Mark Palmert

Affiliations: The Hospital for Sick Children: Division Head, Endocrinology; Research Institute Senior Associate Scientist, Genetics & Genome Biology

Courses Taught :  PSL 1024, PSL 1022

Research Synopsis

Research Interests: 
Dr. Palmert conducts research in a variety of areas.  He has a long-standing interest in the regulation and disorders of pubertal timing and has conducted clinical studies of precocious and delayed puberty and in parallel has directed a laboratory-based program designed to identify and understand genetic factors that regulate the onset of puberty.  His interest in the regulation of pubertal timing and in male-female differences in its onset has led to the expansion of his laboratory-based program to include investigation of the bases of sex differences in the brain, including examination of the effects of sex steroids and sex chromosomes on brain structure and function as well as effects of early-life diet exposures.  In the clinical realm, Dr. Palmert has conducted research focused on improving outcomes of youth with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, improving the care of transgender adolescents, and optimizing the use of resources and diagnostic tests within the endocrine clinics. 

Detailed Description:

Brief Biography
Dr. Mark R. Palmert joined the Department of Paediatrics as head of the Division of Endocrinology in September 2007 and held that role until March 2018 when he assumed the role of Associate Chair of Pediatrics for Outpatient Care. Dr. Palmert is a graduate of the Medical Scientist Training Program at Case Western Reserve University with an MD and PhD in 1992. He trained in paediatrics and paediatric endocrinology at Children’s Hospital, Boston.cal Care Activities

Clinical Care Activities
Reproductive endocrinology focusing on disorders of pubertal development.
Care of children with general endocrine disorders and diabetes mellitus.
Care of transgender youth.

METHODS USED

Procedures: Sequencing, qRT-PCR, RT-PCR, MRI, Surveys and Interviews

Sample Publications and Abstracts

1. Tenedero C, Oei K, Palmert MR. An Approach to the Evaluation and Management of the Obese Child with Early Puberty, Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2021;https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvab173. Senior Responsible Investigator.
2. Abitbol L, Tenedero CB, Sepiashvili L, Wasserman JD, Palmert MR. Routine T4 No More? Reducing Excess Thyroid Hormone Testing at a Pediatric Tertiary Care Hospital. Journal of Pediatrics. 2021 Sep; 236:269-275.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.05.010. Senior Responsible Investigator https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33989653/
3. Sorbara JC, Ngo HL, Palmert MR. Factors Associated with Age of Presentation to Gender-Affirming Medical Care. Pediatrics. 2021. April: 147 (4):e2020026674. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-026674. Senior Responsible Investigator. (Paper published with accompanying commentary in Pediatrics.) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33722987/
4. Fernandes DJ#, Spring S#, Roy AR, Qui LR, Yee Y, Nieman BJ, Lerch JP*, Palmert MR*. (# Co-1st authors; *Co-Supervisors). Exposure to maternal high-fat diet induces extensive changes in the brain of adult offspring. Translational Psychiatry. 2021 March; 11, 149. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-021-01274-1. Senior Responsible Investigator. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33654064/
5. Alfonsi JE, Choi EEY, Arshad T, Sammott SAS, Pais V, Nguyen C, Maguire BR, Stinson JN, Palmert MR. Carbohydrate Counting App Using Image Recognition for Youth With Type 1 Diabetes: Pilot Randomized Control Trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2020;8(10):e22074. Senior Responsible Investigator. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33112249/
6. Abitbol L, Palmert MR. When low blood sugars cause high anxiety: Fear of hypoglycemia among parents of youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Canada Journal of Diabetes. 2020. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2020.08.098. Senior Responsible Investigator  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33046404/
7. Sorbara JC, Chiniara LN, Thompson S, Palmert MR. Mental Health and Timing of Gender-Affirming Care. Pediatrics. 2020 October; 146(4):e20193600. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-3600. Senior Responsible Investigator. (This paper was published with an accompanying commentary in Pediatrics. The article has also received much attention online and in the media.  As of October 27, 2020, the paper ranked in the top 5% of all research outputs ever scored by Altmetric.com and in the top 3% of all papers published by Pediatrics and tracked by Altmetric. The Paper has been covered by 13 news outlets worldwide, including NBC News.) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32958610/
8. Campisi SC, Marchand J, Siddiqui FJ, Islam M, Bhutta ZA, Palmert MR. Can we Rely on Adolescents to Self-Assess Puberty Stage? A Systematic Review. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2020 August; 105(8): 2846–2856. doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaa135. Senior Responsible Investigator. (Paper highlighted as among most influential manuscripts regarding clinical guidance published in 2020 in the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology’s “Yearbook in Pediatric Endocrinology.”) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32179891/

For full list of publications see PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=palmert+m&sort=date/