Focus on Metabolic Research Priorities in PCOS
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 6
Special Issue Editor
Interests: polycystic ovary syndrome; evolutionary origins; developmental origins; pathogenesis; microbiome; pathophysiology; epigenetics; nutritional biochemistry; pregnancy complications; lifestyle management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) contributes to the chronic disease epidemic and presents a significant global health challenge. PCOS affects 8–13% of women, and it usually presents in adolescence with a complex mixture of symptoms that result from underlying metabolic and endocrine disturbance. The dprogramming of inherited gene variants predisposes women with PCOS to reduced insulin sensitivity, a proinflammatory immune response, dysregulated hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian–adrenal function, and altered ovarian steroidogenesis that results in reduced estradiol production, hyperandrogenism, and anovulation.
A recent collaboration of the PCOS International Guideline Network generated a consensus roadmap for 150 clinical research priorities in PCOS. Surveys of women, stakeholder groups and healthcare providers called for an enhanced focus on the metabolic aspects, and a greater understanding of the long-term metabolic implications, of PCOS.
Insulin resistance is a key driver of metabolic dysfunction and there is a pressing need for research into accurate diagnostic tests, standardized reference values, predictive surrogate markers, and lifestyle and therapeutic treatment options tailored to a more personalized approach. A focus on precision medicine offers promising avenues for alleviating the burden of illness by tailoring prevention, diagnosis and treatment strategies for insulin resistance in PCOS.
This Special Issue would like to invite research directed to investigating the metabolic aspects of PCOS, particularly those that address evidence–practice gaps. We encourage the submission of a wide range of related research topics. This could include discovery research to help understand the pathophysiological causes and mechanisms of PCOS, clinical research to improve diagnosis and management, clinical trials focused on integrated multiomics, the assessment of wearable, digital, personalized monitoring technology, or research investigating the bidirectional relationships between insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and hyperandrogenism. We welcome original papers and reviews.
Dr. Jim Parker
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- metabolism
- insulin resistance
- inflammation
- hyperandrogenism
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