Dr. Silver joined the VICC in fall 2003. Her current research targets the role of inflammation on the clinical outcome of skeletal muscle wasting in solid tumor patients. She has conducted prior studies on nutrient intake, nutritional status, body composition, energy expenditure, and health outcomes of cancer and its treatment in head and neck cancer patients - primarily those patients on tube feedings and those consuming liquid oral nutrition supplements. Previously, she was a Research Assistant Professor at Florida International University's Center on Nutrition and Aging following completion of her doctoral degree. Dr. Silver's prior research targeted nutrition support, food and fluid intake issues of older adults after hospital discharge in home and community settings, and family caregiving. She has convened two national issue panels on implementing the Dietary Reference Intakes in Older Americans Act Nutrition Programs. She has also provided public testimonies to the US Department of Health and Human Services for expansion of Medical Nutrition Therapy benefits to older adults in post-acute care settings. She serves as President for the Aging Research Interest Section of the American Society for Nutritional Sciences. Dr. Silver has extensive clinical expertise in the provision of parenteral and enteral nutrition support, especially in the areas of trauma; critical care; short bowel syndrome, intestinal failure and intestinal transplant; malabsorption; eating disorders; oncology; and pre-gestational diabetes.