Tony Babb

Tony Babb, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. He has served on the faculty since 1992 and is actively involved in the UT-STARR research residency program.

His educational background includes:

• Bachelor's degree in biology from Western Kentucky University
• Master's degree in exercise physiology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Doctoral degree in exercise physiology from Pennsylvania State University
• Postdoctoral work in physiology at Pennsylvania State University
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow in thoracic diseases at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine

Dr. Babb's research centers on exercise physiology and pulmonary medicine, with specialized focus on obesity-related respiratory dysfunction, dyspnea mechanisms, and exercise limitations across diverse populations. His work examines breathing patterns in athletes, children, and older adults, investigating how obesity impacts oxygen utilization and ventilatory responses during physical activity. This research bridges clinical pulmonology with exercise science to address cardiopulmonary challenges in weight-related disorders.

Analysis of his publication record (2013-2022) reveals consistent exploration of dyspnea in obesity, ventilatory responses during exercise, and respiratory mechanics in heart failure. His studies frequently employ cardiopulmonary exercise testing across pediatric, adult, and clinical populations, appearing in high-impact journals like the Journal of Applied Physiology and Chest. The work demonstrates interdisciplinary integration of pulmonary medicine, exercise physiology, and obesity research.

His scientific recognition includes:

• 2023 Citation Award from the American College of Sports Medicine
• 2026 Honor Award from the American College of Sports Medicine Texas Chapter

As Principal Investigator, Dr. Babb leads multiple funded research initiatives:

• Lithera, Inc. grant
• Susan Lay Atwell Gift for Pulmonary Research
• Dr. Pepper/Snapple grant
• National Institutes of Health grant

He serves on the Journal of Applied Physiology editorial board and mentors through the UT-STARR program.

He conducts research through the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine (a UT Southwestern-Texas Health Resources collaboration) and maintains active roles in the American College of Sports Medicine (Fellow), American Thoracic Society (Fellow), American Physiological Society, and The Dyspnea Society.