Hormones influence human health from early development through aging, shaping metabolism, growth, reproduction and overall physiological balance. As scientific understanding of hormonal regulation continues to evolve, coordinated efforts across research, clinical care and policy are becoming increasingly important.
In an interview with Xtalks, Helen Gresgon, Chief Executive Officer of the European Society of Endocrinology (ESE), outlined how the organization is working to strengthen endocrinology across Europe, from influencing legislation and guiding research priorities to expanding education and patient engagement initiatives.
Chief Executive Officer
European Society of Endocrinology (ESE)
At its core, ESE is focused on bringing together the diverse stakeholders shaping endocrine science and care. “ESE exists to advance endocrinology in almost every single forum,” Helen explained. “We bring endocrinologists, scientists, nurses and patient advocacy groups together across the endocrine community with a focus on Europe.”
The society’s membership reflects the breadth of the field, spanning clinicians, basic researchers and professionals working across both domains, as well as nurses and patient advocacy organizations. In addition, ESE connects more nearly 50 national endocrine societies across Europe alongside specialist and international partner groups. Through this pan-European network, the organization aims to strengthen knowledge exchange and ultimately improve endocrine health outcomes.
Expanding Policy Influence in Key Endocrine Areas
While ESE has been active in education and scientific exchange since its formation two decades ago, its policy engagement has accelerated significantly over the past six to seven years. Today, policy initiatives represent a cornerstone of the organization’s activities.
ESE’s policy priorities focus on four major areas: obesity, endocrine-related cancers, rare endocrine diseases and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Among these, advocacy related to endocrine-disrupting chemicals has emerged as a major focus in Brussels, where the society works to influence legislation aimed at reducing population exposure to harmful environmental substances.
This issue is especially important because of its long-term biological implications. As Helen noted, “endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which affect us all, have implications from pre-birth to old age.” The life-course impact of hormonal disruption underscores the need for preventive public health strategies and coordinated regulatory action.
In parallel, ESE collaborates closely with the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) to address endocrine health across different life stages. While ESE’s primary emphasis is adult care, ESPE focuses on children, enabling joint initiatives that support continuity of care and shared policy objectives.
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EndoCompass and the Need for Broader Research Funding
A major recent milestone for the Society is the publication of EndoCompass, a scientific initiative that maps future research priorities across endocrine disciplines. The project aims to guide both scientific investment and policy by identifying areas where research funding is most urgently needed.
“Endocrinology as a whole is really quite underfunded compared to other disciplines,” Helen said, noting that European funding streams often concentrate on diabetes research while hundreds of rare endocrine disorders receive limited support.
By translating EndoCompass findings into policy recommendations, ESE hopes to strengthen funding allocations for research programs, workforce development and clinical infrastructure. This integrated approach reflects a broader strategy to ensure that advances in endocrine science translate into measurable improvements in patient care.
Education, Awareness and Patient Engagement
Education remains a foundational pillar of ESE’s work. The Society delivers an expanding portfolio of training programs across the spectrum of endocrine science and clinical practice. The European Congress of Endocrinology (ECE) 2026, which will be held in Prague this year, serves as a key forum for sharing emerging research and clinical insights.
Public engagement initiatives are also gaining momentum. World Hormone Day, observed on April 24, has become a central awareness campaign designed to highlight the role of hormonal health in everyday wellbeing. Initially launched as European Hormone Day, the initiative has since expanded globally, reflecting growing international recognition of endocrine health issues.
Patient involvement has likewise become increasingly central to the Society’s strategy. ESE now works with nearly 30 patient organizations, integrating patient perspectives into guideline development, conference programming and broader policy initiatives. This collaborative model aims to ensure that clinical recommendations and research priorities reflect real-world needs.
Collaboration Across National and International Networks
Collaboration with national endocrine societies is particularly important for policy implementation. While European-level legislation plays a role, many healthcare decisions are made at national levels. ESE therefore supports member societies in advocating for policy change within their own countries.
The Society also works with broader alliances such as the BioMed Alliance, a pan-European network of approximately 40 medical societies addressing cross-disciplinary policy challenges. Through this forum, ESE contributes to joint positions on issues including the European Health Data Space and emerging approaches to AI in healthcare.
Participation in European Medicines Agency (EMA) working groups further strengthens the Society’s impact on regulatory discussions relevant to endocrine therapies and clinical development pathways.
Workforce, Drug Shortages and Strategic Planning
Looking ahead, several large-scale initiatives are expected to shape ESE’s impact in the coming years. One ongoing project evaluates drug shortages across Europe, an issue affecting treatment continuity in endocrine care.
Another major effort is the State of Endocrinology workforce survey, a comprehensive analysis examining workforce distribution, gender representation, salary structures and work-life balance across European countries. By analyzing thousands of data points, the society aims to identify structural inequalities and propose targeted policy solutions.
Findings from these initiatives will be integrated with EndoCompass research priorities into a unified policy recommendations document. This consolidated framework is intended to guide stakeholders ranging from clinicians and researchers to policymakers and healthcare administrators.
At an organizational level, Helen said ESE is also preparing its next strategic plan for 2027 to 2031, building on lessons learned during its current planning cycle.
Supporting Hormone Health Through Collective Action
For Helen, advancing endocrine health requires coordinated engagement across the broader life sciences ecosystem. Hormonal regulation influences virtually every aspect of human biology, making awareness-raising and cross-sector collaboration essential components of long-term progress.
She emphasized that even relatively simple actions can help amplify the Society’s mission. “Good hormone health affects everyone. We’ve all got hormones, right?” she said, pointing to opportunities for stakeholders to share educational resources such as those in the World Hormone Day toolkit or to involve ESE experts in scientific and policy discussions.
As endocrine science continues to evolve, organizations such as ESE are playing an increasingly strategic role in aligning research priorities, regulatory advocacy and public engagement. Through strengthened collaboration across disciplines and regions, ESE aims to ensure that advances in hormone science translate into meaningful health benefits for populations across Europe and globally.
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