Strengthening Scientific Guidance to Improve Research, Care, and Quality of Life
The Raymond A. Wood Foundation (RAWF) is pleased to welcome three distinguished endocrinologists to our Scientific Advisory Board: Dr. Daisy Duan of Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Thomas Cuny of Aix-Marseille University and Marseille University Hospitals, and Dr. Jill Hamilton of the Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto.
Each brings expertise that is especially relevant to the complex, lifelong health challenges experienced by survivors of hypothalamic-pituitary brain tumors. Their perspectives will strengthen the scientific guidance behind RAWF’s research efforts and help us continue connecting the priorities of patients and caregivers with opportunities to improve research and care.
What does RAWF’s Scientific Advisory Board do?
For patients and families, research can sometimes feel far removed from everyday life. Our Scientific Advisory Board helps RAWF bridge that gap.
The board brings together experts who provide scientific and clinical perspective as RAWF identifies research priorities, develops initiatives, evaluates opportunities, and builds collaborations with investigators and institutions. Just as importantly, their expertise helps us ask an essential question: How can research ultimately lead to better outcomes and quality of life for people living with the long-term effects of hypothalamic-pituitary brain tumors?
This guidance is increasingly important as RAWF expands its patient-centered research efforts. Our strategic priorities include building research infrastructure, strengthening collaborations, identifying and addressing gaps in research, and advancing scientific understanding in areas of unmet need identified by our community.
Our newest Scientific Advisory Board members bring valuable expertise to that work.
Meet Dr. Daisy Duan
Dr. Daisy Duan is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Johns Hopkins University. A physician-scientist, Dr. Duan conducts NIH-funded human physiology studies focused on sleep, circadian rhythms, and metabolism, as well as clinical trials investigating novel therapeutics for obesity and diabetes.
Her clinical practice focuses on the comprehensive management of diabetes and obesity, with a special interest in hypothalamic obesity.
Dr. Duan’s combination of clinical care and research is particularly relevant to the RAWF community. Metabolic health, hypothalamic obesity, and sleep are among the complex issues that can have a profound impact on life after a hypothalamic-pituitary brain tumor. Her expertise will bring an important perspective as RAWF works to advance research informed by the real-world experiences and priorities of patients and families.
Meet Dr. Thomas Cuny
Dr. Thomas Cuny is Professor of Endocrinology at Aix-Marseille University and Marseille University Hospitals, where he serves as Director of the Clinical Investigation Center (Inserm U1409) and Vice-President for Research within the Research Executive Board.
His clinical and research work focuses on pituitary diseases, endocrine tumors, and rare endocrine disorders. Dr. Cuny has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and has been actively involved in national and European scientific initiatives. Notably, in 2023, he coordinated the publication of French national guidelines on craniopharyngioma in children and adults.
Dr. Cuny brings both deep scientific expertise and an international perspective to the Scientific Advisory Board. His experience in craniopharyngioma, rare endocrine disorders, research collaboration, and clinical guidance will be valuable as RAWF seeks to strengthen connections among researchers and clinicians and improve understanding of care for this rare and complex patient population.
Meet Dr. Jill Hamilton
Dr. Jill Hamilton is Head of the Division of Endocrinology at the Hospital for Sick Children, Senior Associate Scientist at the Research Institute, and Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. She is also Medical Director of the Healthy Living Clinic at SickKids.
Her clinical and research work focuses on endocrinology and diabetes, with particular expertise in complex obesity, including hypothalamic obesity caused by acquired or genetic conditions. Her research examines the metabolic complications of childhood obesity, the biological and psychosocial factors that influence obesity, and treatment outcomes and interventions. Dr. Hamilton has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and has received research funding from organizations including the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Hamilton’s expertise brings an important pediatric and multidisciplinary perspective to RAWF. Her work recognizes that complex obesity is not simply a matter of weight, but a medical condition influenced by biological, metabolic, and psychosocial factors. That understanding is particularly meaningful for patients and families navigating hypothalamic obesity and its impact on health and daily life.
Strengthening the Science Behind Our Mission
Together, Drs. Duan, Cuny, and Hamilton add expertise spanning hypothalamic obesity, metabolism, sleep and circadian rhythms, pituitary and endocrine disease, craniopharyngioma, pediatric endocrinology, clinical research, and international collaboration.
Survivorship after a hypothalamic-pituitary brain tumor can involve interconnected challenges that do not fit neatly within a single medical specialty. Advancing care requires researchers, clinicians, patients, and caregivers to look across disciplines and work together.
RAWF is committed to ensuring that the experiences of survivors and caregivers help inform advancements in research and care. As we continue to grow our research program and collaborations, our Scientific Advisory Board helps us pair that lived experience with scientific expertise so that we can pursue research that is rigorous, relevant, and focused on the challenges that matter most to our community.
We are grateful to welcome Dr. Duan, Dr. Cuny, and Dr. Hamilton to the Scientific Advisory Board and look forward to the knowledge, perspective, and collaboration they will bring to RAWF’s work.
Most importantly, their addition represents another step toward what our community is working toward every day: better understanding, better care, and better quality of life for hypothalamic-pituitary brain tumor survivors.
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