Professor Husebye is the leader of a large endocrine research group focusing on studying adrenal diseases. The goal is to shed light on all aspects of these diseases from epidemiology to disease mechanisms. The group is therefore divided into different nodes (areas of specialty) in a research network. Several clinical studies testing out better methods of treatment are under way – as well as research aimed at explaining what makes the body’s immune system attack the adrenal gland as with Addison’s disease. Additionally, the group studies a rare model disease – autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-I) – in order to uncover mechanisms behind, and connections between different diseases.

Endocrine surgery is also a part of the Endocrine Medicine research group. The research in this area is led by Professor Michael Brauckhoff and focuses on cancer tumors in endocrine organs. They have a unique tumor bio bank built up over many years by professor emeritus Jan Erik Varhaug. Organizing the group under the same umbrella is a conscious strategy done to strengthen endocrine research, and to exploit one another’s expertise. This cooperation has already been extended to include many coinciding projects, according to Husebye.