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Mark Palmert
Research Positions
Senior Associate Scientist
Genetics and Genome Biology
Biography
Dr. Mark R. Palmert joined the Department of Paediatrics as Head of the Division of Endocrinology in September 2007 and held the role until March 2018, when he assumed the role of Associate Chair of Paediatrics for Ambulatory Care. Palmert graduated the Medical Scientist Training Program at Case Western Reserve University with an MD and PhD in 1992.
He trained in paediatrics and paediatric endocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Palmert provides care for children with diabetes mellitus and general endocrine disorders, with a particular interest in reproductive endocrinology including disorders of pubertal development and care of transgender youth.
Research
Dr. Palmert has a long-standing interest in the regulation and disorders of pubertal timing. He has conducted clinical studies of precocious and delayed puberty and in parallel has directed a laboratory-based program designed to identify and understand genetic factors that regulate the onset of puberty.
His interest in the regulation of pubertal timing and in male-female differences in its onset has led to the expansion of his laboratory-based program to include investigation of the bases of sex differences in the brain, including examination of the effects of sex steroids and sex chromosomes on brain structure and function.
In the clinical realm, Dr. Palmert has conducted research focused on improving outcomes of youth with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, improving the care of transgender adolescents, and optimizing the use of resources and diagnostic tests within the endocrine clinics.
Education and experience
- 2017–Present: Associate Chair of Paediatrics, Ambulatory Care, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
- 2007–Present: Professor, Paediatrics & Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
- 2007–Present: Senior Associate Scientist, Research Institute Genetics & Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
- 2007–Present: Staff Physician, Endocrinology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
- 2007–2018: Head, Division of Endocrinology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario
- 2001–2007: Attending in Paediatric Endocrinology, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, U.S.
- 1999–2001: Attending in Endocrinology, Children’s Hospital, Boston, U.S.
- 1996–1999: Fellow, Paediatric Endocrinology, Children’s Hospital, Boston, U.S.
- 1995–1996: Chief Resident, Paediatric Training Program, Children’s Hospital, Boston, U.S.
- 1992–1995: Resident, Paediatric Training Program, Children’s Hospital, Boston, U.S.
- 1985–1992: MD and PhD, Case Western Reserve University of Medicine, Cleveland, U.S.
Achievements
- 2023–2026: Elected President-Elect, President, Past President Pediatric Endocrine Society, USA.
- 2014: Choice Awards: Service Provider of the Year from Planned Parenthood Toronto awarded to the Transgender Youth Clinic, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- 2014: 8th Annual Dr. Noni MacDonald Award, Canadian Pediatrics Society, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Given to one article published each year by Paediatrics & Child Health that made an important contribution to paediatric practice; awarded to collaborative group for work on new growth charts for Canada
- 2012–2015: Elected to Board of Directors, Paediatric Endocrine Society (formerly LWPES), USA
- 2011–2013: Elected President, Canadian Paediatric Endocrine Group, Canada
Publications
- 2024–2026: Co-Investigator. Creating a Community-Developed Self-Advocacy Tool for Autistic Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents for the Promotion of Wellbeing. CAMH/womenmind 2024 Seed Funding Competition. Principle Investigator: Lai MC; Co-Investigators: van der Miesen A, Henderson J, Quinlan-Davidson M, Lunsky Y, Ameis SH, Abramovich A, Pascoe, M, Palmert MR, and Strang J. $199,922 CAD over 2 years
- 2024–2026: Co-Investigator. Building a Robust and Responsive Platform for Evidence Generation in Gender Care. Health Outcomes Catalyst Grant Competition, Garry Hurvitz Centre for Brain & Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children. Principle Investigator: Vandermorris A; Co-Investigators: Sorbara J, Palmert MR, Syeda M, Frederick M, Vasilopoulos C, Suddard C, Lewis A, Wharton C, Vasconcelos C, Leslie K, Stanley J, Preuss A and Damji A. $100,000 CAD over 2 years
- 2022–2024: Co-Investigator. Perspectives of Young Adults Following Discharge from the Transgender Youth Clinic. Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children. Principle Investigator: Sorbara J; Co-Investigators: Palmert M, Vandermorris A. $9954 CAD
- 2021–2026: Nominated Principal Investigator. Using imaging to understand how parental diet programs offspring brain structure. Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Operating Grant. Principal Applicants: Palmert MR and Nieman BJ; Co-Applicants: Foster J, Lerch J, and Zhang T-Y. $843,730 CAD over 5 years
- 2020–2025: Co-Investigator. Identifying sex differences in the molecular mechanisms of socially-mediated pubertal suppression. Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Operating Grant. Principal Applicants: Holmes MM and Wilson MD. Co-Applicants: Palmert MR and Pugh T. $631,136 CAD over 5 years
- 2017–2028: Lead, Child Reproductive/Endocrine Component of Full Study; Study Site Co-Principal Investigator. Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals: Pubertal Timing, Endocrine and Metabolic Function (MIREC-ENDO). Health Canada. Nine Centre Collaborative Trial. Principal Investigators: Arbuckle T, Fraser W. Full budget through March 2028 $15,569,109 CAD. Phase 1 budget, April 2017-March 2021, $6,686,856 CAD; Phase 1 funds to HSC $408,024 CAD
Relevant pages
We're a strong interdisciplinary team specializing in endocrinology and diabetes.