Christopher McCartney, MD

Research Interests

Primary Areas of Research Interest

Broadly stated, the primary long-term goal of my clinical (patient-oriented) research has been to understand the cause(s) of altered gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin secretion in adolescent and adult polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, which is currently best known as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Specific goals have included elucidation of the role of progesterone in directing pulsatile GnRH secretion—inferred from pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion—and mechanisms controlling wake- vs. sleep-associated GnRH/LH pulse frequency in peripubertal girls and women, both in the presence and absence of hyperandrogenemia. Using protocols of frequent hormone sampling and sleep analysis, my collaborators and I have tested a novel working model of pubertal GnRH release that involves the primacy of sex steroid (progesterone) negative feedback in the control of GnRH/LH pulse frequency while awake, but the relative inability of sex steroids to influence GnRH/LH pulse frequency during sleep. This working model may help explain empirical observations of day-night gonadotropin dynamics in health and disease, and it may also help integrate the “central” and “gonadostat” hypotheses of puberty in girls.

Another major goal has been to clarify mechanisms underlying obesity-associated hyperandrogenemia in peripubertal girls. For example, our group has aimed to define relationships among hyperandrogenemia, androgen-stimulatory factors (LH, insulin, adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH]), and target organ responsiveness to stimulation (i.e., adrenal and ovarian androgen responses to exogenous ACTH and recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin, respectively) in these girls. Such studies may provide a more comprehensive model of excess androgen production in hyperandrogenemic girls with obesity. As a more-recent line of investigation, my research group has investigated the efficacy of sex steroid augmentation of gonadotropin release (positive feedback)—and by extension gonadotropin surge generation—in women with PCOS.

In my current role as WVU Department of Medicine Vice Chair for Research, I assist faculty members and trainees across the Department of Medicine in their research endeavors. 

Grants and Research

Selected grant history

2001–2003 – NIH F32 HD41316 (NICHD), Principal Investigator, “Etiology of Ovarian Hyperandrogenemia in PCOS”  

2003–2008 – NIH K23 HD044742 (NICHD), Principal Investigator, “Progesterone Modulation of Pulsatile GnRH Secretion”  

2008–2014 – NIH R01 HD058671 (NICHD), Principal Investigator, “Pubertal Hyperandrogenemia, Modification of Day-Night GnRH Secretion, and PCOS” 

2014–2020 (NCE) – NIH P50 HD28934 (NICHD), Principal Investigator of Project I (R01 equivalent), “Testosterone-GnRH Frequency and the Evolution of PCOS in Adolescence” 

2019–2025 (NCE) – NIH R01 HD102060 (NICHD), Corresponding Principal Investigator (MPI with Burt Solorzano), “Role of Androgens in the Neuroendocrine Dysfunction of Nascent PCOS” 

2022–2024 – NIH R24 HD102061 (NICHD), Co-Principal Investigator (MPI with Haisenleder), “CRR Ligand Assay and Analysis Core” 

2026–2027 – West Virginia Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute Open Pilot Grant (selected for funding March 19, 2026), Co-Investigator (PI George Sokos), “A Randomized Crossover Trial Evaluating the Cardiometabolic Impact of a Produce Prescription Program in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Food Insecurity” 

Selected NIH service

2011 – Participant, NICHD's Scientific Vision – Reproduction Workshop (NIH, Bethesda, MD) 

2011 – Ad hoc reviewer, Integrative and Clinical Endocrinology and Reproduction (ICER) study section, Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition and Reproductive Sciences Integrated Review Group (EMNR IRG), NIH (1) 

2011 – Ad hoc reviewer, ICER study section, EMNR IRG, NIH (2) 

2012 – Special NIH Review Panel for Specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproduction and Infertility Research Center Programs (U54 Reproduction Research Centers), NIH/NICHD 

2014 – Ad hoc reviewer, ICER study section, EMNR IRG, NIH 

2015 – Ad hoc reviewer, NIH Infectious Disease, Reproductive Health, and Asthma/Pulmonary Conditions (IRAP), Population Sciences and Epidemiology Integrated Review Group, NIH 

2019 – Reviewer, NIH/NICHD Scientific Review Group 2019/10 CHHD-R 1 (Reproduction, Andrology and Gynecology) Study Section (Special Emphasis Panel) 

2019 – Reviewer, NIH/NICHD Special Emphasis Panel to Review Reproductive Medicine Cooperative Clinical Trials Applications (RFA-HD-19-022; Collaborative R01 Clinical Trial Required) for diagnosis or treatment of female and male infertility 

2020–2023 – Standing member, NIH/NICHD Reproduction, Andrology, and Gynecology Study Section 

2026 – Ad hoc reviewer, NIH/NICHD Special Emphasis Panel to Review Mentored Research Scientist Development applications, 2026/05 ZRG1 T06C-W (20) L 

Selected research-related institutional service

2008–2011 – General Clinical Research Center Advisory Committee, University of Virginia School of Medicine 

2011–2014 – Dean’s Research Advisory Committee, University of Virginia School of Medicine 

2012–2015 – NIH K Award Mentoring Committee, University of Virginia School of Medicine 

2022–2023 – Director, UVA Center for Research in Reproduction, University of Virginia School of Medicine 

2024–present – Department of Medicine Vice Chair for Research, West Virginia University School of Medicine 

2025–present – Co-Director, Fellows Research Academy, West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI) 

2026–present – Co-Director, Residents Research Academy, WVCTSI 

Selected institutional honors (research)

2009 – Award for Excellence in Research, University of Virginia School of Medicine 

2012 – Dean’s Faculty Excellence in Research Award, University of Virginia School of Medicine 

Selected national service (other)

2016–2021 – Endocrine Society Clinical Guidelines Committee (Member 2016–2018, Chair 2018–2021) 

2021–2022 – Editorial Board, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) 

2021–2024 – Endocrine Society Guideline Methodologist for clinical practice guideline related to vitamin D deficiency 

2022–2023 – Clinical Science Chair, 2023 Annual Meeting Steering Committee, Endocrine Society 

2023–2024 – Associate Editor (female reproduction) for The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (JCEM) 

2023–2026 – Endocrine Society Guideline Methodologist for clinical practice guideline related to central precocious puberty 

2026–2029 – Ex Officio Member (Board of Directors Liaison), Research Affairs Core Committee, Endocrine Society (3-year term begins June 16)

Publications

Selected Publications

Latronico AC, Roberts SA, Alonzo M, Argente J, Canton APM, Carel J-C, Cassorla F, Charmandari E, Eugster EA, Grandone A, Greenspan LC, Hawse EC, Juul A, Kaplowitz PB, Murad MH, Street ME, Walker V, McCartney CR. Central precocious puberty: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2026 [in press] 

McCartney CR, Pannone AF, Kim SH, Gurka MJ, DeBoer MD, Burt Solorzano CM. Free testosterone independently predicts metabolic syndrome severity in U.S. adolescent girls aged 12–19 years. J Endocr Soc 2026 Mar 11;10(4):bvag055 

Houghton MA‡, McCartney CR‡, Kim SH, Patrie JT, Marshall JC, Burt Solorzano CM. Evidence for functional ovarian hyperandrogenism in early pubertal, but not late pubertal, girls with overweight. ‡ = contributed equally. J Endocr Soc 2025 Oct 1;9(12):bvaf154 

Kim SH, Pannone AF, DeBoer MD, McCartney CR‡, Burt Solorzano CM‡. Obesity is associated with hyperandrogenemia in a nationally representative sample of US girls aged 6 to 18 years. ‡ = contributed equally. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2025;110:e1289–e1290 

McCartney CR, McDonnell ME, Corrigan MD, Lash RW. Vitamin D insufficiency and epistemic humility: an Endocrine Society guideline communication. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024;109:1948–1954 

Ospina NS, Diaz-Thomas A, McDonnell ME, Demay MB, Pittas AG, York E, Corrigan MD, Lash RW, Brito JP, Murad MH, McCartney CR. Navigating complexities: vitamin D, skin pigmentation, and race. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 109: 1955–1960 

Demay MB, Pittas AG, Bikle DD, Diab DL, Kiely ME, Lazaretti-Castro M, Lips P, Mitchell DM, Murad MH, Powers S, Rao SD, Scragg R, Tayek JA, Valent AM, Walsh J, McCartney CR. Vitamin D for the prevention of disease: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024;109:1907–1947 

[Textbook chapter] McCartney CR, Marshall JC. Neuroendocrinology of Reproduction. (Chapter 1) In Strauss JF, Barbieri R, Dokras A, Williams CJ, Williams Z (eds), Yen & Jaffe's Reproductive Endocrinology: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Management, 9th edition, Elsevier, 2023 

McCartney CR, Corrigan MD, Drake MT, El-Hajj Fuleihan G, Korytkowski MT, Lash RW, Lieb DC, McCall AL, Muniyappa R, Piggott T, Santesso N, Schünemann HJ, Wiercioch W, McDonnell ME, Murad MH. Enhancing the trustworthiness of Endocrine Society’s clinical practice guidelines. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022;107(8):2129–2138 

Kim SH, Lundgren JA, Patrie JT, Burt Solorzano CM, McCartney CR. Acute progesterone feedback on gonadotropin secretion is not demonstrably altered in estradiol-pretreated women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Physiol Rep 2022;10:e15233 

McCartney CR, Campbell RE, Marshall JC, Moenter SM. The role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons in polycystic ovary syndrome. J Neuroendocrinol 2022;00:e13093 

[Textbook chapter] McCartney CR. “The Menstrual Cycle and Disorders of Ovulation,” DeGroot’s Endocrinology, 8th edition (Eds., Robertson RP, Giudice LC, Grossman A, Hammer G, Jensen MD, Kahaly GJ, Swerdloff RS, Thakkeret R), Elsevier, 2022 [2026 update in review] 

[Textbook chapter] Baker FC, McCartney CR. “Menstrual Cycle, Sleep, and Circadian Rhythms,” Women and Sleep Section, Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine, 7th edition (Eds., Kryger, Roth, Dement), Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA, 2022 [2026 update in press] 

Burt Solorzano C, McCartney CR. Polycystic ovary syndrome: Ontogeny in adolescence. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am 2021;50:25–42 

McCartney CR, Campbell RE. Abnormal GnRH pulsatility in polycystic ovary syndrome: recent insights. Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research 2020;12:78–84 

McCartney CR, Gianoukakis AG, Gopalakrishnan G, McGill JB, Roach PJ, Siraj ES, True MW. Voluntary adoption of an All In Match Policy in the Medical Specialties Matching Program: advantages and disadvantages. J Grad Med Educ 2019;11(4):378–381 

McCartney CR, Rosen CJ. Conflict of interest in clinical practice guidelines: accelerating an evolution. An Endocrine Society consensus statement. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018;103:4339–4342 

McCartney CR, Burt Solorzano CM, Marshall JC, Haisenleder DJ. Estimating testosterone concentrations in adolescent girls: comparison of two direct immunoassays to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Steroids 2018;140:62–69 

Burt Solorzano CM, Knudsen KL, Anderson AD, Hutchens EG, Collins JS, Patrie JT, Marshall JC, McCartney CR. Insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and LH: relative roles in peripubertal obesity-associated hyperandrogenemia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018;103:2571–2582 

Kim SH, Burt Solorzano CM, McCartney CR. Progesterone administration does not acutely alter LH pulse secretion in the mid-follicular phase in women. Physiol Rep 2018;6(7).pii:e13680 

Lu C, Hutchens EG, Farhi LS, Bonner HG, Suratt PM, McCartney CR. Influence of sleep stage on sleep-associated LH pulse initiation in normal mid- to late follicular phase women and in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Neuroendocrinology 2018;107:60–72 

Kim SH, Lundgren JA, Bhabhra R, Collins JS, Patrie JT, Burt Solorzano CM, Marshall JC, McCartney CR. Progesterone-mediated inhibition of the GnRH pulse generator: differential sensitivity as a function of sleep status. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2018;103:1112–1121 

Hutchens EG, Ramsey KA, Howard LC, Abshire MY, Patrie JT, McCartney CR. Progesterone has rapid positive feedback actions on LH release but fails to reduce LH pulse frequency within 12 hours in estradiol-pretreated women. Physiol Rep 2016 Aug;4(16).pii:e12891 

McCartney CR, Marshall JC. CLINICAL PRACTICE. Polycystic ovary syndrome. N Engl J Med 2016;375:54–64