HUMAN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY & HEALTH LAB

The Urlacher Lab @ Baylor University

We investigate the evolved bio-energetic pathways that drive variation in human development, metabolism & health

Our biocultural approach integrates field and laboratory methods spanning several disciplines. We develop new models and methods, test hypotheses, and strive to reduce health disparities.

Our research lies at the intersection of the fields of human biology, behavioral ecology, evolutionary medicine, and global health. We are particularly interested in how children adaptively allocate calories to competing physiological tasks (e.g., growth, immune activity, brain development) and the impact of early adversity on lifetime metabolic disease risk.

Graduate lab member, Marcela Pfaff Nash, receives NSF DDRIG grant ($34,999) to study differences in intestinal energy absorption among children in an Indigenous Amazonian population living in rural and peri-urban communities.

HEBHL members publish review on the demographic and ecological drivers of variation in subadult oxidative stress.

HEBHL and collaborators receive CIFAR Catalyst grant ($39,467) to study the effects of the transition from informal settlements to subsidized housing on Chilean children’s growth development.

MEET THE TEAM

Recent Key Publications

The energetics of childhood: Current knowledge and insights into human variation, evolution, and health

Urlacher SS. (2023)

Yearbook of Biological Anthropology

Minimally invasive biomarkers in human and non–human primate evolutionary biology: Tools for understanding variation and adaptation.

Urlacher SS, Kim LY, Luan T, Young L, Adjetey B. (2022)

American Journal of Human Biology

Childhood Daily Energy Expenditure Does Not Decrease with Market Integration and Is Not Related to Adiposity in Amazonia

Urlacher et al. (2021)

The Journal of Nutrition

Outreach

We are passionate about sharing our research findings and improving our communities through science education and outreach.

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