Biosketch

Dr. Deborah Merke graduated cum laude from University of Massachusetts, received a master of science degree in biostatistics from Columbia University and earned her medical degree from State University of New York at Buffalo. During medical school, she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (medical honor) Society. She completed her pediatric residency at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. As a fellow, she received an NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment and Scholarship Award and an NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence. After completion of her fellowship, Dr. Merke remained at NICHD studying congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a rare disease of the adrenal gland. Dr. Merke is now considered a world expert in CAH.

In 1999, Dr. Merke was appointed chief of Pediatric Services for the NIH Clinical Center. In this position, she oversees the care of pediatric patients at the CC, heads the Pediatric Consult Service, and chairs the Pediatric Care Committee, the organizational committee responsible for overseeing clinical policies and guidelines for managing pediatric patient care. She also maintains a joint appointment as an NICHD clinical investigator and continues to oversee clinical research studies of CAH.

Dr. Merke has made significant contributions to the study of CAH, including the novel finding of adrenaline deficiency in patients with CAH, the discovery that patients with CAH have smaller-than-normal amygdalas (the part of the brain that regulates emotion) and identification of problems with hydrocortisone suspension; this is a common medication used by patients with CAH, and Dr. Merke's studies led to a product recall. She currently is conducting the largest ever Natural History Study of CAH, with over 250 patients enrolled in study that aims to broaden our understanding of the disease process. Dr. Merke leads an effort to expand our understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of CAH through collaborative studies with the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Aging. Central to her work is the study of new treatments, including a long-term trial testing an antiandrogen and aromatase inhibitor to block excess hormones, and the study of a newly developed form of hydrocortisone which mimics circadian cortisol secretion.

She received grants (2005 to 2009) from the Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Research, Education and Support Foundation.

She has published widely in New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, and in other medical journals.

Honors and Awards

USPHS Outstanding Service Medal for Conducting Outstanding Clinical Research and Building an Internationally Renowned Research Program to Further Understanding of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, 2010; Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Research, Education and Support Foundation, Inc. grant in support of research in the area of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 2005 - 2009; NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence, 1997; NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment and Scholarship Award, 1996; Dr. Louis Sklarow Memorial Award for outstanding graduate in medicine, SUNY at Buffalo, 1991; senior honors thesis: Predicting Mortality and Five Year Neurodevelopmental Morbidity in Extremely Premature Infants, 1991; Alpha Omega Alpha Society, 1990; Dean's Commendation for Honors Achievement, 1989 & 1990; Dean's Commendation for research presentation at SUNY at Buffalo, Medical School Student Research Forum, among top ten. 1988; Cum Laude Graduate, University of Massachusetts. 1982; Alumni Scholarship Award for academic excellence, University of Massachusetts, 1981.

Selected Publications

BOOKS AND BOOK CHAPTERS

Charmandari E, Chrousos GP, Merke DP. Classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In: Adrenal Glands: diagnostic aspects and surgical therapy, Chapter 10, pp 101-114. Linos DA, VanHeerden JA, eds., Springer-Verlag, Germany 2005.

Merke DP, Cutler GB. New ideas for medical treatment of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America 30:121-135, 2001.

Merke DP, Camacho CA. Novel Basic and Clinical Aspects of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Reviews in Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders 2:289-296, 2001.

Miller RW, Merke DP. Radiation injury. In: Nelson WE et al, eds., Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 15th ed. W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia, 2002-4, 1996.

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Nandagopal R, Sinaii N, Avila NA, VanRyzin C, Chen W, Finkielstain GP, Mehta SP, McDonnell NB, Merke DP. Phenotypic Profiling of Parents with Cryptic Nonclassic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: Findings in 145 Unrelated Families. Eur J Endocrinol. 2011; Mar 28, Epub ahead of print.

Finkielstain GP, Chen W, Mehta S, Fujimura FK, Hanna RM, VanRyzin C, McDonnell NB, Merke DP. Comprehensive Genetic Analysis of 182 Unrelated Families with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due to 21- Hydroxylase Deficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 96:E161-E172, 2011.

Speiser PW, Azziz R, Baskin LS, Ghizzoni L, Hensle TW, Merke DP, Meyer-Bahlburg HFL, Miller WL, Montori VM, Oberfield SE, Ritzen M, White PC. Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Due to Steroid 21-hydroxylase Deficiency: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 95:4133-4160, 2010.

Verma S, Van Ryzin C, Sinaii N, Kim MS, Nieman LK, Ravindran S, Arlt WA, Ross, RJ, Merke DP. A Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Study of Delayed and Extended Release Hydrocortisone (Chronocort™ ) versus Conventional Hydrocortisone (Cortef™) in the Treatment of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Clin Endocrinol 72:441-447, 2010.

Ernst M, Maheu FS, Schroth E, Hardin J, Golan LG, Cameron J, Allen R, Holzer S, Nelson E, Pine D, Merke DP. Amygdala function in congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a model for the study of early steroid abnormalities. Neuropsychologia 45:2104-2113, 2007.

Merke DP and Bornstein SR. Seminar: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. The Lancet 365:2125-2136, 2005.

Weise M, Mehlinger SL, Drinkard B, Rawson E, Charmandari E, Hiroi M, Eisenhofer G, Yanovski JA, Chrousos GP, Merke DP. Patients with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia have decreased epinephrine reserve and defective glucose elevation in response to high intensity exercise. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 89:591-597, 2004.

Merke DP, Fields JD, Keil MF, Vaituzis AC, Chrousos GP, Giedd JN. Children with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia have decreased amygdala volume: Potential prenatal and postnatal hormonal effects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88:1760-1765, 2003.

Charmandari E, Weise M, Bornstein SR, Eisenhofer G, Keil MF, Chrousos GP, Merke DP. Children with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia have elevated serum leptin concentrations and insulin resistance: Potential clinical implications. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 87:2114-2120, 2002.

Merke DP, Bornstein SR, Avila NA, Chrousos GP. NIH Conference. Future directions in the study and management of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Annals of Internal Medicine 136:320-334, 2002.

Merke DP, Cho D, Calis KA, Keil MF, Chrousos GP. Hydrocortisone suspension and hydrocortisone tablets are not bioequivalent in the treatment of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 86:441-445, 2001.

Merke DP, Chrousos GP, Eisenhofer G, Weise M, Keil M, Rogol AD, Van Wyk JJ, Bornstein SR. Adrenomedullary dysplasia and hypofunction in patients with classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency. N Engl J Med 343:1362-1368, 2000.

Merke DP, Keil M, Jones JV, Fields J, Hill S, Cutler GB. Flutamide, testolactone, and reduced hydrocortisone dose maintains normal growth velocity and bone maturation despite elevated androgen levels in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 85:1114-1120, 2000.

Merke DP, Tajima T, Baron J, Cutler GB. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in a female caused by an X-linked recessive mutation in the DAX-1 gene. N Engl J Med 340:1248-1252, 1999.

Merke DP, Bornstein SR, Braddock D, Chrousos GP. Adrenal lymphocytic infiltration and adrenocortical tumors in a patient with 21-hydroxylase deficiency. N Engl J Med 340:1121-1122, 1999.

Merke DP, Cutler GB. New approaches to the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. JAMA 277:1073-6, 1997.