The research program within Phoenix Children’s Endocrinology division and Diabetes Program supports numerous projects and advancing discoveries. This work extends available science while having the potential to improve care and outcomes for patients.

We take an interdisciplinary approach to care by collaborating with other divisions. Our long-standing fellowship program includes a research requirement. This ensures the next generation of pediatric endocrinologists have skills in the techniques and procedures for conducting clinical research.

Given the prevalent and chronic nature of endocrine and diabetes-related conditions, our patient population is highly diverse. It includes age, sex, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic and treatment differences. Their management needs are just as diverse.

While all our patients represent potential research participants, we focus our research efforts in three key areas:

  • Type 1 diabetes
  • Obesity and type 2 diabetes
  • Bone health

Type 1 Diabetes Research

Type 1 diabetes is a long-term condition that requires life-long management and treatment. When not appropriately managed, type 1 diabetes can lead to additional health complications. The research team at Phoenix Children’s is committed to understanding risk factors for health complications and identifying ways to improve type 1 diabetes management, leading to better outcomes for our patients.

People with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. While heart attacks and strokes usually don’t occur until after the fourth or fifth decade of life, these diseases often begin in childhood.

Collaborating with colleagues in cardiology, we set out to understand the relationship between type 1 diabetes and epicardial adipose tissue (fat in the heart). Research indicates this tissue is an early marker of heart disease.

Former fellows Melissa Chambers, DO and Luke Cielonko, DO, now attending physicians at Phoenix Children’s Endocrinology division and Cook Children’s Hospital in Texas, respectively, published a paper in the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism on the topic. Using advanced cardiac imaging techniques, their work found an association between increased adiposity and increased epicardial adipose tissue among youth with type 1 diabetes. These results suggest that early screening and prevention approaches can help these patients.

We know that some children with type 1 diabetes have a difficult time keeping their blood sugars under control. This challenge places them at increased risk of missing school and sometimes requires them to go to the hospital. Phoenix Children’s developed an intensive program to better meet the needs of this vulnerable population. Funded by The Thomas J. Beatson Jr. Foundation, the program gives children with type 1 diabetes – and their families – additional skills and tools to manage their condition.

The multidisciplinary program included physician visits, discussions with a psychologist, and frequent contact with a registered dietitian certified in diabetes education and support. The four-month intensive intervention resulted in:

  • Significant improvements in HbA1c, a marker of glucose control
  • Significant improvements in quality of life, as reported by participants
  • Significant decrease in the number of school days missed
  • Significant decrease in the number of children who required hospitalization for their diabetes

The Journal of Endocrine Practice published the findings. Based on this experience, we have expanded the program to all children with type 1 diabetes.

These findings demonstrate our commitment and ability to translate research discoveries directly into improved patient care.

Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Research

Pediatric obesity and type 2 diabetes have reached an epidemic state in the U.S. They represent the most prevalent conditions we see in the Endocrinology division and Diabetes Program. We participate in several research studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to understand and prevent obesity-related conditions in children and adolescents.

This project is a collaboration with investigators from Translational Genomics (TGEN) and Arizona State University. The goal is to identify novel biomarkers for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).

We use advanced, high-throughput molecular approaches that may differentiate children with and without MASLD. The long-term goals of this project are to develop better diagnostic tools and identify new targets for intervention with the most prevalent liver condition affecting children.

The study aims to better understand the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes in very high-risk children. The DISCOVERY study includes 15 clinical sites across the United States. It will recruit, enroll and follow more than 3,500 children over five years.

The long-term goal of this study is to identify risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes in youth. The results can lead to better prevention and treatment programs.

Bone Health Research

Endocrine disorders aren’t always limited to hormones and endocrine glands and may affect the health of other systems such as the bones. Researchers in the Endocrinology division are working to better understand the progression of bone disorders such as Osteogenesis Imperfecta to improve treatment options and outcomes.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a genetic bone disorder. It results in soft bones that break easily and/or bones that do not form normally. Children with OI can have a wide range of disorders, from mild to severe, and the condition and its severity differ from person to person.

Pamela Smith, MD, leads our bone health program. Dr. Smith serves as Phoenix Children’s principal investigator on an NIH-funded study to understand and improve treatment options for rare bone diseases, including OI. The study is part of the Brittle Bone Disorders Consortium, which includes a group of physicians, researchers and educators who want to learn more about rare bone diseases. Their work focuses on developing new and better treatments to improve the care and quality of life for this population.

Find a Research Study

Patients and families can use the Find a Research Study tool or speak with their child’s doctor to learn about enrollment in current and upcoming clinical research studies at Phoenix Children’s.

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