The FAC represents a strategic interdisciplinary alliance between the Muscle Mechanics and Metabolomics Laboratory, the Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Physical Performance and the Health and Disability Research Institute at Boston University and the Nutrition, Exercise Physiology and Sarcopenia Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. The core provides standardized, state-of-the-art technologies to measure muscle performance, functional limitations, and disability in human and animal studies for OAIC’s pilot and exploratory projects and for several OAIC related projects funded through other sources.
Core Director
Roger A. Fielding, PhD
Tufts University School of Medicine
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Associate Director, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
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Senior Scientist and Team Lead, Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Team, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University
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Professor of Nutrition, Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
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Professor of Medicine Tufts University School of Medicine
Download Dr. Fielding’s biosketch
Dr. Fielding is an internationally known researcher who studies the underlying mechanisms contributing to the age-associated decline in skeletal muscle mass, the resultant impact on function, and the potential role of exercise and physical activity on attenuating this process. Dr. Fielding has a strong record of NIH funding and oversaw the development of the interventions for the LIFE (Lifestyle Interventions for Elders) Pilot study and served as the Chair of the LIFE Intervention and Operations Committee. He also is a co-investigator and chair of the Body Composition Analysis committee for the NIA-funded “Calerie” trial.
Core Co-Director
Kieran F. Reid PhD, MPH
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Harvard Medical School
- Director, Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Physical Performance, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
- Associate Director of the Function Assessment Core, Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center
Dr. Kieran F. Reid, PhD, MPH, is the Director of the Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Physical Performance at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Reid also serves as the Associate Director of the Function Assessment Core at the Boston Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center. He has extensive training and experience in conducting clinical trials to assess and restore physical function in aging humans. Dr. Reid has also successfully implemented several award-winning community-based exercise and nutrition interventions to enhance physical and cognitive performance in older adults. In addition to his undergraduate studies in Exercise Physiology, Dr. Reid possesses an MPH degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Tufts University and a PhD degree in Clinical Research from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
Services
- Assess gas exchange breath-by-breath for measurement of aerobic capacity (), the gas exchange lactate threshold, work efficiency, endurance, and total work.
- Provide incremental work rate tests on cycle and/or treadmill.
- Measure voluntary muscle strength, power, and fatigability.
- Integrated EMG (iEMG) for amplitude of muscle contraction at varying loads and provides power spectrum analysis for measures of fatigue and total work.
- Speed during of physical function assessments such as stair climbing, gait speed and load carries.