Philip E. Cryer

Philip E. Cryer was an American endocrinologist and physician-scientist known for his research on catecholamine physiology, glucose counter-regulation, and hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure, also known as Cryer Syndrome, in diabetes. He spent his career at Washington University School of Medicine where he directed both the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism & Lipid Research and the General Clinical Research Center.

Early life and education

Philip Cryer was born on January 5, 1940 and grew up in El Paso, Illinois. His father was a physician. He completed his undergraduate education at Northwestern University in 1965. He completed residency and endocrinology fellowship training at Washington University School of Medicine and joined its faculty in 1971.

Research career

At Washington University, Cryer developed a highly sensitive single-isotope derivative method for measuring catecholamines in human plasma, improving the study of the human sympathoadrenal system. Using this assay, he and cardiology collaborators at Washington University examined catecholamine release during acute myocardial infarction, showing that elevated plasma catecholamines correlated with infarct size and mortality.
Cryer later shifted focus to the physiology of glucose counter-regulation—how hormonal responses restore blood glucose during hypoglycemia—and discovered that repeated hypoglycemia blunts this defense. He coined the term hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure to describe this condition.

Leadership and service

Cryer served as Director of the General Clinical Research Center and the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at Washington University. He was President of the American Diabetes Association.

Death

Cryer died on February 24, 2024 at age 84 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Honors

Banting Medal, awarded to Cryer in 1994 by the American Diabetes Association for his work on hypoglycemia and glucose counter regulation
Claude Bernard Medal / Prize, awarded by the European Association for the Study of Diabetes
Kellion Award, awarded by the Australian Diabetes Society
Albert Renold Award, awarded to Cryer by the American Diabetes Association in 2010 for his mentorship efforts
David Rumbaugh Scientific Award, awarded to Cryer by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
William H. Rorer Clinical Investigator Award, awarded by The Endocrine Society
Honorary Doctorate from the University of Copenhagen

Personal life

Cryer was married to Carolyn Elizabeth Havlin-Cryer until her death. She died on April 23, 2023, at the age of 80, in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Selected publications

Karlsberg R. P., Cryer P. E., Roberts R.. “Serial plasma catecholamine response early in acute myocardial infarction.” American Heart Journal 102 : 24–31. .
Cryer P. E.. “Hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure in diabetes.” Diabetes 54 : 3592–3601. .
Cryer P. E.. “Mechanisms of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure in diabetes.” New England Journal of Medicine 369 : 362–372. .