Johannes D. Veldhuis, M.D., studies the regulatory physiology of the human pituitary-gonadal and adrenal axes, along with the somatotropic axis.
Through his clinical research, Dr. Veldhuis addresses how sex steroids and peptide-releasing factors regulate hormone secretion by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and target tissues.
Dr. Veldhuis' specific projects include Clinical Research Unit-based and National Institutes of Health-supported investigations in four complementary areas:
- Mechanisms by which estrogen stimulates growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) secretion in postmenopausal women
- How testosterone stimulates growth hormone and IGF-I secretion in men
- Sex-steroid control of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol secretion in men and women
- Deterioration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone/luteinizing hormone/testosterone secretion in older men
Studies involve normal volunteers and selected patient subgroups.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Veldhuis' focus on male-female gender differences in health and disease, and the impact of aging, provides a basis for proper sex-selective diagnostics.