Shana E. McCormack

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Shana E. McCormack, MD, MTR

Attending Physician

Dr. McCormack investigates the intersection of neuroendocrinology and metabolism. Her translational research program involves two areas. The first involves studying those with genetic disorders, including primary mitochondrial diseases and Friedreich's ataxia, with characterized risk for diabetes mellitus. Second, Dr. McCormack focuses on brain disorders associated with excess weight gain, including brain tumor-related hypothalamic obesity syndrome and idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

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Bio

Dr. McCormack and her colleagues perform detailed assessments of mitochondrial bioenergetics and metabolism in humans with mitochondrial and neuroendocrine disorders using, for example, non invasive imaging techniques, stable isotopes, and integrated metabolomics and proteomics.

She complements these in vivo studies with in vitro experiments to more fully explore the tissue-specific causes and consequences of abnormal energy balance in model systems such as patient-derived cell lines. She also tests rational therapies in clinical trials.

Insights gained from these rare metabolic conditions may help Dr. McCormack and her team to better understand and treat more widespread problems related to energy balance, including obesity and diabetes mellitus. To put their findings in context, the team also studies how energy balance affects growth, development, and body composition in healthy children and adolescents.

Key accomplishments from Dr. McCormack and her group include:

Adapting a novel, non invasive, imaging technique to measure mitochondrial energy production in skeletal muscle in humans with mitochondrial disorders
Characterizing the scope of endocrine disorders that occur in individuals with genetic mitochondrial disorders
Applying new statistical methods to measure growth and acquisition of muscle and bone in healthy children
Leading a clinical trial of intranasal oxytocin in children and adults with hypothalamic obesity syndrome

Dr. McCormack serves as Scientific Director for the CHOP Neuroendocrine Center and is a clinical and clinical research affiliate of the CHOP Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program.

Education and Training

AB, Harvard College (Biochemical Sciences), 1999

MD, Harvard Medical School, 2005

MTR, University of Pennsylvania (Translational Research), 2015

Titles and Academic Titles

Attending Physician

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Scientific Director, CHOP Neuroendocrine Center

Professional Memberships

Pediatric Endocrine Society, 2009-

Endocrine Society, 2009-

United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, 2013-

Mitochondrial Medicine Society, 2013-

National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2014-2017

Society for Pediatric Research, 2014-

Society for Inherited Metabolic Disorders, 2015-

American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 2015-

Professional Awards

Fellow Travel Award, Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, 2010

Travel Award for Young Investigators Pediatric Academic Society, 2012

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT) Fellowship to support Master’s in Translational Research, 2013-2015

American Society for Clinical Investigation Young Physician Scientist Award, 2016

Uplifting Athletes Foundation Young Investigators Award, 2019