The Mission of The Institute of Human Nutrition

The Institute of Human Nutrition serves to conduct, coordinate, and lead nutrition research and education activities throughout Columbia University and its affiliated institutions. These activities include basic research, clinical research, public health–preventive medicine programs, and education and training at many levels. A long-standing mission of the Institute is to train individuals for scholarly activities and for positions in universities and research centers that are in the forefront of the movement to advance nutrition as a health science. In addition, the Institute seeks to augment the training of physicians and other health specialists who are interested in emphasizing nutrition in their professions. The Institute provides a key infrastructure to academic nutrition activities carried out within many faculties, departments, and centers at the University.

The structure of each of these units, the research being conducted within them, and the programs of instruction offered are outlined in subsequent sections of this bulletin. Although each unit conducts its own program of research and training, its work is coordinated to achieve two basic goals: to conduct research to advance knowledge of nutrition, and to provide training in areas of nutrition relevant to the physician and the scientist. To achieve this coordination, combined research projects among the units are under way, and joint seminars and courses are conducted regularly involving faculty members and students in all units.

Members of the Institute of Human Nutrition hold appointments in over 18 academic departments within the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, and the various divisions of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. These faculty members, in addition to expertise in their own disciplines, have research and teaching interests relevant to the mission of the Institute of Human Nutrition.