Elizabeth N. Pearce MD, MSc
Professor, Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Weight Management
Graduate Medical Sciences Educator and Mentor (Primary Mentor of Graduate Students)
720 Harrison Ave | (617) 414-1348elizabeth.pearce@bmc.org
epearce@bu.edu
Sections
Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Weight Management
Centers
Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
Biography
Dr. Pearce is a renowned clinical investigator, endocrinologist and epidemiologist who has made significant contributions in iodine nutrition, thyroid disease in pregnancy, environmental thyroid disruptors and the association of thyroid function with cardiovascular risk. Her internationally cited publications have changed recommendations in the US for iodine supplementation and iodine use in pregnancy. A past President of the American Thyroid Association (ATA), Dr. Pearce is the recipient of the prestigious Van Meter Award. She has co-chaired the ATA’s Thyroid in Pregnancy Guidelines Task Force. She has been part of the leadership of the Iodine Global Network, a nongovernmental agency devoted to the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders, since 2009.
Education
MD, Harvard Medical School
MS, Boston University School of Public Health
BA, Harvard College
Publications
Pearce EN. What is an optimal serum thyroid-stimulating hormone value in older adults? Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2026 Jun; 14(6):442-443. PMID: 42061391.
Published on 2/16/2026Tarighat-Payma M, Mehran L, Masoumi S, Tohidi M, Amouzegar A, Azizi F, Pearce EN. Long-term natural history of thyroid peroxidase antibodies in a population-based cohort: Findings from 18 years of follow-up in Tehran Thyroid Study (TTS). J Transl Autoimmun. 2026 Jun; 12:100358. PMID: 41755995.
Published on 12/18/2025Nazeri P, Chashmyazdan M, Masoumi M, Bagheri M, Taghva Nakhjiri M, Shafaatdoost M, Pearce EN. A Scoping Review on Iodine Status and Fertility: Results From Human Studies. Nutr Rev. 2025 Dec 18. PMID: 41410984.
Published on 12/2/2025Leung AM, Pearce EN, Brent GA, Köhrle J. Not So Fast: Incomplete Assumptions of Adverse Thyroid Effects from PFAS Exposure. Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Dec 16; 59(49):26313-26315. PMID: 41329804.
Published on 12/2/2025Jang H, Bennett DH, Hoofnagle AN, Pearce EN, Tancredi DJ, Schmidt RJ, Shin HM. Prenatal Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Maternal Thyroid Function during Pregnancy in a Cohort with High Familial Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Environ Sci Technol. 2025 Dec 16; 59(49):26408-26418. PMID: 41329661.
Published on 11/4/2025Yang R, Jin Q, An D, Lv D, Wei Y, Pearce EN, Yang J, Meng D, Zhang J, Gao W, Chen W. A Modified Iodine Balance Study to Explore the Recommended Nutrient Intake of Iodine in Chinese Preschool Children Aged 3 to 6 Years. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2026 May; 204(5):3193-3204. PMID: 41186899.
Published on 10/21/2025Yang R, Lv D, Wang X, An D, Pearce EN, Chen W, Zhang W. Assessment of the association of ??high-iodine?? exposure in drinking water, iodine intake, and thyroid function in 3-14-year-old children. Sci Rep. 2025 Oct 21; 15(1):36625. PMID: 41120333.
Published on 10/10/2025Liu Y, Osinga JAJ, Feldt-Rasmussen U, Vrijkotte TGM, Taylor PN, Aminorroaya A, Ashoor G, Bliddal S, Chen LM, Vaidya B, Palomaki GE, Ghafoor F, López-Bermejo A, Pop VJM, Itoh S, Tao FB, Mosso L, Männistö T, Poppe KG, Pearce EN, Chatzi L, Walsh JP, Popova P, Benhalima K, Nelson SM, Kianpour M, Nicolaides KH, Lu X, Hattersley AT, D'Alton ME, Pirzada A, Bassols J, Broeren MAC, Kishi R, Huang K, Vecchiola A, Boucai L, Vääräsmäki M, Suvanto E, Oken E, Vafeiadi M, Brown SJ, Kleynen P, Grineva EN, Mathieu C, Peeters RP, Derakhshan A, Korevaar TIM. Interpretation of the association between thyroid peroxidase antibodies and thyroid function during pregnancy: An individual participant data meta-analysis. J Autoimmun. 2025 Dec; 157:103491. PMID: 41075377.
Published on 9/1/2025Peng CC, Spiegel BR, Flynn D, Huang HK, Loh CH, Liu PP, Pearce EN. Mortality Risks Associated with Antithyroid Drugs, Radioactive Iodine, and Surgery for Hyperthyroidism: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Thyroid. 2025 Oct; 35(10):1099-1107. PMID: 40891035.
Published on 6/30/2025Osinga JAJ, Derakhshan A, Karachaliou M, Poppe KG, Warringa L, Verdonk K, Vaidya B, Männistö T, López-Bermejo A, Bassols J, Broeren MAC, Brown SJ, Jensen RC, Popova PV, Pop VJM, Feldt-Rasmussen U, Aminorroaya A, Bliddal S, Mosso L, Chatzi L, Boucai L, Itoh S, Kishi R, Kleynen P, Ashoor G, Oken E, Grineva EN, Lu X, Lertxundi A, Murcia M, Meertens-Gunput STG, Rebagliato M, Riaño-Galán I, Irizar A, Vrijheid M, Fernández-Somoano A, Suvanto E, Guxens M, Daraki V, Mathieu C, Kianpour M, Glintborg D, Jensen TK, Alexander E, Chaker L, Malone F, Messerlian G, Hattersley A, Harley KG, Pearce EN, Visser WE, Vrijkotte TGM, Peeters RP, Palomaki GE, Lowe W, Eskenazi B, Chen LM, Walsh JP, Nicolaides KH, Carty DM, Delles C, Tao FB, Huang K, Maraka S, D'Alton ME, Painter RC, Andersen MS, Benhalima K, Korevaar TIM. Association of gestational thyroid function and thyroid autoimmunity with gestational diabetes: a systematic review and individual participant meta-analysis. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2025 Aug; 13(8):651-661. PMID: 40609565.
Media Mentions
Published on 3/1/2026
Is It Safe to Spray Perfume on Your Neck? Doctors Weigh In
Published on 10/29/2025
Iodine Deficiency and Thyroid Disorders
Published on 7/23/2025
3 Iodine Deficiency Symptoms Experts Say You Should Know About
Published on 5/28/2025
Q&A: Research is ‘rapidly evolving’ on endocrine-disrupting chemicals and thyroid health
Published on 12/19/2024
Why is iodine important for my health?
Published on 7/15/2024
Published on 7/2/2024
Thyroid Warning on GLP-1s Could Raise Overdiagnosis Risk
Published on 6/23/2024
Experts Discuss Serious Adverse Events for GLP-1 Medications
Published on 6/20/2024
A call for stronger EDC regulations as more studies establish links to human health
Published on 6/3/2024
View full list of 35 media mentions.