Karel Pacak

Karel Pacak is the leading NIH authority on pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma who has made foundational contributions to the molecular classification and management of these rare adrenal tumors. His laboratory pioneered the molecular classification of PPGL into pseudohypoxia, kinase signaling, and Wnt signaling clusters based on underlying driver mutations (SDH, VHL, RET, NF1, TMEM127). Pacak has developed enhanced approaches to biochemical diagnosis using fractionated metanephrines and 3-methoxytyramine, and has contributed to development of 18F-FDOPA and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET imaging for PPGL staging. He leads the NIH PPGL registry and molecular profiling program.