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Professor Ken Ho

 

Senior Principal Research Fellow; Head, Pituitary Research Unit, Neuroscience Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research; Professor of Medicine, The University of New South Wales; Chairman, Dept of Endocrinology, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney; Visiting Physician, St Vincent's Private Hospital, Sydney

Email: k.ho 'at' garvan.org.au
Research Group: Pituitary, Hormones & Metabolism

 
 
Professor Ken Ho is an endocrinologist and world-renowned growth hormone expert, as well as head of the Pituitary Research Unit within the Neuroscience Program. The Unit conducts research into the diagnosis and medical treatment of pituitary disease, the role of pituitary hormones in health and disease, and the use and abuse of pituitary hormones. It integrates clinical studies with basic science studies probing cellular, biochemical, and molecular aspects of steroid hormone action.
 
 
 

Ken's other professional appointments include: Professor of Medicine, University of New South Wales; Chairman, Dept of Endocrinology, St Vincent's Hospital Sydney; and Visiting Physician, St Vincent's Private Hospital Sydney.

Ken obtained his medical degree at the University of Sydney and doctorate degree from the University of New South Wales and undertook postdoctoral studies at the University of Virginia. He is a past-president of the Endocrine Society of Australia and president of the Growth Hormone Research Society. He has published over 150 scientific papers, which include publications in the Lancet, Annals of Internal Medicine, Journal of Clinical Investigations and PNAS.

Education

1985 MD, The University of New South Wales
1983 VQE
1981 FRACP
1975 ECFMG
1975 MB., BS (Hons), University of Sydney
1967 LMus A (pianoforte), NSW Conservatorium of Music

Awards and Honours

2008 Asia Oceania Medalist of the British Endocrine Society
2000 Clinical Endocrinology Trust Medal
1995 Merck Award, The Endocrine Society (Dr. AJ O'Sullivan, PhD student)
1984-86 Postgraduate Medical Scholarship, University of Sydney Foundation
1984 Blackburn Fellowship, Royal Australasian College of Physician

Publications

Leung K-C, Johannsson G, Leong GM, Ho KKY. Estrogen regulation of growth hormone action. Endocrine Reviews 2004; 25(5):693-721.

Leung KC, Ballesteros M, Doyle N, Watts CKW, Low TH, Ross RJM, Leong GM, Ho KKY. Estrogen inhibits growth hormone (GH) signaling by supressing GH-induced JAK2 phosphorylation, an effect mediated by SOCS2. Proc Natl Acad Sci 2003; 100:1016-1021

Leung KC, Howe C, Gui LY, Trout G, Veldhuis JD, Ho KKY. Physiological and pharmacological regulation of 20-kDa GH. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2002; 283:E836-E843

Hartman ML, Crowe BJ, Biller BMK, Ho KKY, Clemmons DR, Chapman JJ. Which patients do not require a growth hormone stimulation test for the diagnosis of adult growth hormone deficiency? J Clin Endocr Metab 2001; 87:477-485

Ho KKY. The role of pegvisamont in acromegaly. Lancet (Invited Editorial). 2001; 358: 1743-1744

Wolthers T, Hoffman D, Nugent AG, Duncan M, Sonkson P, Ho KKY. Oral estrogen impairs the metabolic effects of growth hormone (GH) in GH deficient women. Am J Physiol 2001; 281:E1191-E1196

Ross RJM, Leung KC, Maamra M, Bennett W, Doyle N, Waters MJ, Ho KKY. Binding and functional studies with the growth hormone receptor antagonist B2036-PEG (Pegvisomant). J Clin Endocr Metab 2001; 86:1716-1723

Leung KC, Waters, MJ, Markus I, Baumbach W, Ho KKY. Insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I acutely inhibit surface translocation of growth hormone receptors in osteoblasts: A novel mechanism of growth hormone receptor regulation. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1997; 94:11381-11386

O'Sullivan AJ, Crampton L, Freund J, Ho, KKY. The route of estrogen administration confers distinct effects on energy metabolism and body composition in postmenopausal women. J Clin Invest 1998; 102:1035-1040

Hoffman DM, O'Sullivan AJ, Baxter RC, Ho KKY. Diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in adults. Lancet 1994; 343:1064-1068


Search for all publications by Ken Ho

 
 
 

Areas of Interest

growth hormone, body composition, growth hormone action, sex steroids, growth hormone receptor, testosterone, growth hormone doping, acromegaly, pituitary disorders
 

News

 

Why women should eat less, move more and consider wearing transdermal patches during menopause

MEDIA RELEASE: 24 Nov 2008
Weight and appetite experts from around the world met at a conference in Bangkok earlier this year to discuss sex differences in obesity. One line of discussion looked at factors leading to women’s weight gain during menopause, and how it might be avoided.
 
 

Are the benefits of growth hormone in the athlete's mind?

25 Jun 2008
A new study undertaken by scientists in Garvan's Pituitary Research Unit demonstrates the 'placebo effect' in sport. If athletes believe they are using a performance-enhancing drug, they may think their performance improves, and in some it can, even if they are actually taking a dummy drug.
 
 

Growth hormone does not improve sports performance or increase muscle

05 Jun 2007
Lead investigator and endocrinologist Professor Ken Ho said: “We were surprised to find that human growth hormone has no effect on muscle mass or sports performance
 
 

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