Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Research and Clinical Trials
The Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes is committed to improving the health and well-being of children and adolescents by finding better diagnostic tests, effective preventive measures, and treatments for endocrine related problems. Working with a variety of local, regional and national recognized basic science and clinical researchers, the Division transforms novel ideas into clinical reality by applying the observations made in the laboratory to benefit the children and adolescents entrusted to the Division’s care.
Although the Division participates in a variety research project focused on growth and puberty, the group’s primary interest is in understanding the mechanism and tempo of acquired cardiovascular disease in at risk and affected children and adolescent. The target populations include youth with weight related health risks including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus.
Overview
Create a partnership between pediatric primary care providers, academic and research institutions, private and governmental agencies and Phoenix Children’s Hospital to provide comprehensive evaluation, family centered management and follow up of children and adolescents with weight related health risks (WRHRs) that increase the likelihood of future cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke.
Objectives:
- Promote sustainable heart healthy behaviors through health education and lifestyle modification.
- Evaluate and, where beneficial to the health and well-being of children and adolescents, offer new and emerging therapies.
- Participate in collaborative research activities to develop better diagnostic, monitoring and therapeutic interventions.
- Provider competency based professional and lay education.
- Mentoring other health care professionals, student learners, residents and fellows. offering preceptor programs and giving invited presentations on cardiovascular risk and the benefits of healthy lifestyles.
Current areas of research focus:
- Case detection
- Finding better screening tools for children at risk - VAP protocol
- Develop and Test Risk stratification tools for the Primary Care Physicians: Clinic initiative for assessment of overweight and obese youth
- Defining insulin resistant phenotypes: collaboration with insulin resistance state registry via ASU
- Mechanisms of weight related health risks
- Vascular biomarkers for CVD risk
- Surrogate uses for diagnosis
- Identify pathophysiology of biomarkers – cause or effect?
- Identify structural changes of the vasculature and nervous system
- Community based interventions - exploring novel approaches to case detection, health education and treatment (PCH initiative with the Eller School of Business).
Contact us:
(602) 546-0935 (phone)
(602)-546-0610 (fax)
