Professional background
Dr Helen Simpson is a consultant endocrinologist working at UCLH. She was a consultant at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge for 12 years and has been at UCLH since 2017.
She trained at University of Cambridge and The London Hospital Medical School, and did her clinical training at The Royal London Hospital, St Thomas' and Barts Hospitals. She completed a PhD on the effects of nisulin, GH and IGF-I, and exercise, on glucose, lipid and protein metabolism in type 1 diabetes.
She has a broad clinical experience within endocrinology, with particular interest in late effects, young adult/transition endocrinology, neuroendocrine tumours and inherited endocrine tumour syndromes, Turner Syndrome, DSD and pituitary disease.
Whilst at Cambridge she developed clinical services in these areas including an endocrine-genetics clinic, inherited endocrine tumours service, neuroendocrine tumour MDT and has published in this area. She is currently focusing on late effects of cancer treatment and transition services, as well as magement of functioning endocrine tumours (insulinoma and phaeochromocytma) and patient safety, in particular adrenal insufficiency and diabetes insipidius.
She is a member of the team implementing Epic Expert User Community at UCLH and a member of the Out Patient Transformation Board. She is an active member of the Society for Endocrinology, being a member of the SfEBES Program Organising Committee and Future of Endocrinology Working Group, Editor of The Endocrinologist in 2020, and is Co-Lead for the new Endocrine Network-Endocrine Consequences of Living With and Beyond Cancer. She is member of the RCP Patient Safety Committee being senior clinical advisor for the Steroid Emergency Card and is working with RCP, SfE and NHSE&I to implement the new Steroid Emergency Card.
She is also a founder member with 3 others of the NEW-London : She received the 2021 Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award from the Society for Endocrinology . She works with patient support groups doing socia media events to share information and is a Trustee for the Addisons Disease Self Help Group.
Specialties
Research interests
- CAH (CamBabs, University of Cambridge)
- Turner Syndrome lifecourse project
- Living with and beyond cancer
- Management of adrenal insufficiency
- Adolescent endocrinology (including hypothalamo-pitutary disease)
Publications
Guidance for the prevention and emergency management of adult patients with adrenal insufficiency. Simpson H, Tomlinson J, Wass J, Dean J, Arlt W Clin Med (Lond). 2020;20(4):371-378. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2019-0324
Mariathasan S, Andrews KA, Thompson E, et al. Genetic testing for hereditary hyperparathyroidism and familial hypocalciuric hypercalcaemia in a large UK cohort [published online ahead of print, 2020 May 19]. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2020;10.1111/cen.14254. doi:10.1111/cen.14254
Endocrinology in the time of COVID-19: Management of adrenal insufficiency. Arlt W, Baldeweg SE, Pearce SHS, Simpson HL. Eur J Endocrinol. 2020 Apr 1. pii: EJE-20-0361. doi: 10.1530/EJE-20-0361. [Epub ahead of print]
Genetic testing for hereditary hyperparathyroidism in a large UK cohort. Mariathasan, K.A. Andrews, E. Thompson, B G Challis, S Wilcox, H Pierce, Julia Hale, Sarah Spiden, Gavin Fuller, H L Simpson, Brain Fish, Piyush Jani, Ian Seetho, R. Armstrong, L Izatt, M. Joshi, A. Velusamy, S. Park, R.T Casey. Submitted to JCEM
Translating in vivo metabolomic analysis of succinate dehydrogenase deficient tumours into clinical utility.Casey RT, McLean MA, Madhu B, Challis BG, Ten Hoopen R, Roberts T, Clark GR, Pittfield D, Simpson HL, Bulusu VR, Allinson K, Happerfield L, Park SM, Marker A, Giger O, Maher ER, Gallagher FA. JCO Precis Oncol. 2018 Mar 29;2:1-12. doi: 10.1200/PO.17.00191.
Adult female with symptomatic AVPR2-related nephrogenic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (NSIAD). Hague J, Casey R, Bruty J, Legerton T, Abbs S, Oddy S, Powlson AS, Majeed M, Gurnell M, Park SM, Simpson H. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2018 Feb 9;2018. pii: 17-0139. doi: 10.1530/EDM-17-0139. eCollection 2018.
Tumour risks and genotype-phenotype correlations associated with germline variants in succinate dehydrogenase subunit genes SDHB, SDHC and SDHD. Andrews KA, Ascher DB, Pires DEV, Barnes DR, Vialard L, Casey RT, Bradshaw N, Adlard J, Aylwin S, Brennan P, Brewer C, Cole T, Cook JA, Davidson R, Donaldson A, Fryer A, Greenhalgh L, Hodgson SV, Irving R, Lalloo F, McConachie M, McConnell VPM, Morrison PJ, Murday V, Park SM, Simpson HL, Snape K, Stewart S, Tomkins SE, Wallis Y, Izatt L, Goudie D, Lindsay RS, Perry CG, Woodward ER, Antoniou AC, Maher ER.
J Med Genet. 2018 Jun;55(6):384-394. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2017-105127. Epub 2018 Jan 31.
Clinical and Molecular Features of Renal and Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma Tumor Association Syndrome (RAPTAS): Case Series and Literature Review. Casey RT, Warren AY, Martin JE, Challis BG, Rattenberry E, Whitworth J, Andrews KA, Roberts T, Clark GR, West H, Smith PS, Docquier FM, Rodger F, Murray V, Simpson HL, Wallis Y, Giger O, Tran M, Tomkins S, Stewart GD, Park SM, Woodward ER, Maher ER. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Nov 1;102(11):4013-4022. doi: 10.1210/jc.2017-00562. Review.
PMID:
The screening and management of pituitary dysfunction following traumatic brain injury in adults: British Neurotrauma Group guidance. Tan CL, Alavi SA, Baldeweg SE, Belli A, Carson A, Feeney C, Goldstone AP, Greenwood R, Menon DK, Simpson HL, Toogood AA, Gurnell M, Hutchinson PJ. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2017 Nov;88(11):971-981. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2016-315500. Epub 2017 Aug 31. Review.
Adult-onset hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia in clinical practice: diagnosis, aetiology and management. Challis BG, Powlson AS, Casey RT, Pearson C, Lam BY, Ma M, Pitfield D, Yeo GSH, Godfrey E, Cheow HK, Chatterjee VK, Carroll NR, Shaw A, Buscombe JR, Simpson HL. Endocr Connect. 2017 Oct;6(7):540-548. doi: 10.1530/EC-17-0076. Epub 2017 Aug 7.
A case of a metastatic SDHA mutated paraganglioma re-presenting twenty-three years after initial surgery. Casey RT, Challis BG, Marker A, Pitfield D, Cheow HK, Shaw A, Park SM, Simpson HL, Maher ER. Endocr Relat Cancer. 2017 Aug;24(8):L69-L71. doi: 10.1530/ERC-17-0206. No abstract available.
SDHA related tumorigenesis: a new case series and literature review for variant interpretation and pathogenicity. Casey RT, Ascher DB, Rattenberry E, Izatt L, Andrews KA, Simpson HL, Challis B, Park SM, Bulusu VR, Lalloo F, Pires DEV, West H, Clark GR, Smith PS, Whitworth J, Papathomas TG, Taniere P, Savisaar R, Hurst LD, Woodward ER, Maher ER. Mol Genet Genomic Med. 2017 Mar 2;5(3):237-250. doi: 10.1002/mgg3.279. eCollection 2017 May.
Radiological surveillance in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: a double-edged sword?
Casey RT, Saunders D, Challis BG, Pitfield D, Cheow H, Shaw A, Simpson HL.
Endocr Connect. 2017 Apr;6(3):151-158. doi: 10.1530/EC-17-0006. Epub 2017 Mar 15.
Is there an optimal preoperative management strategy for phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma? Challis BG, Casey RT, Simpson HL, Gurnell M.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2017 Feb;86(2):163-167. doi: 10.1111/cen.13252. Epub 2016 Oct 24.
Successful treatment of residual pituitary adenoma in persistent acromegaly following localisation by 11C-methionine PET co-registered with MRI. Koulouri O, Kandasamy N, Hoole AC, Gillett D, Heard S, Powlson AS, O'Donovan DG, Annamalai AK, Simpson HL, Akker SA, Aylwin SJ, Brooke A, Buch H, Levy MJ, Martin N, Morris D, Parkinson C, Tysome JR, Santarius T, Donnelly N, Buscombe J, Boros I, Smith R, Aigbirhio F, Antoun NM, Burnet NG, Cheow H, Mannion RJ, Pickard JD, Gurnell M.
Eur J Endocrinol. 2016 Nov;175(5):485-498. Epub 2016 Aug 25.
Predictors of Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Responses to Growth Hormone Replacement in Young Adults with Growth Hormone Deficiency.. Thankamony A, Capalbo D, Jonsson PJ, Simpson HL, Dunger DB. Horm Res Paediatr. 2016;85(6):379-88. doi: 10.1159/000445832. Epub 2016 May 13.
Metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour. Maslin D, Challis B, Simpson H.
QJM. 2016 May;109(5):355. doi: 10.1093/qjmed/hcw036. Epub 2016 Mar 14.
Heterogeneity of glucagonomas due to differential processing of proglucagon-derived peptides. Challis BG, Albrechtsen NJ, Bansiya V, Burling K, Barker P, Hartmann B, Gribble F, O'Rahilly S, Holst JJ, Simpson HL.. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2015;2015:150105. doi: 10.1530/EDM-15-0105. Epub 2015 Dec 1.
Incidence of pituitary dysfunction following traumatic brain injury: A prospective study from a regional neurosurgical centre.. Alavi SA, Tan CL, Menon DK, Simpson HL, Hutchinson PJ.
Br J Neurosurg. 2016 Jun;30(3):302-6. doi: 10.3109/02688697.2015.1109060. Epub 2015 Nov 26.
Familial adult onset hyperinsulinism due to an activating glucokinase mutation: Implications for pharmacological glucokinase activation.Challis BG1, Harris J, Sleigh A, Isaac I, Orme SM, Seevaratnam N, Dhatariya K, Simpson HL, Semple RK. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf).2014 Jun 2. doi: 10.1111/cen.12517
A Comprehensive Study Of Clinical, Biochemical, Radiological, Vascular, Cardiac And Sleep Parameters In An Unselected Cohort Of Patients With Acromegaly Undergoing Pre-Surgical Anand K Annamalai*, Alison Webb*, Narayanan Kandasamy*, Maysoon Elkhawad, Samantha Pilsworth, Fakhar Khan, Kaisa Maki-Petaja, Emma L Gayton, Chris Strey, Samuel O’Toole, Shaumya Ariyaratnam, David J Halsall, Afzal N Chaudhry, Laurence Berman, Daniel J Scoffings, Nagui M Antoun, David P Dutka, Ian B Wilkinson, John M Shneerson, John D Pickard, Helen L Simpson, & Mark Gurnell. Somatostatin Receptor Ligand Therapy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2013 98(3)1040-1050
Puberty reveals a familial disorder of sex development. Annamalai AK, Cluroe AD, Sala E, Park SM, Macdougall J, Hughes IA, Simpson HL. Endocrine. 2012 Feb 24
Temozolomide responsiveness in aggressive corticotroph tumours: a case report and review of the literature. Annamalai AK, Dean AF, Kandasamy N, Kovacs K, Burton H, Halsall DJ, Shaw AS, Antoun NM, Cheow HK, Kirollos RW, Pickard JD, Simpson HL, Jefferies SJ, Burnet NG, Gurnell M. Pituitary. 2011 Nov 11
Shrinkage of a giant prolactinoma, masquerading as an erosive skull base tumour, with cabergoline. Dash S, Annamalai AK, Simpson HL, Sarkies N, Antoun NM, Mannion R. Acute QJM. 2011 Nov 10
Increased prevalence of gallbladder polyps in acromegaly. Annamalai AK, Gayton EL, Webb A, Halsall DJ, Rice C, Ibram F, Chaudhry AN, Simpson HL, Berman L, Gurnell M. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Jul;96(7):E1120-5. Epub 2011 May 4.
Concordance between thyroglobulin antibody assays. Taylor KP, Parkington D, Bradbury S, Simpson HL, Jefferies SJ, Halsall DJ. Ann Clin Biochem. 2011 Jul;48(Pt 4):367-9.
Tan Bk, Simpson HL, MacDougall J. Diagnosis and management of Turner Syndrome. Mims Women’s Health 2011
Hyperreactio luteinalis. Annamalai AK, Hoveyda F, Williams RM, Patterson A, Simpson HL. QJM. 2011 Sep;104(9):807-8. Epub 2010 Aug 4
MEN2 screening dilemmas in a family with a novel RET mutation in the MEN2 susceptibility region of the gene, a family history of Hirschsprung disease, and no family history of MEN2-related tumours. Clowes VE, Shaw-Smith C, Simpson H, Ball SG, Acerini CL. Clin Endocrinol. 2008; 68(4):666-7.
The use of 18-fluoro-dihydroxyphenylalanine and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography scanning in the assessment of metaiodobenzylguanidine-negative phaeochromocytoma. Mackenzie IS, Gurnell M, Balan KK, Simpson H, Chatterjee K, Brown MJ. Eur J Endocrinol. 2007; 157(4):533-7
Non-DNA binding, dominant-negative, human PPARgamma mutations cause lipodystrophic insulin resistance. Agostini M, Schoenmakers E, Mitchell C, Szatmari I, Savage D, Smith A, Rajanayagam O, Semple R, Luan J, Bath L, Zalin A, Labib M, Kumar S, Simpson H, Blom D, Marais D, Schwabe J, Barroso I, Trembath R, Wareham N, Nagy L, Gurnell M, O'Rahilly S, Chatterjee K. Cell Metab. 2006; 4(4):303-11
GH secretion in acute exercise may result in post- exercise lipolysis. Jamie Wee, Catherine Charlton, Helen Simpson, Nicola C Jackson, Fariba Shojaee-Moradie, Michael Stolinski, Claire Pentecost, A Margot Umpleby. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2005;15(6):397-404.
Insulin-like growth factor I has a direct effect on glucose and protein metabolism, but no effect on lipid metabolism in type 1 diabetes. HL Simpson, N Jackson, F Shojaee-Moradie, RH Jones, DL Russell-Jones, PH Sönksen, DB Dunger, AM Umpleby. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004; 89(1):425-32 Winner JCE and M International Award for Excellence in Published Clinical Research 2005
The Effect of Growth Hormone (GH) Replacement Therapy in Adult Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and GH-Deficiency. E R. Christ, H.L. Simpson, L. Breen, P.H. Sönksen D.L. Russell-Jones and E.M. Kohner. Clin Endocrinol. 2003; 58(3):309-15
The Role Of The Growth Hormone - Insulin-Like Growth Factor Axis In Glucose Homeostasis. RH Holt, HL Simpson, PH Sönksen. Diabet Med 2003; 20(1):3-15
Growth Hormone Replacement for Adults- Into the New Millennium. Simpson H, Savine R, Sönksen P, Bengtsson BA, Carlsson L, Christiansen JS, Clemmons D, Cohen P, Hintz R, Ho K, Mullis P, Robinson I, Strasburger C, Tanaka T, Thorner M; GRS Council. Growth Horm IGF Res. 2002; 12(1):1-33
Normal VLDL metabolism despite altered lipoprotein composition in type 1 diabetes mellitus. E R. Christ, P. V. Carroll, E. Albany, A.M. Umpleby, P.J. Lumb, A.S. Wierzbicki, H.L. Simpson, P.H. Sönksen and D.L. Russell-Jones. Clin Endocrinol. 2001; 55(6):777-87.