With ongoing support from the National Institutes of Health, the Hollenberg Lab has remained at the forefront of discovery for more than 20 years. The Hollenberg lab was amongst the first to identify that thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) neurons in the hypothalamus serve as integrators of metabolic input, setting thyroid hormone levels within the context of body weight. The lab was also among the first to identify the role of specific co-repressors (NCoR1, SMRT) in target gene regulation by thyroid hormone, which has helped to establish the idea that thyroid hormone sensitivity is due to the quantity of co-repressors present.
Studies in the Hollenberg Lab employ novel biochemical and genetic platforms to better understand thyroid hormones’ beneficial effects on metabolism. This work is leading to better tailored replacement therapy and is aiding in the development of novel therapies for metabolic disease. The lab is focused on improving therapy for hypothyroidism, as well as furthering an overall better understanding of many diseases of the thyroid that affect human health. With a focus on tissue-specific actions of the thyroid hormone, the lab is also unraveling the components of the complex that determines cellular TH action.
Additionally, new work in the laboratory is focused on developing a platform to develop functioning thyroid tissue from induced pluripotent stem cells or embryonic stem cells.