Ricardo Azziz, MD,MPH, MBA Chair, OBGYN Director, Center for Androgen-Related Disorders Director, Office of the UCLA-Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute at CSMC
Email: ricardo.azziz@cshs.org Phone: (310) 423-7433 Fax: (310) 423-3470

Academic Appointments

Awards and Activities

Research Focus

Research interests include the study of androgen excess disorders, including the epidemiology, genetics, and pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the non-classic adrenal hyperplasias (NCAH), the role of the adrenal in hyperandrogenic disorders, and the regulation and physiology of adrenal androgens (AAs).

Research Contributions

Have contributed significantly to androgen excess research by elucidating: i) the epidemiology and economic impact of PCOS and other androgen excess disorders; ii) the familial risk for PCOS and elucidating candidate genes which play a role in the disorder; iii) the molecular, genetic, and physiologic mechanism(s) resulting in AA excess in PCOS; and iv) the diagnosis, screening, pathophysiology of NCAH.

Current investigations include:

Adipokine function and adipocyte physiology in PCOS; mechanisms of AA excess in PCOS; insulin signaling regulation and function in adipose tissue in PCOS; heritability and genetics of PCOS; risk factors, epidemiology and economics of PCOS; and morbidity and pathophysiology of NCAH.

Selected Publications

1. Azziz R, Sanchez LA, Knochenhauer ES, Moran C, Lazenby J, Stephens KC, Taylor K, Boots LR: Androgen excess in women: experience with over 1000 consecutive patients. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 89(2): 453-62, 2004
2. Azziz R, Woods KS, Reyna R, Key TJ, Knochenhauer ES, Yildiz BO: The prevalence and features of the polycystic ovary syndrome in an unselected population. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 89(6): 2745-9, 2004
3. Azziz R, Marin C, Hoq L, Badamgarav E, Song P: Health care-related economic burden of the polycystic ovary syndrome during the reproductive life span. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 90(8): 4650-8, 2005
4. Moran C, Azziz R, Weintrob N, Witchel SF, Rohmer V, Dewailly D, Marcondes JA, Pugeat M, Speiser PW, Pignatelli D, Mendonca BB, Bachega TA, Escobar-Morreale HF, Carmina E, Fruzzetti F, Kelestimur F: Reproductive outcome of women with 21-hydroxylase-deficient nonclassic adrenal hyperplasia. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 91(9): 3451-6, 2006
5. Goodarzi MO, Antoine HJ, Azziz R: Genes for enzymes regulating dehydroepiandrosterone sulfonation are associated with levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in polycystic ovary syndrome. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 92(7): 2659-64, 2007
6. Yildiz BO, Knochenhauer ES, Azziz R: Impact of obesity on the risk for polycystic ovary syndrome. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 93(1): 162-8, 2007