Our Research Team
Pouneh K. Fazeli, MD, MPH
Principal Investigator
Dr. Fazeli is a clinical/translational researcher with a primary interest in understanding the benefits and negative consequences of undernutrition. Her research program has focused primarily on studying women with anorexia nervosa and the hormonal adaptations that lead to profound bone loss in this population. She has performed clinical studies investigating therapies for the treatment of bone loss in women with anorexia nervosa and is currently investigating the effects of transdermal estrogen through an NIH-funded protocol. Dr. Fazeli’s research has also focused on understanding the pathophysiology of bone loss in chronic undernutrition and the potential role and function of bone marrow adipose tissue, a fat depot which is paradoxically increased in states of starvation. As Director of the Neuroendocrinology Unit, Dr. Fazeli has a strong interest in caring for patients with pituitary disease and optimizing the delivery of care to this patient population.
Education and Training:
Harvard University, AB, Anthropology
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, MD
Harvard School of Public Health, MPH
Intern, Resident, and Chief Resident, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center
Fellow in Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Tânia Amorim, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate
Dr. Amorim completed her PhD at the University of Porto (Portugal) and University of Wolverhampton (United Kingdom). Her PhD focused on osteoporosis in populations prone to developing osteoporosis at early stages of life due to caloric restriction. She joined the Fazeli Lab at the University of Pittsburgh in 2021 as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Her current research focuses on investigating the effects of fasting on bone metabolism and understanding the health consequences of caloric restriction with a focus on the role of both bone cells and bone marrow adipose tissue.
Catherine Corey, MD, MPH
Pediatric Endocrinology Fellow
Catherine Corey, MD, MPH, is a pediatric scientist development program scholar and current pediatric endocrinology research fellow at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. She earned her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh and completed medical school at the University of Pittsburgh, followed by residency in Pediatrics at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Her overarching goal is to become a physician-scientist to improve the quality of life and long-term health outcomes for patients with chronic endocrine disorders. Dr. Corey studies bone health in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D), focusing on the bone micro-environment and the effects of insulin deficiency and chronic inflammation on bone marrow adipose tissue.
Anthony Crisafio, MD
Senior Research Coordinator
Anthony Crisafio completed his MD at St George’s University (Grenada) and a master’s in public health research (focus on epidemiology & biostatistics) at the University of Manchester (UK). He joined the Fazeli Lab in 2024 after many years working in a variety of clinical & research settings in the US and the UK. He has personal clinical & research interests in psychosis, medical comorbidities in schizophrenia, and using EMR-data to answer research questions.
Other Team Members
Xavier Johnston – Undergraduate Intern
Jake Knisely – Undergraduate Intern
Shria Moturi – Research Coordinator
Livianna Myklebust – MSTP Intern
Lydia Turnquist – Undergraduate Intern
Katherine Mastandrea, MD (Endocrinology Fellow, PGY-4)
Zinn Oo, MD (Endocrinology Fellow, PGY-4)
Bhanvi Ramchandani, MD (Endocrinology Fellow, PGY-4)
Almog Shalit, MD (Internal Medicine Resident, PGY-1)