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Department

Pediatric Endocrinology

We provide clinical care and education and perform research aimed to innovate on diagnosis and treatment for children with endocrine disorders, to improve their health and well-being. We focus on: obesity, growth disorders, and disorders of sex development (DSD).

About our department

Our research

Our department has special focus on the subjects of obesity, growth and Disorders of Sex Development. Our centers of expertise are: 

  • Obesity Center (in Dutch: Centrum Gezond Gewicht (CGG)).
  • Genetic Obesity.
  • Prader Willi Syndrome.
  • Growth Disorders.
  • Silver Russel Syndrome.
  • Turner Syndrome.
  • Disorders of Sex Development (DSD).

Obesity

The research line on obesity aims to improve diagnostic tools and shift treatment to more effective, personalized and value-based care for children with obesity. We do this through clinical, translational and basic research, with special focus on genetic obesity, Prader Willi (like) Syndrome and clinical trials. 

Growth disorders

Our research line on growth disorders aims to improve diagnostics and treatment for children with growth disorders, with special focus on Silver Russel Syndrome.

Disorders of sex development (DSD)

The cause of DSD often remains unknown in many individuals, despite impressive progress in genetic research and other research. The research line on DSD therefore aims to improve the diagnostic yield. In addition, clinical studies aim to optimize treatment and monitoring for many forms of DSD and Turner syndrome.

Our research lines are embedded in national and international networks and consortia.

Principal Investigators

Research Lines

Projects

Obesity Studies

  • ObesECare
    E-Tool towards optimizing tailored diagnostics and treatment in patients with obesity. Collaboration with TNO (the Netherlands Organisation for applied scientific research).
  • Genetic obesity
    Clinical and genetic characterization of genetic and syndromal obesity and Phase II & III clinical trials on the effect of  MC4Ragonist treatment in monogenetic obesity. International consortium study.
  • LIKE Healthy Habit
    Engaging the young and their environments in multi-ethnic lower socio-economic groups. ZonMw-Hartstichting National consortium study with Amsterdam, Maastricht and Rotterdam.
  • Dexadagenstudies
    A double-blind randomized intervention study aiming at reducing dexamethasone-related side effects in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Collaboration with Pediatric Oncology PMC.
  • Steroid Studies
    Role of corticosteroids and androgens in obesity, metabolism and adrenal diseases. Collaboration with Dept. of Clin Chemistry.

Prader Willi (like) Syndrome studies

  • Growth hormone studies PWS/ PWL
    Studies on the (long term) effect of growth hormone treatment with Prader-Willi Syndrome and Prader-Willi like syndrome.
  • Oxytocin study
    Trial on the effect of oxytocin on social and eating behaviour in patients with PWS.
  • YAP PWS transition study
    Study on the effect of growth hormone in young adults with PWS.
  • Skin picking study
    Trial on the effect of N-Acetylcysteine on skin picking in children with PWS.

Growth Disorders

  • SEENEZ Study
    Multicenter study to assess the cost-effectiveness of withdrawing growth hormone treatment after mid-puberty in adolescents with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency.
  • Face2Gene
    To assess the clinical utility of Face2Gene technology in the diagnosis of Silver Russell syndrome (SRS) and Prader Willi syndrome (PWS).
  • Groeiscan app
    Study to investigate the accuracy of the Groeiscan app for height measurements in children at home.

Disorders of sex development

Find more information on focus areas and research lines on the DSD expertise center page.

  • Turner syndrome minipuberty
    A prospective, descriptive multicenter cohortstudy. The hormonal range of LH, FSH, AMH, inhibin B, testosterone and estradiol in girls with TS during the minipuberty and the relation of the hormone serum levels with the karyotype-Radboud UMC.
  • Turner Predict study
    Predictive factors of ovarian function of young females with Turner Syndrome, a retrospective cohort study- Radboud UMC.
  • Cognitieve, Emotionele en kinderpsychiatrische  problemen bij meisjes met het syndroom van Turner.

Publications

Collaborations

Within Erasmus MC

  • Department of Internal Medicine, division endocrinology
    Prof. Liesbeth van Rossum, MD, PhD. Laura de Graaff, MD, PhD. Edward Visser, MD, PhD.
  • Department of Clinical Chemistry
    Prof. Yolanda de Rijke, MD, PhD. Sjoerd van de Berg, MD, PhD.
  • Department of Clinical Genetics
    Yolanda van Bever, MD. Sarina Kant, MD, PhD.

National collaborations

  • Stichting Kind en Groei (Dutch Growth Research Foundation)
    Prof. Anita Hokken-Koelega.
  • Diabeter, Center for pediatric and adult diabetes care and research, Rotterdam
    Dr.H.J. Aanstoot, Dr. D. Mul, Dr T.C.J. Sas
  • Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, LUMC.
    Christiaan de Bruin, MD, PhD.
  • Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, RadboudUMC
    Janielle vd Velden, MD, PhD.
  • Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam UMC
    Carianne Verheugt, MD PhD.
  • Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC
    Mieke van Haelst, MD, PhD, associate professor.
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
    Prof. Jaap Seidell. Jutka Halberstadt, PhD, associate professor. Prof. Mai ChinAPaw. Karien Stronks.
  • Maastricht University
    Prof. Kremers.
  • Pediatric Oncology, Prinses Maxima Center Utrecht
    Prof. Marry van den Heuvel, Prof. M. Grootenhuis.
  • TNO, Delft

International collaborations

  • Kinderkliniken Inselspital, Bern, Austria: Prof. Christa Fluck. Prof. E. Charmandari.
  • Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital, Athens, Greece.
  • Institut für Experimentelle Pädiatrische Endokrinologie, Charité.
  • Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. Prof. Peter Kuhnen.
  • Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Ulm, Germany. Prof. Martin Wabitsch.
  • Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY. Wendy Chung.
  • Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Nutrition and Obesities Research Unit, Paris, France.
  • Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Nutrition Department, Paris, France. Prof. Karine Clement.Christine Poitou, MD, PhD.
  • Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science and NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Prof. Sadaf Farouqi.

Education

Any questions?

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