Relevant scientific achievements
Mirjam Christ-Crain has made pioneering contribution in the development of new diagnostic
and therapeutic options in the area of vasopressin-dependent fluid disorders, i.e. central
Diabetes insipidus or, as the international working group chaired by Mirjam Christ-Crain has
renamed it, Arginine Vasopressin-Deficiency (AVP-D), and the syndrome of inappropriate
antidiuresis (SIAD). There are few clinician scientists who have had such an impact in their
field, and where their research has led so quickly to direct patient benefit, worldwide.
In the field of AVP-D, she directed several multicenter studies to improve the differential
diagnosis of AVP-D using copeptin. In a large study in 11 centers worldwide, she showed a
higher diagnostic accuracy of osmotically-stimulated copeptin compared to the waterdeprivation-
test. In other large studies, she showed that arginine non-osmotically stimulates
copeptin with similar accuracy but better tolerability. Recently, she showed in another
multicenter study that hypertonic saline is superior to arginine-stimulated copeptin. Based on
her studies, measurement of copeptin upon hypertonic saline-stimulation is now the
reference-standard. Her outstanding credentials are reflected by her being selected as cochair
for the forthcoming ES/ESE Clinical Practice Guidelines for vasopressin-related disorders
and the fact that she authors the chapters on the posterior pituitary in the major textbooks,
including Williams, Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine and UptoDate.
She also showed that many patients with AVP-D suffer from psychological problems. Her data
using a novel stimulation-test indicate oxytocin deficiency in AVP-D providing evidence for a
new human disorder. She now conducts a trial evaluating the effect of oxytocin treatment on
psychological comorbidities in AVP-D.
Dr Christ-Crain has simultaneously investigated novel treatments for SIAD. Her approach has
been to induce osmotic diuresis by using SGLT2 inhibitors, with controlled trial data
demonstrating benefit. These studies create a new paradigm of treatment for this common
condition, that may be implemented across the globe.
Most Important Awards and Honors
· Otto Naegeli Prize for Medical Research 2024
· Taft Lecturer at the Endocrine Society of Australia’s Annual Scientific Meeting, November 2021
· Trust visiting professor, British Endocrine Society, Nov 2022, postponed (COVID) to June 2022
· Award of the European Society of Endocrinology for young investigators (below 45 years of age) 2019, Annual European Endocrine Conference in Lyon, May 2019
· Bebbi Award 2012 of the city of Basel
· National Latsis Award 2009
· SULM (Swiss Union for Laboratory Medicine) presidential Award 2008
· Amerbach Award 2007 for best habilitation of medical faculty (University of Basel)
· Servier Award Clinical Endocrinology 2007
· Swiss Society of Internal Medicine (SGIM) Award 2007
· Viollier Award 2005
· Pfizer Award 2005 for best clinical research paper in infectious diseases
· Matura-Preis (Bachelor’s Award) Humanistisches Gymnasium Basel 1993