Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders

The comprehensive research program of the Nemours Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders is closely linked with clinical care and health education for our patients. Pediatric endocrinology is a specialty dealing with both common and very rare diseases. Type 1 diabetes, the second most common chronic disease in children, is probably the most recognized condition of the pediatric endocrine specialist, yet disorders of growth and puberty also top the list.

Supported by funding from National Institutes of Health (NIH), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), and other internal and external grants, the investigative team within the Center concentrates on studies related to pediatric diabetes and disorders of growth and puberty. In addition, this Center collaborates with many of the other Centers within Nemours Biomedical Research and departments throughout Nemours’ health system, to evaluate data and translate developments to improve clinical care.

Nemours’ endocrinologists are extensively involved in clinical research activities, including multi-center trials of different medications used to treat hormonal problems.

At Nemours Children’s Clinic, Pensacola, six observational research studies are in progress for patients who are currently on growth hormone therapy. Nemours patients benefit from these studies, as they are an effective method to track potentially serious side effects that any patient on the same medication may experience.

At Nemours Children’s Clinic, Jacksonville, the latest technologies and treatments are studied and integrated into clinical care and support. We are fortunate to be part of some very exciting research that is quickly translating into direct benefits for children with diabetes as well as disorders of puberty and growth. This includes projects that are helping to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes, and promising new drug therapies and behavior-based interventions that help families develop behaviors and patterns to manage diabetes and decrease the risk of other medical complications associated with the disease.

Nemours is one of nine centers in the nation participating in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (JDRF) Artificial Pancreas Project. One of the studies, Continuous Glucose Sensor (CGS) Human Clinical Trial is comparing patients who use CGS devices (which read glucose levels on a minute-by-minute basis using a small sensor inserted under the skin that continuously transmits data to a hand-held device) to patients who do not use CGS. Nemours was selected for participation, in part, because of the large number of diabetes patients we serve.

Our membership in DirecNet (Diabetes Research in Children Study Group)—a consortium of five diabetes centers in the nation, led by principal investigator and Nemours pediatric endocrinologist, Nelly Mauras, MD, also provides our patients with access to emerging technologies and clinical trials, as well as one-to-one intense interaction with certified diabetes educators.

In addition to a focus on diabetes research, several other studies are in progress at the Clinic in Jacksonville to monitor treatments for Turner syndrome, growth disorders specific to boys and girls, and thyroid dysfunction.

Clinical Research Experience

The Endocrinology & Metabolism Center has conducted numerous clinical trials, Phase II-IV, studying effects of hormones, growth, metabolism, and diabetes research in both children and young adults. Sponsors have included the NIH, Genentech, Pharmacia, Eli Lilly, Minimed, Merck, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Current Research Projects

• Hypoglycemia in Children & Adolescents with T1DM: Mechanisms and Prevention
• A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Multicenter Trial to Assess the Safety & Efficacy of Anastrozole (ARIMIDEX) in Increasing Predicted Adult Height of Adolescent Makes with Growth Hormone Deficiency
• Understanding the Effects of Therapeutic Intervention on Cardiovascular Risk Markers, Insulin Resistance & Intra-Hepatic Fat Contents in Obese Children at Risk for Metabolic Syndrome
• Nutrients & Hormones: Effects in Boys with Disordered Growth
• Changes in Concentration of Serum Markers of Oxidative Damage in Patients with T1DM: Relation to Glycemic Variability
• Regulation of Glutathione Homeostasis in Adolescent Type I Diabetes
• A Pilot Study of the Effect of Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion in Adolescents with Newly Diagnosed Type I Diabetes on Insulin Resistance, Beta-Cell Function & the Honeymoon Period
• Effect on Stature of Genetic Variations in the C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Receptor (NPR2)
• Amino-Terminal Propeptide of C-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proCNP) levels in Healthy Children
• Multi-Center Studies

Investigators

Nelly Mauras, M.D.,is the director of The Center for Endocrinology & Metabolism Research in Jacksonville. Dr. Mauras received her medical degree at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota and her pediatric endocrine fellowship at the University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville. She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and by the Subspecialty Board of Pediatric Endocrinology. Dr. Mauras has extensive experience in clinical research, conducting a multiplicity of clinical trials, both industry-sponsored, as well as original work. She is particularly interested in the metabolic effects of hormones in children and adults. Dr. Mauras is widely published in the field of endocrinology. She is Chief of the Division of Endocrinology at Nemours Children's Clinic-Jacksonville, Professor of Pediatrics at the Mayo Medical School, Mayo Foundation, and is a member of the Child Health Study Section at the NIH.

Dominique Darmaun, M.D.,PhD received his medical degree from St. Antoine Medical School at the University of Paris, France in addition to a Masters Degree in Human Physiology and a Ph.D. in Human Nutrition. He is presently the Director of INSERM (French National Institute of Health and Medical Research) in France and has a joint appointment as a senior investigator at the Nemours Children's Clinic in Jacksonville. He is a world expert in the fields of metabolism and nutrition.

Robert Olney, M.D., received his medical degree from the University of California at San Diego, School of Medicine. He completed his pediatric internship and residency, his postdoctoral fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology, and his research fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center. His main area of interest is the role of different growth factors on bone development. He is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Mayo Medical School and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and by the Subspecialty Board of Pediatric Endocrinology.

Dr. Larry Fox, M.D., received his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School. He completed his internship and residency at Phoenix Hospital Affiliated Pediatric Program and his pediatric endocrine fellowship at the Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism Department of UCLA Medical Center. He is the Medical Director of Northeast Florida Pediatric Diabetes Center at the Nemours Children's Clinic/Wolfson Children's Hospital and is interested in all aspects of diabetes clinical research. He is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Mayo Medical School and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and by the Subspecialty Board of Pediatric Endocrinology.

Highly trained and dedicated research staff with a combined total of over 40 years of research experience support The Center for Endocrinology & Metabolism Research in Jacksonville.

• Board-Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
• Certified Physician Assistant
• Registered Nurses
• Nutritionists
• Diabetes Educators
• Medical Assistants
• Laboratory technicians

Patient Demographics

As a regional referral center for pediatric sub-specialty care, the Nemours Children's Clinic in Jacksonville draws from a diverse ethnic and socio-economic population from the southeastern part of the USA and from several foreign countries.

Contact Information