Thomas J. Weber, MD

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Services

• Endocrinology

Department / Division:
Medicine / Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition

Address:
DUMC 3470
Durham, NC 27710

Appointment Telephone:
919-668-7630

Office Telephone:
919-668-1367

Fax Telephone:
919-668-1366

• MD, University of Chicago-Pritzker School of Medicine, 1989

• Internal Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, Connecticut, 1989-1992
• Endocrinology and Metabolism, Duke University Medical Center, 1993-1997

Clinical Interests:
Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease including male osteoporosis, transplantation osteoporosis, male hypogonadism; secondary osteoporosis including glucocorticoid induced, familial and acquired hypophosphatemic disorders

Research Interests:
My primary research interest centers on osteoporosis, a disorder characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration with a consequent increase in skeletal fragility and fractures. Although much has been learned about risk factors for bone loss and fractures, much remains to be learned about the mechanisms of bone loss and skeletal fragility. This is particularly so for men with osteoporosis, as well as for individuals exposed to glucocorticoids for prolonged periods. Additionally, relatively little is known about which therapies are safe and effective for men with osteoporosis, although previous research of mine has shown that men with idiopathic osteoporosis do appear to respond to alendronate with an increase in bone mineral density.

My current research is centered on the development of a clinical database, based initially on bone density or DXA data. In concert with collection of bone density data, all individuals, men and women, undergoing BMD testing will undergo assessment of clinical information which is pertinent to osteoporosis risk assessment. This data may then be used to validate existing associations of clinical risk factors with BMD, or to suggest as yet unidentified relationships that may then be explored.

Collection of the clinical data will allow patients to be classified, which will then allow me to explore my primary research goal, that being the characterization of cellular and compartmental gene expression in primary and secondary osteoporotic syndromes. In concert with available resources of the Duke Core Laboratory in Musculoskeletal Diseases and the Duke Cancer Center, I will begin the explore the differences in gene expression in bone and bone marrow in normal individuals and those undergoing bone loss, such as in sex steroid deficiency and glucocorticoid use. These studies will hopefully lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms causing bone loss and fractures in these states, as well as to the identification of possible new therapies for osteoporosis.

A secondary research interest, which ties into the issue of osteoporosis in men, involves exploration of new therapies for male hypogonadism. Testosterone therapy improves bone density in men with low testosterone, and also improves sexual health and well being. The types of testosterone therapy are however limited, and novel therapies that improve on tolerability, adherence and safety are needed. My research includes clinical studies that test the safety and efficacy of new and novel forms of androgen replacement.

Representative Publications:
1.Weber TJ, Quarles LD Preventing Bone Loss after Renal Transplantation with Bisphosphonates: we can.....but should we? Kidney International 57(2):735-737, 2000 (2000)