David Blackbourn

David Blackbourn is a Professor and currently serving as Interim Head of School at the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition at the University of Aberdeen. He holds a dual appointment as Professor of Virology within the same school and is affiliated with both the Institute of Medical Sciences and the Microbiology and Immunity department.

Professor Blackbourn's research spans two major domains: viral pathogenesis with a focus on herpesviruses (particularly Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus and Human Herpesvirus 8), and nutritional epidemiology with emphasis on vitamin D status in ethnic minority populations in the UK. His virology research investigates viral immunomodulation, interferon responses, and viral-host interactions at the molecular level. His nutritional research uses the UK Biobank cohort to examine vitamin D deficiency patterns, particularly among South Asian and African-Caribbean populations in the UK.

His recent publications (2021-2023) demonstrate a continued strong research output with significant contributions to understanding viral immunology of herpesviruses and the public health implications of vitamin D deficiency in specific ethnic groups. His work on KSHV/EBV dual infection and vitamin D deficiency in UK South Asian populations has received considerable attention in the scientific community.

Professor Blackbourn has accumulated over 4,235 citations across his 79 publications spanning from 1992 to 2023, reflecting his longstanding contribution to virology research.

His research program bridges fundamental virology with public health applications, making significant contributions to both understanding viral pathogenesis and addressing health disparities related to nutritional status in ethnic minority populations.