Current research goals: Developing a new exercise protocol for obese and/or elderly individuals to functional fitness, metabolic profiles, and body composition. This protocol will feature resistance training and muscle biogenesis.Dr. Blackburn serves as Professor of Surgery and Nutrition, Associate Director of the Division of Nutrition, and is the first incumbent of the S. Daniel Abraham chair in Nutrition Medicine at Harvard Medical School.He is the Director of the Center for the Study of Nutrition Medicine, and Chief of the Nutritional/Metabolism Laboratory, which are affiliated with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.The Center for the Study of Nutrition Medicine (CSNM) has 30-years of extensive experience conducting longitudinal studies particularly in multicenter settings. It is well equipped with the infrastructure to develop clinical investigation and outcomes assessment. The CSNM provides sophisticated, scientific nutrition interventions that are utilized to support research, training and patient care. The CSNM mission is in line with the medical center's “bench-to-bedside” mission. We are constantly striving to address today’s health challenges in nutrition medicine with innovative strategies.The Nutrition/Metabolism laboratory has a priority to investigate the most complex issues dealing with nutrition and health. I have trained over 100 fellows in applied and clinical nutrition and has published widely on various aspects of nutrition, medicine, and metabolism, with over 400 publications to date. Dr. Blackburn is on the editorial board of and a reviewer for numerous journals including, the Journal of the American Medical Association, New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, American Journal of Public Health, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, International Journal of Obesity.Specialties: Nutrition Medicine, Weight Loss Surgery