2024 Researchers Roundtable

Discussing endocrine science with the 2024 Early Investigator Award Winners

Every year the Endocrine Society recognizes endocrinologists who are in the early stages of their research careers with the Early Investigator Awards. Endocrine News spoke to the five award recipients from around the world to find out more about their award-winning research, the award’s potential impact, as well as the biggest challenges facing them today.

When the recipients of the Endocrine Society’s 2024 Early Investigator Awards presented their research at ENDO 2024, the atmosphere was electric and filled with anticipation at the Boston Convention and Expo Center.

One by one, as each of this year’s winners got up to speak, attendees in the room were treated to an eclectic array of research ranging from oxytocin deficiency; the molecular mechanisms behind thyroid disorders; the molecular basis of adrenocortical tissue homeostasis and adrenal cancer; molecular mechanisms of pituitary development; and male reproductive endocrinology and steroid hormones.

Aside from the award-winning research presentations, a surprising new feature at this year’s symposium was the session and facilitator for the proceedings, Endocrine Society President John Newell-Price, MA, PhD, FRCP, professor of endocrinology and honorary consultant endocrinologist in the Division of Clinical Medicine at the School of Medicine & Population Health at the University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, U.K., who shared the award recipient’s enthusiasm for the research being discussed. “The Early Investigator Award symposium was an incredible opportunity for the recipients of these prestigious awards to showcase their data and give insight into the factors that had contributed to their successful careers,” Newell-Price says. “It was a phenomenal event!”

The 2024 winners are: Leen Antonio, MD, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), University Hospitals Leuven in Leuven, Belgium; Francesca Galbiati, MD, a clinical research fellow in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.; Cintia Citterio, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy in Irvine, Calif.; Kleiton Borges, PhD, an instructor in pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Mass.; and Maria Camilletti, PhD, with the National Scientific and Technical Research Council in Buenos Aires, Argentina, who also serves as a research assistant in the faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires and in the Institute of Neurosciences.

Endocrine News was fortunate enough to catch their presentations in Boston and caught up with them to learn more about their research, the unique challenges they’ve each faced, and what the award means for their work.

Tell us a little bit about your research and your motivation to apply for the Early Investigator Award.

Leen Antonio: As an endocrinologist and clinician-scientist, I combine patient care with clinically oriented research, with a focus on andrology, reproductive endocrinology and steroid hormones. More specifically, I do research on steroid hormone-binding protein interactions and clinical implications of looking at the total versus the free fraction, such as in the case of total testosterone, SHBG, and free testosterone.

During my PhD and clinical training, I had the opportunity to work with several very successful clinician-scientists, especially my research mentor prof. Dr. Dirk Vanderschueren. This convinced me to pursue an academic career and combine clinical care with research and teaching. I am convinced that cross-fertilization between the lab and the clinic is highly beneficial for patient care, both on a day-to-day basis in routine clinical care, as well as in the long run by increasing evidence-based diagnosis and treatment for frequent as well as rare endocrine diseases.

“Receiving the Early Investigator Award at such an early stage of my career is an invaluable recognition from the scientific community. It is a validation of the research trajectory I have been pursuing and a great source of motivation to move forward with my current projects with the goal of becoming a successful independent clinical investigator.”

Francesca Galbiati, MD, a clinical research fellow, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Kleiton Borges: My research is primarily focused on unraveling the molecular pathways underlying adrenal development and the pathogenesis of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare and aggressive tumor with limited treatment options. A significant milestone in my career was the development of a genetically engineered mouse model of ACC, which integrates two major mutations observed in patients with aggressive ACC. This model faithfully recapitulates key molecular, hormonal, and cellular features of human ACC. Currently, my main research focus lies in elucidating the epigenetic mechanisms involved in immune evasion in ACC. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, including mouse models, cellular immunology, and functional genomics such as CRISPR screening in vivo, I aim to understand how cancers evade the immune system and identify novel targets to enhance immune responses against tumors. As a junior faculty member, I am continuously seeking opportunities to showcase my research and establish collaborations with both current and new partners to expand my professional network. The international recognition offered by the Endocrine Society makes this award particularly appealing to me, as it provides a valuable platform to disseminate my work and forge new professional connections.

Maria Camilletti: My research involves developing an in vitro platform to obtain pituitary cells from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to model and study hypopituitarism, a severe condition with an incidence of 1:4000-1:10000 live births. This platform provides a useful tool for validating novel genes and genetic variants identified in patients and exploring their impact on pituitary development and function. The Early Investigator Award is a prestigious recognition, and I was hoping its financial support would allow me to attend the conference. Funding opportunities in my country to travel abroad are scarce, especially nowadays, making this award particularly meaningful to showcase our discoveries and ongoing projects to a global audience of endocrine experts at ENDO.

“I believe that this award offers an excellent opportunity to increase the impact of my research, attract new research grants, and foster new collaborations. All these aspects are essential for the continued growth of my career and the research themes that I have developed.”

Cintia Citterio, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, Calif.

Cintia Citterio: My research to date has focused on studying the molecular mechanisms of hereditary thyroid disorders, thyroid hormone formation, and thyroid pathophysiology in the whole-body context, to understand disease pathogenesis and improve the treatment of hypothyroid patients. With a strong commitment to advancing discoveries in thyroid endocrinology and motivated to find new opportunities for career development, I applied for the Early Investigator Award in January 2024. It is an honor to be one of the five recipients of this Award this year.

Francesca Galbiati: I started working in Elizabeth Lawson’s Lab in 2018, when I moved to the U.S. for a postdoctoral research fellowship. We are interested in understanding posterior pituitary physiology and pathophysiology and functions of oxytocin and vasopressin beyond their classical roles in parturition and water balance, respectively. Dr. Lawson’s Lab has investigated oxytocin-based therapeutics for several conditions including obesity and ADHD, and we are now focusing on the characterization of oxytocin deficiency and oxytocin replacement in patients with hypopituitarism and arginine-vasopressin deficiency (formerly, central diabetes insipidus). Hypopituitarism is, in fact, associated with increased morbidity and mortality and an oxytocin deficiency could contribute to worse overall health and quality of life despite adequate anterior pituitary hormone replacement. We aim to identify and clinically characterize oxytocin-deficient patients to improve their care.

We are also studying the interplay between posterior and anterior pituitary via a multimodal approach including physiology studies in humans, proteomics, and cell-based research with the goal of better understanding how oxytocin modulates anterior pituitary axes as well as clinical implications of oxytocin treatment.

Lastly, I have been studying the vasopressin system in obesity and the bariatric population aiming to identify pathways that could perpetuate versus counteract metabolic derangements and to identify potential treatment targets.

The unique opportunity provided by the Early Investigator Award to share my work with the academic community and endocrinology experts prompted me to apply.

What have been some of your biggest challenges at this point in your career as a scientist and researcher?

Antonio: For me, combining clinical care with research is the biggest challenge. I run clinics in pituitary endocrinology, reproductive endocrinology, and andrology, and I’m also involved in our parathyroid clinics. I became a consultant endocrinologist about five years ago, and I’m still learning every day. As University Hospital Leuven is a teaching hospital, I am also engaged in the clinical training of internal medicine residents and endocrinology fellows. This is very rewarding, but I have to keep up with new developments in all fields of endocrinology and this can sometimes be challenging.

As a researcher, I recently became PI of my own research group. Finding enough time to write high-quality funding applications that are likely to get funded is challenging.

Borges: As an early career investigator, one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced is maintaining momentum in scientific discovery while navigating the competitive landscape of funding acquisition for my laboratory. Fortunately, I’ve been fortunate to receive tremendous support from mentors and colleagues who have provided invaluable guidance and encouragement along the way. Despite the challenges, I remain optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead.

Camilletti: Over the past few months, I’ve encountered significant challenges due to severe cuts in scientific funding and the number of PhD scholarships for entering academia. This has resulted in fewer resources for experiments and equipment and less academic productivity. There is uncertainty about how we will continue our lab work, but with the support of a great mentor and an excellent team, we are already seeking international collaborations and grant applications to sustain the continuity of our projects. Also, I’m highly convinced in getting involved in advocating for increased investment in science and education and engaging in dialogue with politics and society about the importance of scientific research in the growth and development of our country.

“I envision the Endocrine Society continuing to be a cornerstone of my career, facilitating meaningful connections, and providing avenues for collaboration and knowledge exchange. I am deeply grateful for their unwavering support and the transformative impact they have had on my journey as an endocrine researcher. With the Society’s backing, I am optimistic about the future of our research and the potential to make lasting contributions to the field of endocrinology.”

Maria Camilletti, PhD, National Scientific and Technical Research Council; research assistant, Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires and the Institute of Neurosciences, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Citterio: Balancing various responsibilities such as conducting research, teaching, and service, and personal life can be challenging. Staying focused is crucial for navigating through these responsibilities effectively.

Galbiati: I have the privilege of doing a job I love, and I look forward to it every day. Nevertheless, challenges come with it and are part of the research learning curve. It is probably a mainstream topic, but funding resources are significantly limited for international researchers working in the U.S. where solid projects and mentorship are not enough. In fact, visa status matters and can be a crucial barrier to apply for funding. This is particularly true for early career researchers aiming to establish their independent research pathways. However, supportive mentors, enthusiastic team members, and the passion for my job have helped me obtain my first grants and advance my projects.

How do you hope receiving the Early Investigator award will help support your goals as an endocrine scientist, and what role do you see the Endocrine Society playing in your career going forward?

Antonio: The Endocrine Society has already shaped my clinical and research career in many ways. I attended my first ENDO meeting in 2014, in Chicago. As a second year PhD student, I got the opportunity to present my research as a poster and received an outstanding abstract award! I also was selected to take part in the Type 1 Diabetes Fellows Conference. I still remember the faculty discussing the results of the first clinical trials with hybrid insulin pumps back then. If you see how that field has evolved over the past decade, it was amazing that I could hear experts discussing this technology as a fellow. I participated in several events the Society organizes for early-career researchers and fellows, and it really helped me in enhancing my research and networking skills and gaining valuable insights for my clinical and research work. I truly enjoy every ENDO meeting I have travelled to. Every time, I meet new international colleagues and run into people I hadn’t seen for a while.

I am also very grateful that my first two publications were published in the Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), which is a leading journal for getting results of your endocrine research into the world. One even got highlighted with an editorial written by Dr. Bradley Anawalt. Also being asked to serve as a reviewer for the andrology section of JCEM has made a deep impression on me as a junior researcher.

So, in the future, I think the Endocrine Society will continue to play an important role in my career. I look forward to going to future ENDO meetings, to meet international colleagues in person, and get the newest updates in research and clinical practice.

“As a junior faculty member, I am continuously seeking opportunities to showcase my research and establish collaborations with both current and new partners to expand my professional network. The international recognition offered by the Endocrine Society makes this award particularly appealing to me, as it provides a valuable platform to disseminate my work and forge new professional connections.”

Kleiton Borges, PhD, instructor, Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Borges: Receiving the Early Investigator award from the Endocrine Society is an honor and the recognition and validation from such a prestigious organization indicates that my research efforts are making meaningful contributions to the field. Moreover, the resources and networking opportunities offered by the Endocrine Society are invaluable for early career researchers like me. These interactions will not only foster collaboration and innovation but also provide a platform to disseminate my findings and amplify the impact of my research.

Camilletti: Receiving the Early Investigator Award from the Endocrine Society represents a significant milestone in my career as an endocrine scientist. This recognition validates the importance and impact of our research and provides essential support and visibility for our work in hypopituitarism. The Endocrine Society has consistently supported my professional growth since my early years as a PhD student. I still remember my first ENDO in 2016 (in Boston too!), feeling impressed by all the groundbreaking discoveries presented there and motivated at the same time, by the friendly and talented scientists and clinicians I met. Looking ahead, I envision the Endocrine Society continuing to be a cornerstone of my career, facilitating meaningful connections, and providing avenues for collaboration and knowledge exchange. I am deeply grateful for their unwavering support and the transformative impact they have had on my journey as an endocrine researcher. With the Society’s backing, I am optimistic about the future of our research and the potential to make lasting contributions to the field of endocrinology.

Citterio: I believe that this award offers an excellent opportunity to increase the impact of my research, attract new research grants, and foster new collaborations. All these aspects are essential for the continued growth of my career and the research themes that I have developed. Right after receiving the 2024 Early Investigator Award, I was invited to serve as a Member of the Research Affairs Core Committee of the Endocrine Society. I am confident that the Endocrine Society will continue to play an important role in my scientific career.

Galbiati: Receiving the Early Investigator Award at such an early stage of my career is an invaluable recognition from the scientific community. It is a validation of the research trajectory I have been pursuing and a great source of motivation to move forward with my current projects with the goal of becoming a successful independent clinical investigator. I hope that the work we do in Dr. Lawson’s Lab will lead to improved care of patients with hypopituitarism and to a better elucidation of the role of vasopressin in metabolism to unveil novel pathways underlying metabolic dysregulation and potential treatment targets for obesity.

“During my PhD and clinical training, I had the opportunity to work with several very successful clinician-scientists. This convinced me to pursue an academic career and combine clinical care with research and teaching. I am convinced that cross-fertilization between the lab and the clinic is highly beneficial for patient care, both on a day-to-day basis in routine clinical care, as well as in the long run by increasing evidence-based diagnosis and treatment for frequent as well as rare endocrine diseases.”

Leen Antonio, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

For his part, Newell-Price was nothing short of enthusiastic after hearing these endocrine scientists discuss their groundbreaking research. “Their presentations were truly inspirational, and the quality of their science exceptional,” he says. “An important message they highlighted repeatedly was the important role that the Society had played in their journeys, from attending and networking at ENDO, to publishing in the Society’s journals, to emphasizing the crucial need for mentorship and support. With extraordinary talent like this, the future of Endocrinology and the Society looks bright.”

–Newman is the executive editor of Endocrine News and has been with the Endocrine Society since 2013.