During graduate work Constantine Stratakis developed an interest in the genetics of endocrine diseases, especially those that present with a predisposition to endocrine tumors and other neoplasms. His career started in 1985 as a graduate student in the Endocrine Unit of the Medical School of The University of Athens under the mentorship of Prof. M. Batrinos, and as a biochemist (tech) in a Radioimmunoassay Lab at the Hospital Mitera, Athens, Greece.
In Paris, France, he spent time with Jean Pierre Luton and Xavier Bertagna in 1988; He was exposed there to research on mainly adrenal and pituitary diseases. In 1989-1990, at the NIH lab of George Chrousos, he was part of the team that identified the first genetic defects in the human glucocorticoid receptor. Following his post-doctoral fellowship in molecular endocrinology at the NIH, he continued with his clinical training at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, where he finished a residency and two fellowships in Pediatrics, Pediatric Endocrinology and Medical Genetics & Dysmorphology.
He was recruited back to NIH, trained in linkage analysis and cancer genetics, and started a laboratory (in 1995) studying the genetics of endocrine tumors in the context of a variety of genetic syndromes. In 2000, he identified the PRKAR1A gene causing Carney complex (CNC); this gene is expressed in almost all human tissues and regulates protein kinase A (PKA) and, consequently, cAMP signaling. Prkar1a+/- animal models made in his laboratory addressed the participation of PRKAR1A in endocrine cell growth and neoplastic development of other tissues, such as the bone. His laboratory identified phosphodiesterase (PDE) genes as potentially being involved in cAMP-related tumor growth. They also identified defects affecting mitochondrial oxidation in endocrine tumors and in pediatric gastrointestinal tumors (GISTs). In collaboration with the hospital he was trained in France, the ARMC5 gene was identified in macronodular adrenal hyperplasia, a gene that they are now modeling in mice, fly and fish. His laboratory identified the PRKACA and PRKACB genes in micronodular adrenal hyperplasia and Carney complex. Most recently, his laboratory identified a new condition that they named X-LAG for “X-linked acrogigantism”; they then described the genetic defect that explains more than 80% of the cases of early gigantism and growth-hormone dependent overgrowth that appears to be due to abnormalities of an orphan G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), GPR101. Ongoing genome-wide work aims at identifying genetic defects for Carney Triad, wild-type GISTs, endocrine hypertension (in association with adrenocortical tumors), pediatric gigantism, and other forms of adrenal and pituitary tumors. Molecular studies focus on PKA, PDEs, ARMC5, and GPR101.
Over the years, his laboratory has trained more than 150 students, residents and fellows from all over the world but mostly Brazil, Greece, France, Italy and of course the United States. To date, most keep in touch and a great number are involved in health science research. At his lab they are very proud of this extended family that, thankfully, keeps growing. Finally, although his administrative duties have undoubtedly increased over the years, he is still seeing patients and families and teach medical trainees almost daily; he, thus, remains deeply committed to serving the “physician” part of being a physician scientist.
In 2019, Constantine Stratakis was the co-founder of the ARISTEiA-Institute for the Advancement of Research & Education in Arts, Sciences &Technology. He served as the President of the Executive Council of the Institute from 2020 through 2024. Presently, he is a Councilor of the Executive Council.
In Paris, France, he spent time with Jean Pierre Luton and Xavier Bertagna in 1988; He was exposed there to research on mainly adrenal and pituitary diseases. In 1989-1990, at the NIH lab of George Chrousos, he was part of the team that identified the first genetic defects in the human glucocorticoid receptor. Following his post-doctoral fellowship in molecular endocrinology at the NIH, he continued with his clinical training at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, where he finished a residency and two fellowships in Pediatrics, Pediatric Endocrinology and Medical Genetics & Dysmorphology.
He was recruited back to NIH, trained in linkage analysis and cancer genetics, and started a laboratory (in 1995) studying the genetics of endocrine tumors in the context of a variety of genetic syndromes. In 2000, he identified the PRKAR1A gene causing Carney complex (CNC); this gene is expressed in almost all human tissues and regulates protein kinase A (PKA) and, consequently, cAMP signaling. Prkar1a+/- animal models made in his laboratory addressed the participation of PRKAR1A in endocrine cell growth and neoplastic development of other tissues, such as the bone. His laboratory identified phosphodiesterase (PDE) genes as potentially being involved in cAMP-related tumor growth. They also identified defects affecting mitochondrial oxidation in endocrine tumors and in pediatric gastrointestinal tumors (GISTs). In collaboration with the hospital he was trained in France, the ARMC5 gene was identified in macronodular adrenal hyperplasia, a gene that they are now modeling in mice, fly and fish. His laboratory identified the PRKACA and PRKACB genes in micronodular adrenal hyperplasia and Carney complex. Most recently, his laboratory identified a new condition that they named X-LAG for “X-linked acrogigantism”; they then described the genetic defect that explains more than 80% of the cases of early gigantism and growth-hormone dependent overgrowth that appears to be due to abnormalities of an orphan G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), GPR101. Ongoing genome-wide work aims at identifying genetic defects for Carney Triad, wild-type GISTs, endocrine hypertension (in association with adrenocortical tumors), pediatric gigantism, and other forms of adrenal and pituitary tumors. Molecular studies focus on PKA, PDEs, ARMC5, and GPR101.
Over the years, his laboratory has trained more than 150 students, residents and fellows from all over the world but mostly Brazil, Greece, France, Italy and of course the United States. To date, most keep in touch and a great number are involved in health science research. At his lab they are very proud of this extended family that, thankfully, keeps growing. Finally, although his administrative duties have undoubtedly increased over the years, he is still seeing patients and families and teach medical trainees almost daily; he, thus, remains deeply committed to serving the “physician” part of being a physician scientist.
In 2019, Constantine Stratakis was the co-founder of the ARISTEiA-Institute for the Advancement of Research & Education in Arts, Sciences &Technology. He served as the President of the Executive Council of the Institute from 2020 through 2024. Presently, he is a Councilor of the Executive Council.