Epidemiology and Community Health
School of Public Health
Twin Cities
Award Year
2023
University Award
Distinguished McKnight University Professors
, Location 15
Novel mechanisms underlying the developmental origins of health and disease
Ellen W. Demerath’s unique evolutionary perspective on human health has helped elucidate how genetic, epigenetic, and nutritional determinants shape disease risk at critical developmental periods. Her team is critically advancing nutritional approaches to improving outcomes for preterm infants and has established one of the largest and most comprehensive studies of human milk, a key player in intergenerational health. Her impact has been felt across a range of disciplines, from genetic epidemiology to maternal and child nutrition.