Smita Jha, M.D.
Professional Experience
- Director, Calcium and MEN1 Research, Metabolic Diseases Branch, 2020-present
- Associate Research Physician, NIDDK, 2024
- Assistant Research Physician, 2018-2023
- Faculty, Inter-Institute Endocrinology Training Program, 2016- present
- Scholar in Translational Research, NIAMS, 2016-2018
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Fellowship, Inter-Institute Endocrinology Training Program, NICHD, 2013-2016
- Internal Medicine Residency, North Shore Medical Center, 2009-2012
- M.D., Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, 2007
Current Research
Our research aims to elucidate the spectrum, natural history and underlying pathophysiology of disorders of parathyroid function and signaling using natural history studies, translational investigations, and clinical trials to better understand the parathyroid hormone (PTH) signaling pathway. We plan to accomplish this by studying unusual disorders of PTH pathway dysregulation as a natural model. The primary disorders of interest include a) parathyroid cancer b) Jansen metaphyseal chondrodysplasia c) familial hyperparathyroidism including familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and 4, and hyperparathyroid jaw tumor syndrome and d) pseudohypoparathyroidism and related disorders.
Applying our Research
Defining the spectrum and natural history of these rare parathyroid disorders will improve our understanding of PTH-dependent roles in human physiology and disease. We aim to identify druggable targets for treatment of these disorders which lack an effective therapy. Furthermore, enhanced understanding of PTH pathway is likely to have implications in the management of common diseases such as osteoporosis and mineral-bone disorder seen in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Select Publications
- A Germline ZFX Missense Variant in a Patient With Primary Hyperparathyroidism.
- Guan B, Agarwal SK, Welch JM, Jha S, Weinstein LS, Simonds WF.
- JCEM Case Rep (2024 Aug) 2:luae115. Abstract/Full Text
- Ocular findings in Jansen metaphyseal chondrodysplasia.
- Obiezu F, Magone De Quadros Costa MT, Huryn LA, Pan K, Almpani K, Ninan A, Roszko KL, Weinstein LS, Gafni RI, Ferreira CR, Lee J, Collins MT, Jha S.
- JBMR Plus (2024 Sep) 8:ziae089. Abstract/Full Text
Research in Plain Language
We study patients with unusual disorders of parathyroid function or signaling. Some examples of these disorders are
- Parathyroid cancer
- Jansen metaphyseal chondrodysplasia
- Familial hyperparathyroidism like multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and 4, familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor syndrome
- Pseudohypoparathyroidism and related disorders
We wish to identify biomarkers which can predict the disease course and reveal potential targets for improved treatment of these disorders.