A groundbreaking European initiative is mapping the future of hormone science, one life stage at a time.
Imagine tiny chemical messengers coursing through your bloodstream, directing everything from your height and hunger to your mood and metabolism. This intricate network, known as the endocrine system, operates as the master conductor of the human body, orchestrating complex biological symphonies from before birth through old age. Yet, despite its fundamental role, the science of hormone health has long been underfunded and fragmented.
The endocrine system comprises glands that produce hormones regulating growth, metabolism, reproduction, mood, and much more.
Enter EndoCompass, a bold joint initiative by the European Society of Endocrinology and the European Society of Paediatric Endocrinology. Launched in October 2025, this ambitious project serves as a strategic roadmap to guide endocrine research for the next decade, ensuring that hormone health finally receives the attention it deserves in the quest for lifelong wellbeing 1 6 .
EndoCompass represents one of the most comprehensive collaborations in modern endocrinology, developed over two years by 228 clinical and scientific experts across Europe, alongside nine patient advocacy groups and ten partner societies 6 .
"We hope it can inspire all those working in endocrinology to ensure that research focuses on the highest priority questions. More broadly, we hope that the EndoCompass project raises awareness of the importance of endocrinology among policymakers, funding agencies and the public..."
The analysis particularly emphasizes the importance of studying critical developmental windows and transgenerational effects, recognizing that hormonal influences early in life can resonate across decades and even generations 1 .
The endocrine system does not operate in a static environment—its functions and challenges evolve dramatically as we progress through life. EndoCompass places special emphasis on understanding these transitions and their implications for health and disease.
Hormonal regulation begins its profound influence even before birth. The EndoCompass project highlights the significance of early-life development, noting that exposures during critical windows can have lifelong health consequences 1 .
This period involves rapid growth and development driven by complex hormonal interactions. Growth hormone, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones all play critical roles in physical and cognitive development.
Hormonal systems maintain homeostasis, regulating metabolism, reproduction, stress response, and numerous other physiological processes.
The social dimension of endocrine health becomes increasingly important. Research found that socially isolated older adults (aged 60-84) were 34% more likely to have diabetes and 75% more likely to have poor blood sugar control than their socially connected counterparts 2 .
Aging brings natural changes to the endocrine system, but understanding which changes are normal versus which are pathological remains a key challenge. The endocrine system appears to play a paradoxical role in aging—on one hand, certain hormonal pathways accelerate aging processes, while others may offer protection.
Research into centenarians and inhabitants of "Blue Zones" has revealed fascinating endocrine patterns. These long-lived individuals often show particular hormonal characteristics, including low IGF-1 levels and elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 7 .
While GH levels naturally decline with age—decreasing approximately 15% every decade after age 30—the relationship between GH and aging is not straightforward . Some studies suggest benefits of replacement, while others show deficiency may extend healthspan.
A compelling study presented at ENDO 2025 provides a powerful example of the complex interplay between social factors and endocrine health.
more likely to have diabetes diagnosis
more likely to have poor blood sugar control (A1c>8%)
"Our findings underscore the importance for clinicians to recognize social isolation as a critical social determinant of health when caring for older patients." 2
The study's authors emphasized that while their cross-sectional findings demonstrate a clear association, future "prospective research is needed to examine causal relationships and temporality" 2 . This perfectly illustrates how EndoCompass aims to guide research priorities—by identifying compelling associations that merit deeper investigation across the lifespan.
The research also underscores the importance of EndoCompass's emphasis on integrated approaches that consider psychological, social, and biological factors. A lifespan approach to endocrinology must account for how social connections—or lack thereof—interact with hormonal regulation at different life stages, particularly in older adulthood when social networks often shrink.
Modern endocrine research relies on sophisticated tools to measure and manipulate hormonal pathways. These reagents enable scientists to unravel the complex interactions that EndoCompass seeks to understand across the human lifespan.
Measure hormones, cytokines, and related biomarkers from various sample matrices. Used for quantifying steroid hormones, peptide hormones, and proteins in serum, plasma, and other biological samples 8 .
Detect and quantify specific endocrine targets. Used for identifying hormone receptors, tracking hormone distribution, and blocking specific pathways in experimental models 5 .
Provide purified hormones and signaling molecules. Used for studying hormone-receptor interactions, pathway activation, and developing calibration standards for assays 5 .
These tools have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of endocrine systems. For instance, immunoassays for insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP-3) play crucial roles in diagnosing growth disturbances and understanding the GH/IGF-1 axis's role in aging 8 .
The EndoCompass project arrives at a critical juncture in our understanding of human health. By mapping the intricate journey of hormone regulation from conception to old age, this ambitious initiative promises to reshape medical research and clinical practice for decades to come. Its lifespan approach acknowledges what leading endocrinologists have long understood—that our hormonal systems tell a continuous story, with each chapter influencing the next.
Integrating pediatric and adult endocrinology
Focus on practical patient outcomes
Hundreds of experts united around a shared vision
"It reflects a shared recognition of the urgent need to align our research priorities and work together to shape the future of endocrine science and deliver better care and outcomes for patients."
In the end, the greatest promise of EndoCompass may lie in its potential to help each of us navigate our own hormonal journeys more successfully, achieving not just longer lives but healthier, more vibrant ones at every age.