Medicine
BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston, MA, United States
Ricardo Henrique da Costa e Sousa, DVM, MSc, DSc, is an Assistant Professor at the Boston University School of Medicine, where he investigates the neuroendocrine regulation of homeostasis with a particular focus on the hypothalamic–pituitary–thyroid (HPT) axis. Trained as both a veterinarian and a physiologist, Dr. Sousa’s work bridges fundamental endocrine mechanisms with translational questions about how organisms adapt to environmental and metabolic challenges.
Dr. Sousa’s scientific career has been centered on advancing the understanding of thyroid hormone actions in the brain and periphery, including its role in adaptive physiology. His research explores how central regulatory circuits integrate internal signals and external stressors to modulate hormone secretion, and how disruptions to these pathways contribute to disease. By integrating neuroanatomy, molecular biology, and systems physiology, his work helps clarify how neuroendocrine networks maintain stability in changing environments.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Sousa has published more than 30 peer reviewed research articles, which have collectively earned around 1,200 citations. His contributions have helped expand the field’s understanding of how endocrine systems respond to metabolic challenges and other environmentally driven demands.
In addition to his research accomplishments, Dr. Sousa is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of scientist. He has taught physiology and endocrine biology to medical, graduate, and undergraduate students and is committed to fostering critical thinking, methodological rigor, and inclusive scientific training environments. His ongoing work aims to elucidate the complex interplay between environment, brain function, and endocrine regulation, contributing to improved understanding and potential therapeutic strategies for thyroid and metabolic disorders.
Disclosure information not submitted.
SY25-01 - Neural Regulation of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Thyroid Axis
Sunday, June 14, 2026
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM CT