Paul Hofman

Associate Professor
MbChB, Dip Obs, FRACP

Contact details

Phone: +64 9 923 6453
Email: p.hofman@auckland.ac.nz

Key Research interests

Much of my research involves issues related to the perinatal environment and its effect on adult health. These include:

• Metabolic and growth effects of prematurity.
• Metabolic and growth effects of being small for gestational age.
• Metabolic and growth effects of being born by assisted reproductive techniques.
• Metabolic consequences of pubertal timing.
• Exercise in pregnancy and maternal and infant outcomes.
• Diabetes – especially the effects on cardiovascular function.
   

I am primarily a clinician trained in paediatric endocrinology in Auckland and Indianapolis, USA. As a consequence my academic and research focus is on clinical studies. I am actively involved in postgraduate teaching and am a supervisor for MSc, PhD and MD stduents. I have extensive experience in the area of paediatric endocrinology and am involved in several professional organisations including Treasurer of the Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group and Chairman of the Scientific Committee of the Asia Pacific Paediatric Endocrine Society. I am a member of the New Zealand Growth Hormone Committee and president of the Prader Willi Society. I am also the clinical director of the endocrinology and diabetes department at Starship Children’s Hospital.

I am actively involved in teaching 3rd, 5th and 6th year medical students. I have also been both a 5th year supervisor and 6th year paediatric supervisor. I give regular tutorials to postgraduate trainees in paediatrics and assist them in oral exam preparation.

1. Miles, H.M., Hofman, P.L., Peek, J., Harris, M. and 4 others In vitro fertilization improves childhood growth and metabolism, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 92, (9), p3441-3445, 2007.

2. Regan FM, Cutfield WS, Jefferies C, Robinson E, Hofman PL. The Impact of Early Nutrition in Premature Infants on Later Childhood Insulin Sensitivity and Growth. Pediatrics 118(5):1943-9, 2006.

3. Vickers MH, Gluckman PD, Coveny AH, Hofman PL, Cutfield WS, Gertler A, Breier BH, Harris M. Neonatal Leptin Treatment Reverses Developmental Programming. Endocrinology. 146(10):4211-6, 2005.

4. Hofman PL, Jefferies CA, Jackson WE, Robinson EM, Cutfield WS. Premature Birth and Later Insulin Resistance. N Engl J Med, 351: 2179-86, 2004.

5. Jefferies CA, Hofman PL, Knoblauch H, Luft FC, Robinson EM, Cutfield WS. Insulin Resistance in Healthy Prepubertal Twins. Journal of Pediatrics, 144: p. 608-613, 2004.