Genetic aspects of pituitary tumors: A conversation with Márta Korbonits, MD, PhD, DSc
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Márta Korbonits, MD, PhD, DSc, FRCP, uncovered a passion for endocrinology from a series of inspirational lectures during her medical training.
This led her to pursue endocrine training and eventually research in the clinical, translational and experimental aspects of pituitary tumorigenesis and endocrine genetics.
Korbonits, president of the Society for Endocrinology and professor of endocrinology and metabolism at Barts Hospital and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry at Queen Mary University of London, is at the frontline of research into pituitary diseases and a leading figure for clinical academic training at her university.
Recipient of the Endocrine Society’s Delbert A. Fisher Research Scholar Award in 2015 for her work regarding the history of endocrinology, this year Korbonits has been honored with the society’s Gerald D. Aurbach Award for Outstanding Translational Research at ENDO 2023 for her work as an outstanding clinician scientist on the clinical, translational and experimental aspects of hormonal regulation of metabolism and the genetic aspects of pituitary tumors.
Healio: What was the defining moment that led you to your field? Why do you do what you do?
Korbonits: In my fourth year of medical school, we had a set of amazing lectures on endocrinology. I fell in love with this subject because it was exciting, logical, complex and, best of all, through various treatments we have the tools to dramatically improve patients’ condition. Following some basic science and teaching experience, I trained in internal medicine and endocrinology and remained in this field ever since.
Healio: What area of research in endocrinology most interests you right now and why?
Korbonits: When I came to Barts many years ago, I was given a project related to growth hormone regulation. One way or another, I still work in this field and in related topics down new paths that have been uncovered over the years. I was in the right place at the right time when ghrelin and its receptor were discovered and opportunities emerged to explore both in pituitary tumor and metabolic projects. One of the exciting proteins I’m working on now is called AIP, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein. This is an absolutely fascinating protein which, on one hand, is related to the genetic predisposition for pituitary tumors, while as a co-chaperone, has a myriad of effects: it keeps surprising us with novel functions and we know it is key for the survival of the organism.
Healio: What do you think will have the greatest influence on your field in the next 10 years?
Korbonits: Personalized, targeted therapy, based on a clarified (as much as possible) molecular mechanism is the next frontier in medicine. For this, we need to stop looking at disease states, organisms and patients through small lenses from one aspect or another, and instead use multimodal analysis to achieve a holistic picture. For example, by using genetic, transcriptomic and proteomic approaches, and utilizing the power of AI technologies, we would be able to decipher the causal mechanism behind most of the tumorigenic processes.
Another big overall step ahead would be advanced diagnostic tests, where you can pick up the presence of diseases at a very early stage when intervention has a better chance of curing the patient.
For a healthier society, seemingly simple preventative measures such as exercise and health eating are needed. Assisting these with drugs is arguable a poor alternative, but probably more effective on a practical level and on a large scale, as we may see in the coming years with the emerging pipeline of weight loss drugs.
Healio: Whom do you admire and what would you ask that person if you had 5 minutes them?
Korbonits: One of my favorite things to do in London, is to sink into my seat in the audience of a classical concert. So, to your question, I probably would like to have some time with one of the giants of classical music, for example Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Grieg or Chopin. I would like to ask them, what they think of their own music. What did they think of when they were writing it? What do they feel when they hear it played? Which is the piece of music which sends shivers down their spine? For me, Beethoven’s 7th symphony or Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E flat do just that.
Healio: Do you have any advice for aspiring medical students interested in your field?
Korbonits: I always encourage students to try their hand at academic research. It does not really matter whether it is clinical, basic or translational research. I would also suggest that they dig deep when they are involved in a project, discuss it with colleagues and remember to enjoy the challenge of what they are doing. For people who decided on an academic path, they should trust in their own ideas. It is so important for a high quality of life to truly enjoy what you’re doing in your professional life and having an inspiring family to go home to.
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