Dr. Matthew R. Benson, MD, FAAP is a board-certified pediatrician, pediatric endocrinologist, and clinical scientist, as well as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Mayo College of Medicine.  He is attending faculty in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at Nemours Children's Health in Jacksonville, FL, and Wolfson Children’s Hospital. His research portfolio is clinical and translational in nature. Most recent efforts included working as a co-investigator on an NIH project funded by NIDDK as a Co-Investigator studying the use of transdisciplinary teams and the impacts of care via tele-medicine and in person formats. He is currently a co-investigator on an NIH project funded by NIDDK to study diabetes distress in those families and children affected by type 1 diabetes mellitus. He is also a Co-Investigator on a NIH grant looking at the neurocognitive effects of type 1 diabetes in young children which is funded for the next 5 years.

His publications have included the establishment of normative data for lipoprotein sub-fractions in lean and obese children, as well as assessment and treatment of nutritional rickets and vitamin D deficiency in Floridian and Alaska Native Children.  He is studying the metabolic effects of human growth hormone treatment on skeletal muscle function in children. He was part of the industry sponsored pivotal trial to develop a new novel subcutaneous formulation of a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist for treatment of central precocious puberty which was FDA approved in 2020 (Fensolvi®). 

Currently, a major focus of his research efforts is now addressing unmet needs in the care of children with diabetes mellitus type 1 (T1D) and 2.  He is part of an international interventional trial studying the use of GLP-1 agonists in pediatric type 2 diabetes for the first time (Pioneer Teens). He is studying artificial pancreas technology by looking at the use of a novel insulin pump known as the ilet® in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (Beta-Bionics™).  He is part of the first pivotal trial (PROTECT trial) using a humanized monoclonal antibody (Teplizumab) to treat children with new onset diabetes mellitus to try and modify the disease by preserving beta cell mass in children 8-17 years only 6 weeks after diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the study (Sanofi) is to determine if T-cell based interference leads these new onset type 1 diabetic children to prolong their own endogenous insulin secretion; thereby reducing their need for insulin injections, have better glucose control and/or fewer complications of T1D, ultimately improving life and outcomes for those children impacted by T1D. He is partnering with industry to improve screening tools for type 1 diabetes with Enable Biosciences. Finally, he is also studying children with a rare form of autosomal dominant hypocalcemia to see the impacts of the disease on their body and to explore new targeted drug treatments impact on their disease state.