“Dr. Wondisford has made outstanding contributions to the thyroid field, including the elucidation of the molecular structure of human TSH, which provided the groundwork for its development as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent, and for groundbreaking experiments that unraveled the complex mechanisms by which thyroid hormone receptors suppress gene transcription,” said ATA President James A. Fagin, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. “His findings without a doubt reach beyond the field of thyroidology, proving influential in the broader fields of endocrinology and metabolism.”
Dr. Wondisford is Chief of the Metabolism and Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Physiology at Johns Hopkins, as well as Director of the JHU-UMD Diabetes Research and Training Center (and Director of its Transgenic/Embryonic Stem Cell Core). Previously, he was Professor of Medicine and Chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism Division at the University of Chicago and Director of the Diabetes Research and Training Center there. Earlier in his career, he was Chief of the Thyroid Unit at Beth Israel Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine. Notably, he is the last faculty member ever recruited by the noted Dr. Ingbar at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Wondisford has made outstanding contributions to the thyroid field that have impacted both our understanding of the physiology of thyroid hormone action and our ability to care for patients with thyroid cancer. Among his most influential contributions is his research on the biological behavior of thyroid hormone receptors, thyroid hormone feedback on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and thyroid hormone resistant states.
In addition, his identification of the TSH beta subunit gene early in his research career led directly to the clinical development of recombinant TSH for diagnostic and therapeutic use in thyroid cancer. His work on TSH in particular led to the patent, co-invented with Bruce Weintraub and the NIH, for Thyrogen. It is widely known that many patients find it intolerable to withdraw from thyroid hormone— even including noncompliance with withdrawal — and for this or other reasons fail to mount a sufficient TSH response, necessitating the need for Thyrogen. Additionally, for the wider working world who cannot slow their lives to the place of clinical hypothyroidism, Thyrogen has assumed a major place. As such, Thyrogen is the 5th most profitable patent in NIH history.
Dr. Wondisford has been an Active Member of the American Thyroid Association since 1991, serving on membership, education, bylaws, research and program committees. He received the Van Meter Award, a young investigator honor for outstanding contributions to research on the thyroid gland in 1998 and served on the ATA Council (now the Board of Directors) from 1998-2002. He has presented and chaired at many annual meeting sessions.
About the ATA Annual Meeting The 82nd Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association will be held Sept. 19-23, in Québec City, Québec, Canada. This four day creative and innovative scientific program, chaired by Drs. Elizabeth Pearce and Douglas Forrest, carefully balances clinical and basic science sessions on the latest advances in thyroidology. The ATA meeting is designed to offer continuing education for endocrinologists, internists, surgeons, basic scientists, nuclear medicine scientists, pathologists, endocrine fellows and nurses, physician assistants and other health care professionals. Visit www.thyroid.org for more information.
About the ATA The American Thyroid Association (ATA) is the leading worldwide organization dedicated to the advancement, understanding, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders and thyroid cancer. ATA is an international individual membership organization with over 1,600 members from 43 countries around the world. Celebrating its 89th anniversary, ATA delivers its mission through several key endeavors: the publication of highly regarded monthly journals, THYROID, Clinical Thyroidology and Clinical Thyroidology for Patients; annual scientific meetings; biennial clinical and research symposia; research grant programs for young investigators, support of online professional, public and patient educational programs through www.thyroid.org; and the development of guidelines for clinical management of thyroid disease. Visit www.thyroid.org for more information.
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