Karl Stalla, G, Aslam, N, Coope, H, Maltby, K, Porter, J, Quirke, J & Ross, RJM 2024, '12670 CHAMPAIN Study: Initial Results From A Phase II Study Of Efficacy, Safety And Tolerability Of Modified-release Hydrocortisones: Chronocort ® (Efmody ® ) Versus Plenadren ®, In Primary Adrenal Insufficiency', Journal of the Endocrine Society, vol. 8, no. Supplement_1, bvae163.132, pp. A72-A73. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvae163.132

Lawrence, NR, Krone, NP, Dawson, JF, Lang, ZQ, Arlt, W, Brac de la Perriere, A, Hirschberg, AL, Juul, A, Merke, DP, Newell-Price, JD, Prete, A, Taylor, AE, Rees, A, Reisch, N, Stikkelbroeck, M, Touraine, PA, Collins, G & Ross, RJ 2024, '6437 Analysis of 17-OH-Progesterone (17OHP) and Androstenedione (A4) Profiles To Rationalise Biochemical Monitoring Of CAH Patients', Journal of the Endocrine Society, vol. 8, no. Supplement_1, bvae163.111, pp. A59-A60. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvae163.111

Prete, A, Theiler-Schwetz, V, Arlt, W, Oana Chifu, I, Harbeck, B, Napier, C, Newell-Price, JDC, Rees, A, Reisch, N, Karl Stalla, G, Aslam, N, Coope, H, Maltby, K, Porter, J, Quirke, J & M Ross, RJ 2024, '7692 Morning Cortisol Levels In Patients With Established Primary Adrenal Insufficiency', Journal of the Endocrine Society, vol. 8, no. Supplement_1, bvae163.242, pp. A130-A130. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvae163.242

Prete, A, Theiler-Schwetz, V, Arlt, W, Chifu, IO, Harbeck, B, Napier, C, Newell-Price, JD, Rees, A, Reisch, N, Stalla, GK, Aslam, N, Coope, H, Maltby, K, Porter, J, Quirke, J & Ross, RJ 2024, '9341 CHAMPAIN Study: Initial Results From A Phase II Study Of Efficacy, Safety And Tolerability Of Modified-release Hydrocortisones: Chronocort ® (Efmody ® ) Versus Plenadren ®, In Primary Adrenal Insufficiency', Journal of the Endocrine Society, vol. 8, no. Supplement_1, bvae163.131, pp. A71-A72. https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvae163.131

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