Delia M. Vazquez, M.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable
Diseases
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Director of Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship Program
Interim Director Brain Research Program, CHGD
Research Investigator, Mental Health Research Institute
Associate Research Scientist, Center for Human Growth
Dr.Vazquez is a pediatric endocrinologist and neuroendocrine scientist
who studies the development of the classical endocrine system which
responds to stress, the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Her
primary interest is in the syndrome of non-organic failure to thrive
(FTT) and psychosocial dwarfism (PSD), two conditions which are
continuums of the same syndrome of growth failure due to psychosocial
stressors seen in infants (FTT) and children (PSD). She focuses on the
link of psychosocial stressors, growth failure, hormonal regulation, and
subsequent behavioral alterations.
As part of her interest on psychosocial stressors and behavioral
alterations, Vazquez has begun to study key brain areas which are part
of the serotonin system in normally developing rats and rats subjected
to maternal deprivation. At the clinical level, Vazquez studies children
with PSD. Her studies suggest that these children have a hyperactive
HPA axis. To tie in the animal experiments with her interest on PSD,
she has characterized an animal model of chronic stress in weanling and
adolescent rats which results in significant growth retardation. The
elucidation of the neurobiology of this model is her next goal.
Professional Activities
Academic Appointments:
July 1988 – Aug 1993 Lecturer, Department of Pediatrics, University of
Michigan
Sept 1994 – Aug 2000 Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Sept 1995 – present Research Investigator, Mental Health Research
Institute
Sept 1995 – Aug 2000 Assistant Professor, Psychiatry Department
Sept 1997 – Aug 2000 Assistant Research Scientist, Center Human
Growth & Dev
Sept 2000 – present Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Sept 2000 – present Associate Professor, Psychiatry Department
Sept 2000 – present Associate Research Scientist, Center Human
Growth& Dev
Academic Administrative Appointments
June 1, 1999- present Director of Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship
Program
Sept 1, 2002- 2004 Associate Chair for Research, Department of
Pediatrics
Sept 1, 2001-present Interim Director Brain Research Program, CHGD
Departmental Committe Appointments
Pediatric Research Advisory Committee
Pediatric Grand Rounds Advisory Committee
Pediatric Endocrine Director Search Committee
Pediatrics Scientific Advisory Committee
Center of Human Growth and Development Executive Committee
(2000-2002)
Depression Center's Steering Committee
BMRC-Biomedical Research Council
Clinical/ Hospital Appointments
July 1, 1988 - present Staff Physician, University of Michigan Hospitals
July 1, 2001- June 30, 2002 Institutional Review Board Reviewer
Scientific Activities
Current Research Interests:
Effect of early life stress in brain development
Early life stress and vulnerability to drug use and behavioral disorders
Neuroendocrine regulation of stress induced growth failure
Research Training
1985 - 1986 Kinetics of dopamine receptor binding (R. Bhatnagar,
University of Iowa, Pharmacology Department)
1986 - 1989 Development of the anterior pituitary POMC System (H.
Akil, University of Michigan, Mental Health Research Institute)
Ad hoc Reviewer for Journals:
Endocrinology
Brain Research
Neuroendocrinology
Archives of General Psychiatry
The American Physiological Society
Journal of Neuroscience
Development and Psychopathology
Grant Review Study Sections:
1998 - 2001 National Science Foundation: Neuroendocrine Study
Section
2002 NIH Reviewer, ZMH1-CRB-J-01 Special Emphasis Panel
2002 NIH Reviewer, ZMH1-DEA-F-01S Special Emphasis Panel
2002 Bio-Behavioral and Behavioral Processes MESH -Study Section
2004 NIMH Conte Grant Reviewer (ad hoc)
Membership in Programs:
1996 - present Organogenesis Program
1997 - present Center of Human Growth and Development
1998 - present Neuroscience Program
Memberships in Professional Societies
1988 - American Association for the Advancement of Science
1989 - Society for Neuroscience
1992 - Endocrine Society
1992 - Lawson-Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society
1998 - Society for Pediatric Research
Offices In Professional Societies
1996 Neuroendocrine Session Co-organizer, International Congress
Endocrinology, San Francisco, CA
1996 Abstract Reviewer, International Congress Endocrinology, San
Francisco, CA
1997 Moderator, Stress and HPA axis, Endocrine Society Annual
Meeting
2002-present Society for Neuroscience, Minority Affairs
2003-present Society for Pediatric Research Council
Committee and Administrative Service
National
1989 - 1993 Question Writer, Program for Renewal of Pediatric
Certification
1990 - 1993 Question Writer, Program for Renewal of Pediatric
Endocrinology Certification
1996 National Academy of Science-Invited Participant in "Identifying
Strategies to Raise the Profile of Substance Abuse and Alcoholism
Research" Committee
1996 Organizer Neuroendocrine Session at the International Congress
of Endocrinology, San Francisco, CA
1996 Endocrine Society Abstract Reviewer for the International
Congress of Endocrinology
1997 Moderator, Stress and the HPA Axis, Endocrine Society Meeting
1998 - 2001 National Science Foundation: Neuroendocrine Panel
2001 Special Panel, International Society for Psychoneuroendocrine,
Quebec
2002 Society for Neuroscience: Minority Education, Training, and
Professional Advancement Committee
2003 Society for Pediatric Research Council
University of Michigan Medical School
1996-1999 Diversity and Career Development Committee: House
Officer and Medical Student Task Force
1999-2002 Neuroscience Graduate Program Admission Committee
Director, Pediatric Endocrine Fellowship Program
2000-2004 Center of Human Growth and Development Executive
Committee
2000-2005 Center for Development and Mental Health Executive
Committee
2001-2002 IRB Committee
2001-present Pediatric Research Advisory Committee
2001-present Grand Rounds Organization Committee
2001-present Pediatric Scientific Advisory Committee
Regional
1995-1996 Coordinator for the Diabetes Prevention Trial, UM, Multicenter NIH sponsored Center Grant
1983 - 1984 Chairperson, Pediatric Outpatient Clinic Committee,
Hurley Medical Center, MSU, Flint, MI
1994 - Member, Pediatric Endocrine Advisory Council
Community Service
1996-1997 YES Program-Alternative Science and Engineering Careers
for High School Students
1990- Community Service with Migrant Workers: Health and Work
1990- Outreach Clinic for Migrant Workers: Pediatric Resident
Exposure to Underserved Populations. Manchester, MI
2001 Brain Lives! Neuroscience for 6th graders at the Hands On
Museum, Ann Arbor, MI ( Voted Second Prize among 6th graders)
2002 Brain Lives! Neuroscience for 6th graders at the Hands On
Museum, Ann Arbor, MI (First Prize among 6th graders)
Certification and Licensure
Certification:
1981-1983 National Board Part I, II and III
1985-1986 Pediatric Board Certified (#000565)
1989 Pediatric Endocrine Board Certified (#000565)
1996 Pediatric and Pediatric Endocrine Board Re-Certifie
Licensure:
1987 Michigan License #403331
1993 DEA Registration BV2219651
Honors and Awards
1984 Annual Frank V. Hodges Research Forum Award
1989 Endocrine Society Competitive Traveling Award
1991 Nominated by the Dean of the University of Michigan Medical
School to participate on the 2nd Annual Career Development Seminar,
Washington, DC
1994 Child Health Research Center - Junior Investigator Award
1996 NARSAD Young Investigator Award
1996 National Academy of Science-Invited Participant in “Identifying
Strategies to Raise the Profile of Substance Abuse and Alcoholism
Research" Committee
1997 Curt P. Richter 1997 Award, International Society of
Psychoneuroendocrinology
1998 NARSAD Young Investigator Award
Teaching Activities
Lectures
1989 - Endocrine Division conference series (75 min conferences rotated
among faculty members of the division; four per year).
1990 - Lecturer for the Resident Noon Clinical Conferences (four, 45
min conferences a year).
1991 Lecturer for the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Fellowship
Program group seminars.
Departmental Seminars
1993 - Seminar series for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Residency/Fellowship Program Core: Developmental Neurobiology (3
lectures/year).
1993 - Seminar series for the Pediatric Residency Program Core:
Clinical Endocrinology (5 lectures/year).
1994 - Fourth Year Medical Student Elective, Department of Psychiatry:
Developmental Neurobiology (one day, seminar and "hands on"
session).
1997 - Seminar series for Psychobiology Graduate Students
1997 - Seminar series for Students of Public Health
Mentoring
1989 - Endocrine Fellow education - one to one teaching during
outpatient clinic and ongoing case management
1990 - Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP and
SROP-summer program)- one to one supervision of undergraduate
students during Fall, Spring and Summer sessions (work study and
course study. This entails weekly 2 hr sessions to discuss topics and
course progress.
1993 - 1995 Second Year Medical Student Physical Examination:
Evaluation of Student's Skills
1993 Medical student mentor program for second year medical students
(2 hours per week for 6 weeks)
1996 High school students under the YES Program-Alternative Science
and Engineering Careers for high school students
Member of Training Program
1999 University of Michigan Biopsychology Program, National Institute
of Drug and Addiction Training Grant
1999 University of Michigan Neuroscience Program Training Grant
Lab Research Interests
Dr. Vazquez's lab is interested in molecular brain mechanisms
underlying long-term consequences of stress in growing organisms. We
focus on the limbic-hypothalamic -pituitary-adrenal axis (LHPA), the
growth hormone axis and brain serotonin systems. For many studies we
use an animal model of chronic stress in the weaning and adolescent rat
which results in significant growth retardation. We use biochemical and
molecular neuroanatomical methods to identify the regulation and
circuits involved in this henomenon.The goal is to understand the
neurobiology to elucidate strategies to revert the growth
retardation.There is also a body of literature that suggests that physical
and emotional stressors may be intimately linked to psychopathology
and drug seeking behavior. Several components of the LHPA axis have
been identified as important in these processes. We are using Levine's
maternal separation animal model which alters the stress
responsiveness of the developing animal during infancy to study the
effect of early stress in both HPA and serotonin brain systems
There are six major research projects in our lab:
Stress Response and Growth: Impact of Early Life Stress
Early Experience, Stress Neurobiology and Prevention Science
Depression Risk, Infant-Mother Attachment and Cortisol
Development of Interdisciplinary Approaches to Study Impact of
Adverse Fetal and Neonatal Experience on Child and Adolescent
Mental Health
Postnatal stress--HPA axis and Vulnerability to Drug Use
Effects of Glucocorticoid Exposure Durong First Week of Life
Reseach Supported by:
National Institute of Child Development, RO1 “Stress Response and
Growth: Impact of Early Life Stres"
C.S. Mott Research Fund, Relationship of Salivary Cortisol and
Adrenal Androgens to Temperament and Aggressive Behavior
Problems in Pre-School Children. National Institute of Mental Health,
“Early Experience, Stress Neurobiology and Prevention Science”
National Institute of Mental Health, “Depression Risk, Infant-Mother
Attachment and Cortisol”
National Institute of Mental Health, Program Project, MH42251,
"Plasticity of the Stress Axis"
Office of Naval Research, N000140210879, “Discovering the Molecular
Basis of Differences in Emotional Reactivity: Gene Profiling Across the
Developmental Trajectory of High and Low Responder Rats”
National Institute of Mental Health, “Development of Interdisciplinary
Approaches to Study Impact of Adverse Fetal and Neonatal Experience
on Child and Adolescent Mental Health”
Contact Information:
Department of Pediatrics-Endocrinology
University of Michigan
8346 MSRBIII or 1500 MSRBI Box 0646, 1150 W Medical Center
Driver Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Phone: (734) 764-3253/(734) 764-3223
FAX: (734) 615-6422
dmvazq@umich.edu
Rotation Projects Available in our lab:
1.Development of Interdisciplinary Approaches to Study Impact of Adverse Fetal and
Neonatal Experience on Child and Adolescent Mental Health
2.Perinatal Experience and Children's Mental Health Network
This network was derived from the Early Experience, Stress Neurobiology and Prevention
Science Network, as the members recognized that the prenatal period is also one that has to
be considered in the development of brain systems linked to stress. Therefore, the
comprehensive goal of this Level I Network application is to strengthen the conceptual
and empirical linkages between: 1) rodent, sheep and non-human primate research on
adverse early experiences and development of the LHPA axis, and 2) human research on
the emotional and cognitive sequelae of early adversity experiences during the fetal,
perinatal and/or early neonatal period. Our enduring goal is to develop collaborative
research programs designed to study the long-term effects of adverse fetal and early
neonatal experience on the neurobiology of LHPA development in relation to cognitive
and emotional function in infants, children and adolescents, particularly in relation to
vulnerability to mental illness. The proposed network has 11 members from throughout
USA, Canada and the UK. We envisioned that this group of investigators will ultimately
foster hypothesis driven research initiatives, and develop new strategies that will
effectively test the impact of adverse fetal and neonatal experience on LHPA
development, bridging clinical obstetrics and neonatology, epidemiology, developmental
neuroanatomy and neurosciences with mental illness in children and adolescents.
3.Inducible CRHR1 transgenic mice
UROP Projects Available in our lab:
1.Effects of Glucocorticoid Exposure During First Week of Life
The objectives of this project are to identify brain mechanisms that may be involved in
the generation and persistence of these problems. We use the rat as a model and
concentrate in the Corticotropin Releasing Hormone Stress System and Growth Hormone
Axis.
Methodology:
Insitu hybridization
Protein identification by immunostaining or binding methods
Radioimmunoassay
Animal procedures
Video watching and Scoring
Student Tasks: Student will be involved in animal protocols, processing of tissue, and
quantification. The student will help with the molecular biology and biochemical
methods(Sliding subbing, preparation of solutions, sectioning, pipetting). With the
exception of quantification, all of these tasks require team work. Student will be paired
with other or technicians to accomplish these tasks. Student will be analyzing previously
collected data.
Minimum Qualifications: General Biology course, general chemistry courses, computer
skills(Excel, Word, EndNote). Willing to work with small animals(rats). The Person can
help with animal study, insitu, sectioning etc.
2. Stress Response and Growth: Impact of Early Life Stress
The focus of this project is to understand the role of critical developmental periods which,
when altered, lead to growth failure using the rat as an animal model. Efforts are
concentrated on two stages of the rat's development, i.e., the first two weeks of life, when
activation and termination of stress can be altered in opposite directions, depending on
the timing of stressors and on the post-weaning period when the rat is no longer
dependent upon maternal care for survival. Our laboratory collaborates with Juan F.
Lopez and Seymour Levine as we study the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and pituitary.
These structures are thought to exert important neural and endocrine control upon the
LHPA and the growth hormone (GH) axes. It is proposed to: 1) examine the
consequences of early stress (maternal deprivation at specified times in life) or
pharmacological agents (glucocorticoids) on growth parameters; 2) examine if the
individual differences in stress responsiveness resulting from maternal deprivation or
glucocorticoid treatment alter the expression of molecules linked to a functional GH axis
during development; and 3) attempt to revert the long-term negative effects of maternal
deprivation by blocking the LHPA response to stress during early life with a CRH
antagonist. This project also explores psychopathology in families of children evaluated
for short stature in a Pediatric Endocrine clinic. Most recently we have expanded this
project with Audrey Seasholtz as we look into molecular mechanisms responsible for
growth and HPA alterations. This project is supported by NICHD branch of NIH.
4. Early Experience, Stress Neurobiology and Prevention Science Network
The physiology of the LHPA and extra-hypothalamic CRH systems strongly suggests that activity of these
systems support behavioral and emotional responses to stressors. During early development in rodents and
non-human primates, contact with responsive, nurturing caregivers appears critical in the development of
this neuroendocrine system and its central hormone, neuropeptide and receptor systems. Numerous
researchers have speculated that adverse early rearing environments in humans enhance vulnerability to
behavior disorders, affective pathology, and drug abuse, in part, through disturbing the development of
stress-sensitive neurobiological systems, including the LHPA system (e.g. Dawson & Ashman, 2000;
Gunnar, 2000; Heim et al., 1997). However, the many differences between rodents, non-human primates,
and human in the neuroanatomy and physiology of this system suggest that adequate translation of the
early experience-stress research from animals to humans, and from the level of basic science to applied
prevention, will require an iterative interdisciplinary approach where (1) results from research on human
infants and children guides the refinement of models/theories based on the animal research, and (2) the
animal research on neurobiological mechanisms guides the methods and issues addressed in the human
research. This Network aims at exactly this and provides the venue for a “think tank” operation in which
well known developmental investigators utilizing both animal and human models can push advances in this
area of research. This project is supported by NIMH and is housed at the University of Minnesota where
the PI, Megan Gunnar orchestrates these operations.
Perinatal Experience and Children's Mental Health
Many aspects of affective illness, including depression, involve a disturbance in the
limbic-cortical emotional circuitry. A persistent or inappropriate activation of the limbichypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (LHPA) axis is observed in many of these conditions. The
comprehensive goal of this Level I Network application, Prenatal and Perinatal
Experience and Children's Mental Health, is to strengthen the conceptual and empirical
linkages between: 1) rodent, sheep and non-human primate research on adverse early
experiences and development of the LHPA axis, and 2) human research on the emotional
and cognitive sequelae of early adversity experiences during the fetal, perinatal and/or
early neonatal period. Our enduring goal is to develop collaborative research programs
designed to study the long-term effects of adverse fetal and early neonatal experience on
the neurobiology of LHPA development in relation to cognitive and emotional function
in infants, children and adolescents, particularly in relation to vulnerability to mental
illness. We specifically hypothesize that alterations in key elements of the LHPA axis
that can be initiated in utero and or in the perinatal period may be brought about by a
variety of adverse environmental conditions. Given an appropriate genetic substrate, such
adverse early life experiences may create a neurobiological foundation that leads to
vulnerability to mental illness. By integrating the diverse expertise provided by the
assembled group of invited researchers, our objective is to develop animal paradigms that
appropriately model the molecular and neurobiological processes underlying effects of
fetal and neonatal adversity on LHPA development in the human. Such discussions will
inevitably provide the background necessary to develop a means to measure human
response patterns to fetal and/or neonatal adversity. Four conceptual topics have been
identified that form the specific aims this network. These topics are: 1) Prenatal and
perinatal animal models and their validity to the human condition, 2) Developmental
windows and equivalency across species, 3) In utero and/or perinatal adverse experiences
and long term sequelae: the role of key elements of the LHPA axis, and 4) Individual
differences with respect to genetic vulnerability, and resilience, to mental illness. The
proposed network will ultimately foster hypothesis driven research initiatives, and
develop new strategies that will effectively test the impact of adverse fetal and neonatal
experience on LHPA development, bridging clinical obstetrics and neonatology,
epidemiology, developmental neuroanatomy and neurosciences with mental illness in
children and adolescents.