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Babette S. Zemel, PhD
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Research Professor of Pediatrics (Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition)
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Director, Nutrition and Growth Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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Co-Director, Clinical Grant Proposal Success program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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Department: Pediatrics
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Graduate Group Affiliations
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- Anthropology e
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Contact information
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Division of GI, Hepatology and Nutrition
2f The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2d Roberts Center for Pediatric Research
50 2716 South Street, 14th Floor/Room 14471
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399
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2f The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2d Roberts Center for Pediatric Research
50 2716 South Street, 14th Floor/Room 14471
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399
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Office: 215-590-1669
3e Lab: 215-313-4299
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3e Lab: 215-313-4299
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Email:
ZEMEL@EMAIL.CHOP.EDU
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ZEMEL@EMAIL.CHOP.EDU
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Publications
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Links
b7 Search PubMed for articles
69 Pediatric Z-Score Calculator
175 Metabolism, Nutrition and Physical Development Research Affinity Group, The Research Institute, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
9f Growth charts for children with Down syndrome
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b7 Search PubMed for articles
69 Pediatric Z-Score Calculator
175 Metabolism, Nutrition and Physical Development Research Affinity Group, The Research Institute, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
9f Growth charts for children with Down syndrome
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Education:
21 9 B.A. 19 (Anthropology) c
33 University of Pennsylvania, 1979.
21 9 M.A. 19 (Anthropology) c
33 University of Pennsylvania, 1985.
21 a Ph.D. 19 (Anthropology) c
33 University of Pennsylvania, 1989.
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Permanent link21 9 B.A. 19 (Anthropology) c
33 University of Pennsylvania, 1979.
21 9 M.A. 19 (Anthropology) c
33 University of Pennsylvania, 1985.
21 a Ph.D. 19 (Anthropology) c
33 University of Pennsylvania, 1989.
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22f Her research program has advanced understanding of bone mineral accretion from early childhood through adulthood, and the effects of growth, muscle development, physical activity, diet and genetics on bone health during this critical life phase. She also conducts research in childhood body composition and health outcomes in the general population and in children with chronic diseases, including Down syndrome, sickle cell disease, children with kidney disease, cardiac malformations, cancer survivors, inflammatory bowel disease and type 2 diabetes.
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Description of Research Expertise
306 Dr. Zemel is a Biological Anthropologist by training, and Professor of Pediatrics at The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Her overall research program aims to improve understanding of lifelong health and how it relates to childhood antecedents of physical growth and maturation, body composition, population ancestry/genetics, and lifestyle factors including diet and physical activity. Such understanding has public health implications for disease prevention and lifelong wellness, and addresses concerns for children across a wide spectrum of chronic diseases who experience impaired growth, altered body composition and limitations in nutrition and physical activity.22f Her research program has advanced understanding of bone mineral accretion from early childhood through adulthood, and the effects of growth, muscle development, physical activity, diet and genetics on bone health during this critical life phase. She also conducts research in childhood body composition and health outcomes in the general population and in children with chronic diseases, including Down syndrome, sickle cell disease, children with kidney disease, cardiac malformations, cancer survivors, inflammatory bowel disease and type 2 diabetes.
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1e1 Shirley Bezerra M, Zemel BS, Gallop RJ, Walega R, Donaldson SH, Frederick CA, Freedman SD, Gelfond D, Hoffman LR, Narkewicz MR, Rowe SM, Sagel SD, Schwarzenberg SJ, Solomon GM, Chan CL, Kelly A; PROMISE Endocrine Sub-study Group.: Longitudinal changes in bone mineral density after initiation of elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor in youth and adults with cystic fibrosis: PROMISE-ENDO. J Cyst Fibros Jan 2026.
13a Kelly A, Arputhan A, Zemel BS, Gidding SS, Townsend RR, Magge SN.: Arterial Stiffness and Central Hemodynamics in South Asian, African American, and White Adolescents and Young Adults-The Charisma Study. Am J Hypertens 39: 134-142, Jan 2026.
109 Decker JE, Morales K, Moll E, Husain S, Vajravelu ME, Jansen EC, Zemel BS, Mitchell JA.: Changes in Adolescent Diet Quality During the Middle to High School Transition. J Nutr Educ Behav 2026.
150 Ziolkowski SL, Long J, Nickolas TL, Bender S, Goral S, Zemel BS, Rajapakse CS, Dienemann T, Leonard MB.: Corticosteroid, Parathyroid Hormone, and Body Composition Associations With Bone Density and Structure Following Kidney Transplantation. Am J Kidney Dis 2026.
242 Trang KB, Sharma P, Cook L, Mount Z, Thomas RM, Kulkarni NN, Cabrera EC, Rachimi S, Pahl MC, Pippin JA, Su C, Kaestner KH, O'Brien JM, Wagley Y, Hankenson KD, Jermusyk A, Hoskins JW, Amundadottir LT, Xu M, Brown KM, Anderson SA, Yang W, Titchenell PM, Seale P, Zemel BS, Chesi A, Romberg N, Levings MK, Grant SFA, Wells AD.: 3D chromatin-based variant-to-gene maps across 57 human cell types reveal the cellular and genetic architecture of autoimmune disease susceptibility. Genome Biol 26: 414, Dec 2025.
16f Mitchell JA, Bradfield J, McCormack SE, Chesi A, Kalkwarf HJ, Lappe JM, Oberfield SE, Duren DL, Shepherd JA, Hankenson KD, Kelly A, Hakonarson H, Grant SFA, Zemel BS.: The gSOS polygenic score is associated with bone density and fracture risk in childhood. J Bone Miner Res 41: 15-24, Dec 2025.
1a9 Lo Re V 3rd, Carbonari DM, Newcomb CW, Torgersen J, Weinstein EJ, Smith SM, Brecker KL, Liu XS, Kostman JR, Trooskin S, Hubbard RA, Baker JF, Zemel BS, Leonard MB.: Changes in Bone Microarchitecture and Inflammatory Cytokines After Cure of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection With Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy. Open Forum Infect Dis 12: ofaf571, Sep 2025.
1ba Torgersen J, Newcomb CW, Carbonari DM, Smith SM, Brecker KL, Rajapakse CS, Jones BC, Cottrell C, Grewal R, Price JC, Baker JF, Kostman JR, Trooskin S, Hubbard RA, Zemel BS, Leonard MB, Lo Re Iii V.: Magnetic resonance evaluation of three-dimensional liver fat fraction by hepatitis C status and associations with inflammatory cytokines. PLoS One 20: e0327668, Jul 2025.
14b Shypailo RJ, Calarge C, Saha PK, Zhang X, Chen X, Dinh S, Huang X, Zemel BS, Bacha F.: High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography reliability and accuracy of bone density and morphology properties in children. JBMR Plus 9: ziaf106, Jun 2025.
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Selected Publications
14f Hantsoo L, Ford E, Friedman ES, Hao F, Patterson AD, Bittinger K, Wu GD, Zemel BS, Tanes C.: The impact of adverse childhood experiences on gut microbiota and markers of inflammation is mediated by obesity and depression. Brain Behav Immun 134: 106479, Feb 2026.1e1 Shirley Bezerra M, Zemel BS, Gallop RJ, Walega R, Donaldson SH, Frederick CA, Freedman SD, Gelfond D, Hoffman LR, Narkewicz MR, Rowe SM, Sagel SD, Schwarzenberg SJ, Solomon GM, Chan CL, Kelly A; PROMISE Endocrine Sub-study Group.: Longitudinal changes in bone mineral density after initiation of elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor in youth and adults with cystic fibrosis: PROMISE-ENDO. J Cyst Fibros Jan 2026.
13a Kelly A, Arputhan A, Zemel BS, Gidding SS, Townsend RR, Magge SN.: Arterial Stiffness and Central Hemodynamics in South Asian, African American, and White Adolescents and Young Adults-The Charisma Study. Am J Hypertens 39: 134-142, Jan 2026.
109 Decker JE, Morales K, Moll E, Husain S, Vajravelu ME, Jansen EC, Zemel BS, Mitchell JA.: Changes in Adolescent Diet Quality During the Middle to High School Transition. J Nutr Educ Behav 2026.
150 Ziolkowski SL, Long J, Nickolas TL, Bender S, Goral S, Zemel BS, Rajapakse CS, Dienemann T, Leonard MB.: Corticosteroid, Parathyroid Hormone, and Body Composition Associations With Bone Density and Structure Following Kidney Transplantation. Am J Kidney Dis 2026.
242 Trang KB, Sharma P, Cook L, Mount Z, Thomas RM, Kulkarni NN, Cabrera EC, Rachimi S, Pahl MC, Pippin JA, Su C, Kaestner KH, O'Brien JM, Wagley Y, Hankenson KD, Jermusyk A, Hoskins JW, Amundadottir LT, Xu M, Brown KM, Anderson SA, Yang W, Titchenell PM, Seale P, Zemel BS, Chesi A, Romberg N, Levings MK, Grant SFA, Wells AD.: 3D chromatin-based variant-to-gene maps across 57 human cell types reveal the cellular and genetic architecture of autoimmune disease susceptibility. Genome Biol 26: 414, Dec 2025.
16f Mitchell JA, Bradfield J, McCormack SE, Chesi A, Kalkwarf HJ, Lappe JM, Oberfield SE, Duren DL, Shepherd JA, Hankenson KD, Kelly A, Hakonarson H, Grant SFA, Zemel BS.: The gSOS polygenic score is associated with bone density and fracture risk in childhood. J Bone Miner Res 41: 15-24, Dec 2025.
1a9 Lo Re V 3rd, Carbonari DM, Newcomb CW, Torgersen J, Weinstein EJ, Smith SM, Brecker KL, Liu XS, Kostman JR, Trooskin S, Hubbard RA, Baker JF, Zemel BS, Leonard MB.: Changes in Bone Microarchitecture and Inflammatory Cytokines After Cure of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection With Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy. Open Forum Infect Dis 12: ofaf571, Sep 2025.
1ba Torgersen J, Newcomb CW, Carbonari DM, Smith SM, Brecker KL, Rajapakse CS, Jones BC, Cottrell C, Grewal R, Price JC, Baker JF, Kostman JR, Trooskin S, Hubbard RA, Zemel BS, Leonard MB, Lo Re Iii V.: Magnetic resonance evaluation of three-dimensional liver fat fraction by hepatitis C status and associations with inflammatory cytokines. PLoS One 20: e0327668, Jul 2025.
14b Shypailo RJ, Calarge C, Saha PK, Zhang X, Chen X, Dinh S, Huang X, Zemel BS, Bacha F.: High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography reliability and accuracy of bone density and morphology properties in children. JBMR Plus 9: ziaf106, Jun 2025.
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