Henry B. Burch, M.D.

I administer a portfolio of thyroid research grants including clinical investigations of non-neoplastic disorders of the thyroid, and basic research related to autoimmune thyroid disease, cell-signaling, and thyroid-related epigenetic studies.  In addition, I manage a portfolio of grants related to the application of digital health technology to the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.  The latter program encompasses research on digital technologies (e.g., telemedicine, mobile phone applications, patient portals, and wearable technology) focused on diabetes management or prevention in adults with type 2 diabetes. This program also studies the use of digital technologies in health clinics to facilitate delivery of care for adults with type 2 diabetes. Research in this program may include observational studies, efficacy and effectiveness trials, natural experiment evaluation, pragmatic trials, and implementation science at the patient, family, or healthcare provider level.  As of 2023, I am also the project scientist for two clinical consortia, including GRADE (Glycemic Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness Study), which has been completed and major outcomes results published in 2022, and the Impaired Awareness of Hypoglycemia Consortium (initial award period 2022-2027), which focuses on interventions to prevent hypoglycemia and restore hypoglycemia awareness in patients with Type 1 diabetes.  My career-long interest has focused on disorders of the thyroid, with emphasis on hyperthyroidism, devising the Burch-Wartofsky point scale for thyroid storm, and serving on three American Thyroid Association-sponsored clinical practice guidelines committees, including the 2022 ATA-ETA Consensus Statement on the Management of Thyroid Eye Disease.  My selected bibliography can be found here.

In addition to my work at the DEM, I also support the Endocrine Clinic at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.