Division of Pediatric Endocrinology
Division of Pediatric Neuroendocrinology

The Division of Pediatric Neuroendocrinology was established in 2008 through the merger of the Pediatric Neurology and Pediatric Endocrinology specialties. It is distinguished by its integrated approach to diagnosing and treating neurological and endocrine disorders and holds significant influence in both the pediatric neurology and endocrinology fields in China.
The Pediatric Neurology specialty is one of the earliest neurology specialties established in the Guangzhou region. It has developed into a member unit of both the Brain Science Professional Committee and the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Committee of the Pediatrics Society of the Chinese Medical Association. It also serves as the chair unit of the Child Development and Rehabilitation Branch of the Guangdong Rehabilitation Medicine Association, the chair unit of the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Branch of the Guangdong Brain Development and Brain Disease Prevention and Treatment Society, and the vice-chair unit of the Neurology Group under the Pediatrics Society of the Guangdong Medical Association, exerting considerable influence in South China and nationwide. The specialty offers neuroelectrophysiological examinations, neuroimaging studies, intelligence testing, developmental assessments, psychological evaluations, and motor assessments. It provides drug therapy and psychological counseling for children with neurological, psychological, and psychiatric conditions, and offers motor, psychological, and speech rehabilitation for children with special needs. The department has accumulated extensive experience in the diagnosis, treatment, and research of conditions such as pediatric epilepsy, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, movement disorders, myopathies, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), tic disorders, multiple sclerosis, and other immune-mediated encephalitides. Since pioneering clinical research on high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy for multiple sclerosis in China in 1996, the department has gained rich experience and achieved favorable outcomes in treating pediatric neuroimmune disorders. Utilizing advanced MRI technology for pathological classification of encephalopathies combined with flow cytometry for immune phenotyping enables the implementation of tailored treatment plans, significantly improving therapeutic efficacy for conditions like encephalitis and cerebral palsy. The Autism BTR Strategy pioneered by the department has substantially enhanced clinical outcomes and improved the prognosis for autism. Leveraging the strong technical capabilities of the hospital's Department of Hematology, the department has initiated clinical research on bone marrow transplantation for treating adrenoleukodystrophy and progressive muscular dystrophy, offering hope for managing these previously incurable conditions.
The Pediatric Endocrinology and Inherited Metabolic Diseases specialty is one of the earliest in Guangdong and South China to focus on the diagnosis, treatment, and research of pediatric endocrine and metabolic disorders. It possesses extensive experience in treating conditions such as short stature, precocious puberty, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, thyroid disorders, bone metabolism abnormalities, diabetes insipidus, multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies, disorders of sex development, and endocrine tumors, actively promoting standardized diagnosis and treatment for pediatric endocrine diseases. The department pioneered the use of new technologies in the Guangdong region, such as microarray comparative genomic hybridization and next-generation sequencing for etiological research in pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders and rare diseases in children, and has participated in formulating several national industry guidelines. The department offers a comprehensive range of diagnostic tests, including assays for growth hormone, gonadotropin axis hormones, thyroid hormones, and glucose metabolism-related endocrine hormones; various dynamic function tests for diagnosing endocrine disorders; and AI-assisted bone age assessment and height prediction. Relying on national key laboratories, its test results are accurate and reliable. The department is a member unit of the Pediatric Endocrinology and Inherited Metabolic Diseases Group of the Pediatrics Society of the Chinese Medical Association and the vice-chair unit of the Pediatric Endocrinology and Inherited Metabolic Diseases Group of the Guangdong Medical Association.
The Division of Pediatric Neuroendocrinology currently has 2 senior professional titles, 4 associate senior professional titles, 1 doctoral supervisor, 5 master's supervisors, and nearly 30 medical technical staff. The current department director is Professor Luo Xiangyang (Neurology specialty), and the deputy director is Professor Liang Liyang (Endocrinology and Inherited Metabolic Diseases specialty).

More

Featured Medical Technology

The Division of Pediatric Neuroendocrinology has long been engaged in the treatment and rehabilitation of neuroimmune disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurological injury-related conditions. It has established a systematic immunotherapy protocol for neuroimmune injuries, neurotransmitter-based treatment strategies for movement disorders, and the globally pioneering Autism BTR Strategy, significantly improving the clinical efficacy for the three major disease categories of pediatric epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and autism. The specialty also diagnoses and treats a large number of conditions including various sequelae of brain injury, psychomotor developmental delay, peripheral nerve injury, immune-mediated encephalitis, congenital torticollis, facial paralysis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), tic disorders, and intellectual disabilities. It has also accumulated extensive experience in managing refractory epilepsy, refractory encephalitis and meningitis, as well as complex and refractory neurogenetic and metabolic disorders. Over the past decade, the specialty has established an EEG (electroencephalography) laboratory, a developmental and psychological assessment room, and rehabilitation training facilities. Combined with the hospital's advanced diagnostic platforms, these provide systematic technical support for the diagnosis and treatment of complex and severe neurological diseases.
The Division of Pediatric Neuroendocrinology, within the field of endocrinology, has conducted diagnosis, treatment, and a series of research studies on a large number of endocrine disorders, including growth hormone deficiency-related short stature, precocious puberty, obesity, thyroid diseases, adrenal disorders, and pituitary diseases. Its distinctive clinical services include:
(1) Growth and Development Clinic: It follows standardized procedures and employs diverse treatment methods for diagnosing and managing growth disorders, obesity, and various endocrine and genetic metabolic diseases.
(2) Adolescent Transition Clinic: This is the first clinic in Guangdong Province dedicated to the transition from pediatric to adult care for endocrine diseases. It provides an excellent healthcare platform for "young adults" aged 14 to 20, addressing the difficulties adolescents face in accessing appropriate medical care.
(3) Diabetes Treatment: The department employs technologies such as insulin pump intensive therapy for children with diabetes in the acute phase and continuous glucose monitoring, achieving nationally advanced standards. It regularly organizes diabetes association meetings and summer camps for children with diabetes, providing a re-education platform for patients and their families, alleviating psychological barriers, and supporting the healthy growth of the children.

More

Scientific Research Results

The Division of Pediatric Neuroendocrinology holds significant clinical and academic standing domestically, particularly in South China. It focuses on research in neuroimmunology. The team has led or participated in over 10 national and provincial/ministerial-level research projects, published nearly 100 papers in Chinese core journals and SCI-indexed journals, and received a Third Prize of the Guangzhou Science and Technology Progress Award. Currently, the specialty serves as the chair unit of the Child Development and Rehabilitation Committee of the Guangdong Rehabilitation Medicine Association, the chair unit of the Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Branch of the Guangdong Brain Development and Brain Disease Prevention and Treatment Society, and the vice-chair unit of the Pediatric Neurology Group of the Guangdong Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. In teaching, it actively participates in the instruction of undergraduate medical students, postgraduates, and resident physicians in pediatrics. The team has led nearly 10 teaching projects, published over 10 teaching-related papers, and produced high-quality video courses on pediatric epilepsy and cerebral palsy, having trained more than 20 master's graduates and dozens of visiting physicians.
The Division of Pediatric Neuroendocrinology has consistently pursued a path integrating clinical practice with scientific research, utilizing research to serve clinical needs and achieving notable results. Over the years, it has actively conducted basic and clinical research in areas including: 1. Insulin resistance and child growth and development; 2. Prevention and treatment of endocrine complications in severe thalassemia; and 3. Precision diagnosis and treatment of rare genetic diseases. The department has published over 50 papers. As a primary participating unit, it received the Third Prize of the Guangdong Science and Technology Progress Award in 2009 and the First Prize of the Guangdong Science and Technology Progress Award in 2019. It offers the public elective course "Adolescent Endocrinology" for undergraduates at Sun Yat-sen University. The department has secured three provincial-level teaching grants and several university-level teaching reform projects. It has trained more than 10 master's graduates and dozens of visiting specialists from within and outside the province. It routinely undertakes teaching, clinical见习, and internship supervision for 5-year and 8-year program students of the Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University.

More
Expert Team
More
Liang Liyang
chief physician
Doctoral Supervisor