2019 M. Irene Ferrer Awardee, Columbia University
Dr. Gabrielle Page-Wilson, Assistant Professor of Medicine, is an endocrinologist studying how the endocrine glands regulate metabolism and energy balance. She is particularly interested in pituitary tumors. Most recently, she showed that the stress hormone produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol, is an important regulator of Agouti-related protein. This is a brain peptide that stimulates appetite and suppresses energy expenditure, fortifying the body when it is challenged with a threat by stimulating it to store food and conserve energy. Doctor Page-Wilson is studying the ways oral steroids (glucocorticoids), which are biologically similar to cortisol, prevent inflammation. However, they often produce weight gain and obesity for reasons that are unclear. Moreover, the effects of these substances are different in males and females, and Dr. Page-Wilson will examine their different impact on appetite and caloric expenditure in the two sexes. This research is important to help prevent the unwanted side effects that are so frequent in the many patients who need this important medication.