Endocrine Abstracts

Professor Waljit Dhillo is a Professor in Endocrinology and Metabolism and Consultant Endocrinologist, Imperial College London. He completed his medical training at St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School, University of London in 1994. During this time he also completed an Intercalated BSc in Biochemistry (awarded First Class Honours) funded by the Medical Research Council. He then completed his general medical training in London Hospitals. In 1997 he joined the North West Thames Rotation in Diabetes and Endocrinology as a Specialist Registrar. During this time he completed a PhD on the area of novel neuropeptides regulating appetite as a Wellcome Trust Clinical Training Fellow at Imperial College with Professor Sir Steve Bloom. In 2004 he was awarded a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinician Scientist Fellowship and appointed Clinical Senior Lecturer & Consultant in Diabetes & Endocrinology at Imperial College London. Following this he was awarded an NIHR Career Development Fellowship and promoted to Reader in 2009. In 2011 he was promoted to Professor in Endocrinology & Metabolism. In 2015 Professor Dhillo was awarded a prestigious NIHR Research Professorship.

Professor Dhillo’s research investigates novel aspects of endocrine control of obesity and reproductive function. His research has focused on understanding the neuroendocrine mechanisms which are important in the regulation of food intake. Professor Dhillo’s research investigates the mechanisms by which gut hormones mediate their effect. He was awarded the Royal College of Physicians Linacre Medal for this work. These findings have identified CNS pathways which have potential as novel targets for the development of anti-obesity drugs.

Professor Dhillo’s recent translational research has identified the novel hormone kisspeptin as a potential novel therapy for infertility. Professor Dhillo has carried out the ‘first time into human’ studies of kisspeptin.This work was awarded the American Endocrine Society Award for Excellence in Clinical Research and the British Society for Neuroscience Investigator Prize.