The Sydney Endocrinology team have a proven record of contributing towards basic and clinical research, training fellows for academic and clinical careers, and a commitment to providing care for patients with complex endocrine diseases.
Through our integrated research, education, patient and community outreach programs, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic medicine and patient care.
If you would like to discuss any aspects of our research, please contact us. We are able to help with reprints of publications (listed below), and are always happy to discuss collaboration opportunities.
Medical research could not be conducted without volunteers who generously donate their time and bodies to science. In some cases, reimbursement for travel and inconvenience is offered.
Volunteer for Medical Research
We are very grateful for your contribution. In our studies we measure body fat content, metabolic rate, and a variety of other measures designed to tell us more about insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Before you undergo any testing, one of the research team will send you information detailing any testing we require as part of the study. We then follow-up with a phone call, giving you the opportunity to ask any questions.
If you are happy to proceed you then undergo a screening process to ensure you are eligible for the study. This involves a telephone questionnaire, and if that is successful, then a visit to the Clinical Research Facility at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst.
Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering for one of our studies into insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
Find out more about volunteers and other studies at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research .
Peer-Reviewed Journal Publications
Diabetes +
Tonks, KT. Hyperglycaemia management in the hospital – the critical role of post-discharge care. Endocrinology Today 2016; 5(1): 11-14.
Chai TY, Tonks KT, Campbell LV. Long term glycaemic control (HbA1c), not admission glucose, predicts hospital re-admission in diabetic patients. Australas Med J. 2015; 8(6): 189–199. Published online 2015 Jun 30. doi: 10.4066/AMJ.2015.2351
Tang A, Milner KL, Tonks K, Campbell LV, Greenfield JR. Comment on Brethauer et al. Bariatric surgery improves the metabolic profile of morbidly obese patients with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2014 Nov;37(11):e248-9.
Chaudhuri R, Khoo PS, Yang JYH, Tonks K, Junutula JR, Kolumam G, Modrusan Z, Samocha-Bonet D, Hocking S, Hoffman NJ, Fazakerley DJ, Stöckli J, Hoehn KL, Greenfield JR, James DE. Cross-species systems analysis of a metabolic disease to find a gene signature predictive of insulin resistance. Diabetologia. 2013 Apr;56(4):875-85. doi: 10.1007/s00125-012-2811-y. Epub 2013 Jan 24.
Jenkins AB, Batterham M, Samocha-Bonet D, Tonks K, Greenfield JR, Campbell LV. Segregation of a latent high adiposity phenotype in families with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus implicates rare obesity-susceptibility genetic variants with large effects in diabetes-related obesity. PLoS One. 2013 Aug 7;8(8):e70435. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070435. eCollection 2013.
Tonks KT, Ng Y, Miller S, Coster AC, Samocha-Bonet D, Iseli TJ, Xu A, Patrick E, Jang JY, Junutula JR, Modrusan Z, Kolumam G, Sockli J, Chisholm DJ, James DE, Greenfield JR. Impaired Akt phosphorylation in insulin-resistant human muscle is accompanied by selective and heterogeneous downstream defects. Diabetologia 2013 Apr; 56(4):875-85. Epub 2013 Jan 24.
Samocha-Bonet D, Chisholm DJ, Tonks K, Campbell LV, Greenfield JR. Insulin sensitive obesity in humans - a ‘favourable fat’ phenotype? Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2012 Mar; 23(3):116-24, Epub 2012 Jan 25.
Tam CS, Viardot A, Clement K, Tordjman J, Tonks K, Greenfield JR, Campbell LV, Samocha-Bonet D, Heilbronn LK. Short-Term Overfeeding May Induce Peripheral Insulin Resistance Without Altering Subcutaneous Adipose Tissues Macrophages in Humans. Diabetes 59(9):2164-2170, Sept 2010.
Lieu KTT, Jones GRD, McGeechan K, Campbell LV. Hyperglycaemia in hospital inpatients: still a sticky situation. Internal Medical Journal, 40(7):521-6, Jul 2010.
Killen J, Tonks K, Greenfield JR, Story D. New insulin analogues and perioperative care of patients with type 1 diabetes. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 38(2):244-9, Mar 2010. Erratum in: Anaesth Intensive Care 38(4):770 Jul 2010.
General Surgery +
Lieu K, Thompson J, Hruby G, Fowler A. Limited local excision of clinically positive cervical lymph nodes followed by adjuvant radiotherapy in frail and elderly patients with metastatic melanoma. ANZ Journal of Surgery 75 S:A90-A91, May 2005.
Pituitary +
Lam T, Chan MM, Sweeting AN, De Sousa SM, Clements A, Carline MS, Long GV, Tonks K, Chua E, Kefford RF, Chipps DR. Ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis in melanoma patients: An Australian case series. Intern Med J. 2015 Oct;45(10):1066-73. doi: 10.1111/imj.12819.
Lam T, Chan MM, Sweeting AN, De Sousa SM, Clements A, Carline MS, Long GV, Tonks K, Chua E, Kefford RF, Chipps DR. Ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis in melanoma patients: An Australian case series. Intern Med J. 2015 Oct;45(10):1066-73. doi: 10.1111/imj.12819. Erratum in: Intern Med J. 2015 Dec;45(12):1318.
De Sousa SM, Long GV, Tonks KT. Ipilumumab-induced hypophysitis: early Australian experience. Med J Aust 2014 Aug, 201(4):198-9.
Thyroid +
Lim C, Tonks K, Clark J, O’Sullivan A, Murali R. Papillary thyroid carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst. Pathol Int 2008; 58: Suppl. A4.
Other Journal Publications
Diabetes +
Miller S, Tonks K, Greenfield JR. Metformin – protecting the heart. New benefits of an old drug. Issues Magazine Winter 09, page 5
Tonks K, Greenfield JR. How to prescribe metformin safely and effectively in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. Geriatric Medicine in General Practice,2:18-19, July 2009.
Tonks K, Greenfield JR. Does tight glycaemic control reduce cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes? Cardiology in General Practice 6:50 Oct 2008.
Diamond T, Tonks K. Secondary osteoporosis in women. Medicine Today 9(5):48-62, May 2008.
General Surgery +
Tzilaus V, Dubenec S, Choy E, Pasenau J, Lieu K, Elderez L, et al.A Prospective Study of Systemic Inflammatory Syndrome in patients following Endoluminal Aortic Aneurysm repair. Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (JVES) abstract, Oct 2003.
Growth Hormone +
Lieu KTT, Ho KY. Pegvisomant therapy for acromegaly. Abstract published in Endocrine Society of Australia Clinical Weekend publication, August 2006.