In this section

Reproductive and Investigative Endocrinology Group (including Kisspeptin)

Contact

Suzanne Wheeler – PA (+44 (0)207-594-3487)

What we do

Our group conducts the full spectrum of research from basic through to clinical research studies examining the neuroendocrine control of reproductive function and the influence of reproductive hormones on behaviour and bone.

Why it is important

One-in-six couples across the world suffer from infertility leading to significant psychological morbidity. Aside from fertility, several conditions have marked negative effects on reproductive health in men and women including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea (FHA), obesity-related hypogonadism, age-related hypogonadism, and congenital hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (CHH). In addition to reproductive health, these common conditions also carry a significant adverse impact on general health and well-being.

These reproductive disorders are caused by dysfunction of the hypothalamus, which is the central controller of reproductive hormone secretion. In particular, kisspeptin has emerged as a key regulator of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the hypothalamus, and in turn the remainder of the reproductive endocrine axis.

The critical role of kisspeptin in regulating reproductive hormones was first discovered in 2003, and our group have been conducting clinical research on kisspeptin since, including first-in-human administration studies of kisspeptin in 2005.

How it can benefit patients

The important role of kisspeptin in the hypothalamus qualifies its use as a diagnostic test evaluating hypothalamic function in reproductive disorders for the first time in humans. Furthermore, kisspeptin also has utility as a therapeutic agent to restore hypothalamic function and reproductive health in conditions where this is reduced e.g. FHA. This has led to expertise in the investigation and treatment of anovulatory disorders such as PCOS and FHA. We are also conducting research on novel routes to measure reproductive hormones non-invasively e.g. using aptamer technology, to enable assessment of reproductive hormone pulses. Additionally, kisspeptin is requisite for ovulation leading to our research investigating its use as a safer agent for inducing oocyte maturation during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment. This has led onto work on improving assisted fertility treatments and the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) to personalise and optimise treatment protocols. Kisspeptin is also secreted in high amounts during pregnancy and our research has shown that is has significant potential as a novel predictive biomarker for the assessment of pregnancy complications.

Besides reproduction, kisspeptin and its receptor are extensively distributed throughout the body, including in a plethora of behavioural brain regions. Our work has revealed that kisspeptin signalling plays an important role in human sexual behaviour. Building on this, we have recently shown that kisspeptin administration can enhance sexual brain processing and behaviour in both women and men distressed with their low sexual desire (hypoactive sexual desire disorder).

In addition, kisspeptin and its receptors are expressed in bone. Accordingly, recent evidence derived from in vitro experiments through to in vivo animal studies reveals prominent regulatory interactions for kisspeptin-signalling in bone metabolism, with our work in humans suggesting kisspeptin’s potential in the treatment of bone disorders.

Our research in the neuroendocrine control of reproduction has led to discoveries on the role of neurokinin B in the aetiology of menopause-related hot flashes. Indeed, our group has a track record in pivotal drug discovery as evidenced by the recent FDA, EMA and MHRA approvals for NK3 receptor antagonists for menopausal hot flashes, for which the early clinical discovery work was performed by our group.

Overall, our group runs an active programme of research in reproductive and investigative endocrinology.

The neuroendocrine control of reproductive health (Dr Ali Abbara and Professor Waljit Dhillo):

Our group conducted the first-into-human kisspeptin administration studies undertaken in men in 2005 and in women in 2007. Since then, we have been at the forefront of developing a portfolio of clinical studies investigating the therapeutic potential of kisspeptin-based treatment including novel kisspeptin receptor agonists to restore hormonal secretion in common reproductive disorders such as FHA, as well as to safely induce oocyte maturation in women undergoing IVF therapy. We are also investigating the role of kisspeptin as a diagnostic agent to evaluate hypothalamic dysfunction in CHH, anovulatory disorders, and pubertal disorders.

AI for reproductive neuroendocrinology (Dr Ali Abbara and Professor Waljit Dhillo):

Interpreting complex hormonal data is ideally suited for AI techniques. In this research pathway, we explore the utility of AI to provide data-driven solutions that optimise IVF treatment protocols and improve the accuracy of diagnosis of reproductive disorders.

Reproductive hormones and their influence on behaviour (Professor Alexander Comninos and Professor Waljit Dhillo):

Our research in healthy volunteers using neuroimaging (functional MRI), behavioural, and physiological parameters was the first to establish that kisspeptin modulates human sexual and behavioural brain processing. Translating these findings to patient benefit, we have recently demonstrated that kisspeptin administration to patients with low sexual desire robustly enhances sexual brain activity with associated improvements in sexual desire and a pro-erectile effect in men. Our research continues to investigate the clinical utility of kisspeptin-based therapeutics in the treatment of behavioural and mood disorders. In addition, our group has ongoing interests in the uses of NK3 receptor antagonists having performed the early discovery work for this class of drug with recent regulatory approvals for menopausal hot flashes, benefitting millions of women worldwide.

Reproductive hormones and their influence on bone metabolism (Professor Alexander Comninos and Professor Waljit Dhillo):

Both kisspeptin and its receptor are extensively expressed in bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts, which putatively permits direct bone effects. Indeed, our recent research in humans was the first to show that kisspeptin administration can enhance human bone activity. In this research strand, we continue to study the therapeutic potential of kisspeptin-based medicines as a novel potential strategy for treating bone-related disorders. In addition, our group has interests in the intersection of the reproductive axis with bone health as seen in pregnancy-induced osteoporosis, hypothalamic amenorrhoea related osteoporosis and other bone and calcium disorders.

Funders and related centres

Funders

Related Centres

Imperial Centre for Endocrinology

Useful links for patients

You and Your Hormones

Related education course

Publications

Kisspeptin-54 stimulates the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal axis in human males. Waljit S Dhillo, Owais B Chaudhri, Michael Patterson, Emily L Thompson, Kevin G Murphy, Michael K Badman, Barbara M McGowan, Vian Amber, Sejal Patel, Mohammad A Ghatei, Stephen R Bloom. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2005;90(12):6609-15. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16174713/)
Kisspeptin-54 stimulates gonadotropin release most potently during the preovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle in women. Waljit S Dhillo, Owais B Chaudhri, Emily L Thompson, Kevin G Murphy, Michael Patterson, Radha Ramachandran, Gurjinder K Nijher, Vian Amber, Alexander Kokkinos, Mandy Donaldson, Mohammad A Ghatei, Stephen R Bloom. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2007;92(10):3958-66. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16174713/)
Twice-daily subcutaneous injection of kisspeptin-54 does not abolish menstrual cyclicity in healthy female volunteers. Channa N Jayasena*, Alexander N Comninos*, G Gurjinder M K Nijher, Ali Abbara, Akila De Silva, Johannes D Veldhuis, Risheka Ratnasabapathy, Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya, A Lim, D A Patel, Mohammad A Ghatei, Stephen R Bloom, Waljit S Dhillo. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2013;98(11):4464-74. (http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24030945/) (*co-first authors)
Increasing LH pulsatility in women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea using intravenous infusion of Kisspeptin-54. Channa N Jayasena*, Ali Abbara*, Johannes D Veldhuis, Alexander N Comninos, Risheka Ratnasabapathy, Akila De Silva, Gurjinder M K Nijher, Zainab Ganiyu-Dada, Amrish Mehta, Catriona Todd, Mohammad A Ghatei, Stephen R Bloom, Waljit S Dhillo. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2014;99(6):E953–E961. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24517142/) (*co-first authors)
Kisspeptin-54 triggers egg maturation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Channa N Jayasena, Ali Abbara, Alexander N Comninos, Gurjinder M K Nijher, Georgios Christopoulos, Shakunthala Narayanaswamy, Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya, Mathini Sridharan, Alexina J Mason, Jane Warwick, Deborah Ashby, Mohammad A Ghatei, Stephen R Bloom, Anna Carby, Geoffrey H Trew, Waljit S Dhillo. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2014;124(8):3667-77. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25036713/)
Efficacy of kisspeptin-54 to trigger oocyte maturation in women at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) during in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy. Ali Abbara, Channa N Jayasena, Georgios Christopoulos, Shakunthala Narayanaswamy, Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya, Gurjinder M K Nijher, Alexander N Comninos, Deborah Peters, Adam Buckley, Risheka Ratnasabapathy, Julia K Prague, Rehan Salim, Stuart A Lavery, Stephen R Bloom, Matyas Szigeti, Deborah A Ashby, Geoffrey H Trew, Waljit S Dhillo. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2015;100(9):3322-31. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26192876/)
Kisspeptin modulates sexual and emotional brain processing in humans. Alexander N Comninos, Matthew B Wall, Lysia Demetriou, Amar J Shah, Sophie A Clarke, Shakunthala Narayanaswamy, Alexander Nesbitt, Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya, Julia K Prague, Ali Abbara, Risheka Ratnasabapathy, Victoria Salem, Gurjinder M Nijher, Channa N Jayasena, Mark Tanner, Paul Bassett, Amrish Mehta, Eugenii A Rabiner, Christoph Hönigsperger, Meire Ribeiro Silva, Ole Kristian Brandtzaeg, Elsa Lundanes, Steven Ray Wilson, Rachel C Brown, Sarah A Thomas, Stephen R Bloom, Waljit S Dhillo. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2017;127(2):709-719. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28112678/)
Neurokinin 3 receptor antagonism as a novel treatment for menopausal hot flushes: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Julia K Prague, Rachel E Roberts, Alexander N Comninos, Sophie Clarke, Channa N Jayasena, Zachary Nash, Chedie Doyle, Deborah A Papadopoulou, Stephen R Bloom, Pharis Mohideen, Nicholas Panay, Myra S Hunter, Johannes D Veldhuis, Lorraine C Webber, Les Huson, Waljit S Dhillo. The Lancet. 2017;389(10081):1809-1820. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28385352/)
Kisspeptin and the control of emotions, mood and reproductive behaviour. Edouard G Mills, Waljit S Dhillo, Alexander N Comninos. Journal of Endocrinology. 2018;239(1):R1–R12. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30306845/)
The effects of kisspeptin on β-cell function, serum metabolites and appetite in humans. Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya*, Alexander N Comninos*, Sophie A Clarke, Anne Jomard, Lisa Yang, Sophie Jones, Ali Abbara, Shakunthala Narayanaswamy, Pei Chia Eng, Deborah Papadopoulou, Julia K Prague, Paul Bech, Ian F Godsland, Paul Bassett, Caroline Sands, Stephane Camuzeaux, Maria Gomez-Romero, Jake T M Pearce, Matthew R Lewis, Elaine Holmes, Jeremy K Nicholson, Tricia Tan, Risheka Ratnasabapathy, Ming Hu, Gaelle Carrat, Lorenzo Piemonti, Marco Bugliani, Piero Marchetti, Paul R Johnson, Stephen J Hughes, A M James Shapiro, Guy A Rutter, Waljit S Dhillo. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 2018;20(12):2800-2810. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29974637/) (*co-first authors)
Modulations of human resting brain connectivity by kisspeptin enhance sexual and emotional functions. Alexander N Comninos*, Lysia Demetriou*, Matthew B Wall, Amar J Shah, Sophie A Clarke, Shakunthala Narayanaswamy, Alexander Nesbitt, Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya, Julia K Prague, Ali Abbara, Risheka Ratnasabapathy, Lisa Yang, Victoria Salem, Gurjinder M Nijher, Channa N Jayasena, Mark Tanner, Paul Bassett, Amrish Mehta, John McGonigle, Eugenii A Rabiner, Stephen R Bloom, Waljit S Dhillo. JCI Insight. 2018;3(20):e121958. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30333302/) (*co-first authors)
Kisspeptin enhances brain responses to olfactory and visual cues of attraction in men. Lisa Yang*, Lysia Demetriou*, Matthew B Wall, Edouard G Mills, David Zargaran, Mark Sykes, Julia K Prague, Ali Abbara, Bryn M Owen, Paul A Bassett, Eugenii A Rabiner, Alexander N Comninos^#, Waljit S Dhillo^#. JCI Insight. 2020;5(3):e133633. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32051344/) (*co-first authors, ^#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Association between high serum total cortisol concentrations and mortality from COVID-19. Tricia Tan*, Bernard Khoo*, Edouard G Mills, Maria Phylactou, Bijal Patel, Pei C Eng, Layla Thurston, Beatrice Muzi, Karim Meeran, A Toby Prevost, Alexander N Comninos, Ali Abbara, Waljit S Dhillo. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. 2020;8(8):659-660. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32563278/) (*co-first authors)
Kisspeptin receptor agonist has therapeutic potential for female reproductive disorders. Ali Abbara*, Pei Chia Eng*, Maria Phylactou*, Sophie A Clarke, Rachel Richardson, Charlene M Sykes, Chayarndorn Phumsatitpong, Edouard G Mills, Manish Modi, Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya, Debbie Papadopoulou, Kate Purugganan, Channa N Jayasena, Lisa Webber, Rehan Salim, Bryn Owen, Paul Bech, Alexander N Comninos, Craig A McArdle, Margaritis Voliotis, Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova, Suzanne Moenter, Aylin Hanyaloglu, Waljit S Dhillo. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2020;130(12):6739-6753. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33196464/) (*co-first authors)
Clinical Potential of Kisspeptin in Reproductive Health. Ali Abbara, Sophie A Clarke, Waljit S Dhillo. Trends in Molecular Medicine. 2021;27(8):807-823. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34210598/)
The effects of kisspeptin on brain response to food images and psychometric parameters of appetite in healthy men. Lisa Yang*, Lysia Demetriou*, Matthew B Wall, Edouard G Mills, Victoria C Wing, Layla Thurston, Caroline N Schaufelberger, Bryn M Owen, Ali Abbara, Eugenii A Rabiner, Alexander N Comninos^#, Waljit S Dhillo^#. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2021;106(4):e1837-e1848. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33075807/) (*co-first authors, ^#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Kisspeptin-54 Accurately Identifies Hypothalamic Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neuronal Dysfunction in Men with Congenital Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism. Ali Abbara, Pei Chia Eng, Maria Phylactou, Sophie A Clarke, Edouard G Mills, Germaine Chia, Lisa Yang, Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya, Neil Smith, Channa N Jayasena, Alexander N Comninos, Ravinder Anand-Ivell, Jesse Rademaker, Cheng Xu, Richard Quinton, Nelly Pitteloud, Waljit S Dhillo. Neuroendocrinology. 2021;111(12):1176-1186. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33227799/)
Kisspeptin modulates gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in the human brain. Alexander N Comninos*, Lisa Yang*, James O'Callaghan*, Edouard G Mills, Matthew B Wall, Lysia Demetriou, Victoria C Wing, Layla Thurston, Bryn M Owen, Ali Abbara, Eugenii A Rabiner, Waljit S Dhillo. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2021;129:105244. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33975151/) (*co-first authors)
The relationship between bone and reproductive hormones beyond estrogens and androgens. Edouard G Mills, Lisa Yang, Morten F Nielsen, Moustapha Kassem, Waljit S Dhillo, Alexander N Comninos. Endocrine Reviews. 2021 Nov 16;42(6):691-719. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33901271/)
Current perspectives on kisspeptins role in behaviour. Edouard G Mills*, Lisa Yang*, Ali Abbara, Waljit S Dhillo^#, Alexander N Comninos^#.Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2022:13:928143. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35757400/) (*co-first authors, ^#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Changes in circulating kisspeptin levels during each trimester in women with antenatal complications. Ali Abbara, Maya Al-Memar, Maria Phylactou, Elisabeth Daniels, Bijal Patel, Pei C Eng, Rans Nadir, Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya, Sophie A Clarke, Edouard G Mills, Tia Hunjan, Ewa Pacuszka, Lisa Yang, Paul Bech, Tricia Tan, Alexander N Comninos, Tom W Kelsey, Christopher Kyriacou, Hanine Fourie, Tom Bourne, Waljit S Dhillo. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2022;107(1):e71-e83. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34427658/)
Melanocortin 4 receptor agonism enhances sexual brain processing in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Layla Thurston, Tia Hunjan, Edouard G Mills, Matthew B Wall, Natalie Ertl, Maria Phylactou, Beatrice Muzi, Bijal Patel, Emma C Alexander, Sofiya Suladze, Manish Modi, Pei C Eng, Paul A Bassett, Ali Abbara, David Goldmeier, Alexander N Comninos^#, Waljit S Dhillo^#. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2022;132(19):e152341. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36189794/) (^#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Acute effects of kisspeptin administration on bone metabolism in healthy men. Alexander N Comninos*, Morten S Hansen*, Alan Courtney, Sirazum Choudhury, Lisa Yang, Edouard G Mills, Maria Phylactou, Mark Busbridge, Muaza Khir, Thilipan Thaventhiran, Paul Bech, Tricia Tan, Ali Abbara, Morten Frost, Waljit S Dhillo. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2022;107(6):1529-1540. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35244717/) (*co-first authors)
Bone perspectives in functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea: an update and future avenues. Preeshila Behary, Alexander N Comninos. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2022:13:923791. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35795153/)
Effects of kisspeptin administration in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a randomized clinical trial. Layla Thurston, Tia Hunjan, Natalie Ertl, Matthew B Wall, Edouard G Mills, Sofiya Suladze, Bjial Patel, Emma C Alexander, Beatrice Muzi, Paul A Bassett, Eugenii A Rabiner, Paul Bech, David Goldmeier, Ali Abbara, Alexander N Comninos^#, Waljit S Dhillo^#. JAMA Network Open. 2022;5(10):e2236131. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36287566/) (^#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Effects of kisspeptin on sexual brain processing and penile tumescence in men with hypoactive sexual desire disorder: a randomized clinical trial. Edouard G Mills, Natalie Ertl, Matthew B Wall, Layla Thurston, Lisa Yang, Sofiya Suladze, Tia Hunjan, Maria Phylactou, Bijal Patel, Beatrice Muzi, Dena Ettehad, Paul A Bassett, Jonathan Howard, Eugenii A Rabiner, Paul Bech, Ali Abbara, David Goldmeier, Alexander N Comninos^#, Waljit S Dhillo^#. JAMA Network Open. 2023;6(2):e2254313. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36735255/) (^#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Effects of distinct polycystic ovary syndrome phenotypes on bone health. Edouard G Mills, Ali Abbara, Waljit S Dhillo, Alexander N Comninos. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2023:14:1163771. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37251667/)
Derivation and comparison of formulae for the adjustment of total calcium. Maria Phylactou*, Alexander N Comninos*, Ahmed Salih, Marina Labib, Pei Chia Eng, Sophie A Clarke, Pope Moore, Tricia Tan, Jaimini Cegla, Waljit S Dhillo^#, Ali Abbara^#. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2023:14:1070443. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37251673/) (*co-first authors, ^#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Dax1 modulates ERα-dependent hypothalamic estrogen sensing in female mice. Jose M Ramos-Pittol*, Isabel Fernandes-Freitas*, Alexandra Milona, Stephen M Manchishi, Kara Rainbow, Brian Y H Lam, John A Tadross, Anthony Beucher, William H Colledge, Inês Cebola, Kevin G Murphy, Irene Miguel-Aliaga, Giles S H Yeo, Waljit S Dhillo, Bryn M Owen. Nature Communications. 2023;14(1):3076. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37248237/) (*co-first authors)
Neurokinin 3 receptor antagonism for menopausal hot flashes. Alexander N Comninos, Waljit S Dhillo. Cell. 2023;186(16):3332-3332.e1. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37541194/)
The Emerging Therapeutic Potential of Kisspeptin and Neurokinin B. Bijal Patel, Kanyada Koysombat, Edouard G Mills, Jovanna Tsoutsouki, Alexander N Comninos^#, Ali Abbara^#, Waljit S Dhillo^#. Endocrine Reviews. 2024;45(1):30-68. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37467734/) (^#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Endocrine profile of the kisspeptin receptor agonist MVT-602 in healthy premenopausal women with and without ovarian stimulation: results from 2 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Ali Abbara, Mike Ufer, Christine Voors-Pette, Lance Berman, Max Ezzati, Rui Wu, Tien-Yi Lee, Juan Camilo Arjona Ferreira, Elizabeth Migoya, Waljit S Dhillo. Fertility & Sterility. 2024;121(1):95-106. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37925096/)
Kisspeptin in functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: Pathophysiology and therapeutic potential. Aaran H Patel*, Kanyada Koysombat*, Aureliane Pierret, Megan Young, Alexander N Comninos, Waljit S Dhillo#, Ali Abbara#. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2024;1540(1):21-46. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39287750/) (*co-first authors) (#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Quantifying the variability in the assessment of reproductive hormone levels. Ali Abbara*, Sophie Adams*, Maria Phylactou, Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya, Edouard G Mills, Layla Thurston, Kanyada Koysombat, Simon Hanassab, Thomas Heinis, Tricia M-M Tan, Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova, Alexander N Comninos, Margaritis Voliotis, Waljit S Dhillo. Fertility & Sterility. 2024;121(2):334-345. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37977226/) (*co-first authors)
Interactions between kisspeptin and bone: cellular mechanisms, clinical evidence, and future potential. Edouard G Mills, Ali Abbara, Waljit S Dhillo^#, Alexander N Comninos^#. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 2024;1540(1):47-60. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39269749/) (^#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Luteal phase support in assisted reproductive technology. Akanksha Garg*, Agata P Zielinska*, Arthur C Yeung, Rebecca Abdelmalak, Runzhi Chen, Aleena Hossain, Alisha Israni, Scott M Nelson, Andy V Babwah, Waljit S Dhillo, Ali Abbara. Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 2024;20(3):149-167. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38110672/) (*co-first authors)
Kisspeptin and neurokinin B: roles in reproductive health. Kanyada Koysombat, Jovanna Tsoutsouki, Aaran H Patel, Alexander N Comninos^#, Waljit S Dhillo^#, Ali Abbara^#. Physiological Reviews. 2025;105(2):707-764. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39813600) (^#co-senior/corresponding authors)
Kisspeptin as a test of hypothalamic dysfunction in pubertal and reproductive disorders. Aureliane C S Pierret, Aaran H Patel, Elisabeth Daniels, Alexander N Comninos, Waljit S Dhillo, Ali Abbara. Andrology. 2025;0.1111/andr.13843. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39834030/)
Explainable artificial intelligence to identify follicles that optimize clinical outcomes during assisted conception. Simon Hanassab, Scott M Nelson, Artur Akbarov, Arthur C Yeung, Artsiom Hramyka, Toulin Alhamwi, Rehan Salim, Alexander N Comninos, Geoffrey H Trew, Tom W Kelsey, Thomas Heinis, Waljit S Dhillo, Ali Abbara. Nature Communications. 2025;16(1):296. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39779682/)
The neuroendocrine regulation of reproductive behaviour and emotional control by kisspeptin. Edouard G Mills*, Jovanna Tsoutsouki*, Aureliane C S Pierret, Alexander N Comninos^#, Waljit S Dhillo^#. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2025:dgaf055. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39880372/) (*co-first authors, ^#co-senior/corresponding authors)