Joanna Spencer-Segal, MD, PhD
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About
Dr. Joanna Spencer-Segal is a physician-scientist in the Department of Internal Medicine and the Michigan Neuroscience Institute. A neuroendocrinologist, she cares for patients with disorders of pituitary hormone function in the Multidisciplinary Pituitary Program. She runs a translational neuroendocrinology research program focused on improving our understanding of how circulating hormones control neural function and motivated behaviors, and the specific neural circuits that direct systemic endocrine function.
Qualifications
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Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Molecular and Behavioral NeuroscienceUniversity of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Internal Medicine, Ann Arbor, United States
2014 - 2017
Postdoctoral Research
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Fellowship , Metabolism, Endocrinology and DiabetesUniversity of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Internal Medicine, Ann Arbor, United States
2013 - 2016
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Center Memberships
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Center MemberEisenberg Family Depression Center
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Center MemberCaswell Diabetes Institute
Research Overview
The Spencer-Segal lab focuses on the neural circuits that govern emotional behaviors, both innately and in response to stress. Many of the regions of and circuits in the brain that play a role in emotional behavior also influence the stress response. Stress hormones also act directly on brain regions that influence mood and related behaviors. The Spencer-Segal laboratory is disentangling the neural circuits that direct stressor-specific neuroendocrine and behavioral responses.
Another area of research involves the neuroendocrinology of critical illness and sepsis. Critical illness is often fatal, and survivors face an uphill battle that frequently includes mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cognitive dysfunction. Our lab is interested in understanding the role of the neuroendocrine stress response in short- and long-term critical illness outcomes, and using this knowledge to develop treatments to help patients. This research includes an interest in the influence of circulating hormones on memories formed during illness and their relationship to PTSD outcomes, the role of inflammatory mediators in anxiety- and depression-like emotional states in survivors, and mechanistic approaches to tackle the syndrome of glucocorticoid resistance during critical illness.
Recent Publications
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Snyder CN, Frontera ED, Meng J, Wallace BI, Spencer-Segal J. Eur J Endocrinol, 2026 Apr 16;Journal ArticlePotential mechanisms of the glucocorticoid withdrawal syndrome.
DOI:10.1093/ejendo/lvag062 PMID: 41988948 -
Spencer-Segal JL, Nachtigall L. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 2026 Apr 15;Journal ArticleCurrent Controversies in Acromegaly Care.
DOI:10.1210/clinem/dgag156 PMID: 41981973 -
Yang SE, Meng J, Johnston C, Gavade S, Schwieterman W, Hubert HE, Newstead MW, Singer BH, Spencer-Segal JL. Brain Behav Immun, 2026 Mar 10; 106535Journal ArticleLipocalin-2 perpetuates postoperative and post-infectious neuroinflammation and anxiety-like behavior.
DOI:10.1016/j.bbi.2026.106535 PMID: 41819240 -
Nowak E, Zhang Q, Zhang S, Zhao Y, Ye H, Machado MC, Moises CCS, Tóth M, Stark J, Yuen KCJ, Gurnell M, MacFarlane J, McCormack A, Govinna M, Gilis-Januszewska A, Minasyan M, Bonaventura I, Czepielewski MA, Ferriere A, Gadelha M, Isidori AM, Kastelan D, Maiter D, Tabarin A, Alexandraki KI, Chang J, Frontera ED, Hanzu FA, Matikainen N, Miljic D, Pichler R, Popovic V, Spencer-Segal JL, Tordjman K, Akirov A, Araujo-Castro M, Arvat E, Bancos I, Bioletto F, Burman P, Castinetti F, Detomas M, Fassnacht M, Feelders RA, Fountas A, Igaz P, Ilic S, Isand K, Kaltsas G, Meyer G, Parasiliti-Caprino M, Newell-Price J, Ragnarsson O, Valassi E, Vila G, Wass J, Yoel U, Fleseriu M, Reincke M. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinology, 2025 Dec 1; 13 (12): 1030 - 1040.Journal ArticleCycle characterisation and clinical complications in patients with cyclic Cushing's syndrome: insights from an international retrospective cohort study
DOI:10.1016/S2213-8587(25)00249-9 PMID: 41235993 -
Frontera ED, Chang C-L, Meng J, Spencer-Segal JL. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2025 Oct 24; 9 (Supplement_1): bvaf149.1860Journal ArticleSAT-235 Chronic dexamethasone causes sex- and tissue-specific glucocorticoid resistance in mice
DOI:10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.1860 PMID: PMC12543943 -
Snyder CN, Haddad LL, Liberman KM, Yang SE, Meng J, Spencer-Segal JL. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2025 Oct 24; 9 (Supplement_1): bvaf149.1608Journal ArticleSUN-015 Neural Activity Patterns Underlying the Glucocorticoid Withdrawal Syndrome
DOI:10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.1608 PMID: PMC12543709 -
Ferone D, Biller BMK, Gadelha MR, Silverstein JM, Kadioglu P, Seufert J, Fleseriu M, Pedroncelli AM, Råstam J, Harrie M, Svedberg A, Tiberg F, Spencer-Segal JL. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2025 Oct 24; 9 (Supplement_1): bvaf149.1634Journal ArticleSUN-045 Improved Patient-Reported Outcomes with CAM2029 Treatment, an Octreotide Subcutaneous Depot, in Patients with Acromegaly Previously on Standard-of-Care Injectable Somatostatin Receptor Ligands: Final Analysis of the Core Part of the ACROINNOVA 2 Phase 3 Trial
DOI:10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.1634 PMID: PMC12545632 -
Spencer-Segal JL, Silverstein JM, Gillis-Janusewska A, Yaylali GF, Isaeva E, Gadelha MR, Biller BMK, Maffei P, Fleseriu M, Pedroncelli AM, Råstam J, Harrie M, Svedberg A, Tiberg F, Ferone D. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 2025 Oct 24; 9 (Supplement_1): bvaf149.1636Journal ArticleSUN-051 CAM2029, an Octreotide Subcutaneous Depot, Provides Long-Term and Sustained Biochemical Control of Acromegaly: Final Analysis of the Core Part of the ACROINNOVA 2 Phase 3 Trial
DOI:10.1210/jendso/bvaf149.1636 PMID: PMC12544057
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