Fredrick
J. Stare Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard University
Director,
Boston Nutrition Obesity Research Center (BNORC) Epidemiology and Genetics Core
Fellow of
National Academy of Medicine
Prof. Hu’s
research has focused on diet/lifestyle, metabolic, and genetic determinants of
obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Prof.Hu’s group has
conducted detailed analyses of many dietary and lifestyle factors and risk of
diabetes and CVD, including sugar-sweetened beverages, coffee, red meat,
saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, iron, and dietary patterns. These
findings have contributed to current public health recommendations and policies
for prevention of chronic diseases. Prof. Hu’s group has also identified
novel biomarkers (e.g., adipokines and nutrient metabolites) and
gene-environment interactions in relation to risk of obesity and diabetes by
integrating cutting-edge omics technologies into epidemiological studies
(Systems Epidemiology approach). In addition, Prof. Hu has been collaborating
with researchers from China to study nutrition transition, metabolic
phenotypes, and cardiovascular disease in Chinese populations. Prof. Hu
served on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, USDA/HHS. He is
currently on the editorial/advisory board of Lancet Diabetes &
Endocrinology, Diabetes Care, and Clinical Chemistry. Dr. Hu was elected to the
National Academy of Medicine (formerly the IOM) in 2015.