Pouneh K. Fazeli, MD, MPH

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Director, Neuroendocrinology Unit
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Research Interests

We study hormonal/neuroendocrine adaptations to undernutrition and the negative consequences of undernutrition.  The most common medical complication of chronic undernutrition is loss of bone mass.  Using anorexia nervosa as a model of chronic undernutrition, our lab is currently studying the effects of low-dose transdermal estrogen on bone mineral density in women with anorexia nervosa.  We are also studying the role and function of bone marrow adipose tissue – a fat depot that is paradoxically preserved in states of undernutrition.

Keywords

Anorexia nervosa, starvation, undernutrition, bone marrow adipose tissue