Dr. New’s research focuses on growth, hypertension, and the elucidation of complex steroid disorders.

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Dr. New is a world leader in research on congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a potentially fatal disease, but in its mild, nonclassical form the most common autosomal recessive disorder known in some ethnic groups, occurring with the highest frequency in  Eastern European Jews. In Ashkenazi Jews it occurs with a frequency of 1 in 27; 1 in 3 are carriers of the gene. Symptoms of nonclassical CAH, which is readily treatable, include severe acne, excess facial and/or body hair, early development of pubic hair, receding scalp hairline, menstrual disturbances in females, and infertility in both males and females.

Dr. New developed and directs one of the country’s largest CAH clinics. She established hormonal norms and demonstrated the genetic basis for the principal form of CAH (21-hydroxylase deficiency). Her expert care optimizes growth and fertility.

Dr. New pioneered prenatal diagnosis and prenatal treatment of the classical (severe) form of CAH. She directs the only clinic in the United States which routinely provides this service. Prenatal treatment of affected females avoids development of ambiguous genitalia, a hallmark of the disorder. Prenatal diagnosis of affected children of both sexes enables families at risk to ensure optimal care of classically affected newborns.

Dr. New’s team is currently developing gene therapy for CAH. Gene therapy offers the possibility of moving beyond palliative treatment to cure of the disorder.

Other Research

Growth: Dr. New is an authority on growth in children. Research includes the use of growth hormone in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia to maximize height.

Hypertension Dr. New is credited with the discovery of two forms of hormonal hypertension, the genes for which she has cloned. She continues to study low-renin hypertension of childhood as a model of hypertension, which afflicts half of the adult population in the United States.

Gender: In collaboration with colleagues in psychiatry and psychoendocrinology, Dr. New continues to study the role of sex hormones in determining gender roles and behavior.

Other: Dr. New has reported what may prove to be the first global transcription factor defect in humans.

For more information on Dr. New’s research, please visit http://www.marianew.com and see her curriculum vitae for a list of her publications