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William  S.  Evans
Degree(s): M.D.
Graduate School: University of Virginia
Primary Appointment: Professor of Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Research Interests:
Quantitative Assessment of the Reproductive Axis of Women under Physiologic and Pathophysiologic Conditions.

Email Address: wse2p@virginia.edu
Research Description

Dr. William S. Evans' clinical research program is focused on elucidating the function(s) of the hypothalamic, pituitary and ovarian components of the female reproductive axis. Biomathematical modeling techniques are used to define and quantitate hormone secretion by the GnRH neuronal system within the hypothalamus; by the gonadotropes within the anterior pituitary gland which secrete luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH); and by the theca and granulosa cells within the ovary which secrete a number of gonadal hormones in response to LH and FSH stimulation. Other biomathematical techniques are used to define both feedforward and feedback effects of such reproductive hormone in terms of the overall reproductive axis network. The primary objective of these studies is to gain a better understanding of how these systems perform under physiological circumstances—including those associated with normal aging and the menopausal transition—and within pathophysiological circumstances which may result in menstrual dysfunction, infertility and miscarriage such as is seen in the polycystic ovary syndrome.

Selected Publications
  • Evans WS, Farhy LS, Johnson ML 2009 Biomathematical Modeling of Pulsatile Hormone Secretion: A Historical Perspective. In Johnson ML and Brand L (eds) Methods in Enzymology: Computer Methods. Academic Press/Elsevier, San Diego, 454:367-404.
  • Johnson ML, Pipes L; Veldhuis PP, Farhy LS, Boyd DG, Evans WS 2008 AutoDecon, a Deconvolution Algorithm for Identification and Characterization of Luteinizing Hormone Secretory Bursts: Description and Validation Using Synthetic Data. Analytical Biochemistry 381:8-17.
  • Iuorno MJ, Islam LZ, Veldhuis PP, Boyd DG, Farhy LS, Johnson ML, Nestler JE, Evans WS 2007 Leptin secretory burst mass correlates with BMI and insulin in normal women but not in women with PCOS. Metabolism 56:1561-1565.
  • Evans WS, Taylor AE, Boyd DG, Johnson ML, Matt DW, Jimenez Y, Nestler JE 2007 Lack of effect of short-term diazoxide administration on LH secretion in women with PCOS. Fertil Steril 88:118-124.
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    Contact Information
      Office Address: PO Box 800404, OMS, 6838, 
      Office Phone: +1 434-924-5629
      Fax Phone: +1 434-924-0252
      Home Phone: +1 434-823-1084

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