About
Dr. Michelle Lampl is the Charles Howard Candler Professor at Emory University and Director of the Emory Center for the Study of Human Health. She holds leadership roles in the Emory-Georgia Tech Predictive Health Initiative and the Center for Health Discovery & Well Being. Her academic career spans over three decades, with a focus on human growth and development from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Dr. Lampl earned her PhD (1983) and MD (1989) from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research revolutionized understanding of growth patterns through her discovery of saltatory growth (spurt-based growth cycles). Current studies investigate genetic/environmental interactions influencing growth, including hormonal, nutritional, and immunological networks.
Her research portfolio includes collaborations with international institutions like the University of Southampton (UK) and NIH-funded projects through NICHD. Over 100 peer-reviewed publications highlight her contributions to developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD), fetal programming, and pediatric growth mechanisms.
Dr. Lampl pioneered the undergraduate College programs in human health and co-developed Emory’s Predictive Health strategic plan. She launched the Predictive Health & Society minor and contributes to the Molecules to Mankind graduate program. Her awards include AAAS Fellowship (2010) and Emory’s top teaching honor.
Key areas of impact:
- Established growth chart limitations through saltation theory
- Linked maternal nutrition to fetal growth trajectories
- Advocated for interdisciplinary health education
