Dr. Stratakis work focuses on understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms leading to disorders that affect the adrenal cortex and pituitary gland, which haslong has been a field of research in the NICHD at NIH. Emphasis is on disorders that are hereditary and associated with multiple tumors and abnormalities in other endocrine glands and other tissues. The aim of this work is to understand, diagnose and treat endocrine neoplasias. Dr. Stratakis has formulated a hypothesis that endocrine tumorigenesis follows the pattern of oncogenesis, i.e. the progress to malignancy is associated with an increasing number of genetic changes. Thus studying the relatively few genetic changes in benign hyperplasias may represent the first and most important genetic changes leading to endocrine tumors. Studies by Dr. Stratakis and his group include Carney complex, MEN I and II, other causes of Cushing syndrome, particularly in children, pituitary tumors, acromegaly, familial hyperaldosteronism, childhood adrenocortical cancer, adrenocortical hypoplasia and hyperplasia, and massive macronodular adrenococrtical hyperplasia. As Laboratory Chief and Director of the Pediatric Endocrinology Program, Dr. Stratakis has treated a large number of Pediatric Cushing’s patients and trained numerous students and fellows in laboratory research, molecular and medical genetics and pediatric endocrinology.

As well as serving as Director of Pediatric Endocrinology and Chief of Heritable Disorders Branch & Section on Endocrinology & Genetics at Georgetown University, Washington DC, Professor Stratakis is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Endocrine Genetics. Prior to this, he was a Clinical Biochemist at Hospital Mitera, Athens, Greece, and then an extern at Cochin Hospital of Endocrinology, Paris, France. He went on to become Postdoctoral Associate at the Developmental Endocrinology Branch, and then Intern & Resident at the Department of Pediatrics, Georgetown University. Following positions as a Clinical Associate in Pediatric Endocrinology, a Medical Genetics Fellow at the GU-National Center for Human Genome Research, Washington DC, a Senior Staff Fellow and an Assistant Professor, Professor Stratakis became Chief (tenure-track investigator) at the Unit of Genetics & Endocrinology. Professor Stratakis is also a reviewer for over 50 journals, and has obtained many awards, including the Young Investigator Award from the Greek Endocrine Society and the Endocrine Society (USA)-Pharmacia Award for Excellence in Published Clinical Research.