This article reviews translational research in endocrine surgery, with a focus on disorders of the thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, and endocrine pancreas. Discovery of genes responsible for heritable endocrine cancer syndromes, including MEN1, MEN2, von Hippel-Lindau, Neurofibromatosis, and Familial Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma syndromes, has increased knowledge of the causes and mechanisms of endocrine cancer and refined surgical treatment options. Knowledge of mutations in sporadic cancer, such as BRAF in thyroid cancer, has led to rapid progress in small-molecule kinase inhibitor strategies. These breakthroughs and their influence on current endocrine therapy are discussed to provide endocrine surgeons with an overview of the basic science research currently creating new clinical treatments and improving patient care.