Bolstering nutrition research: US experts propose investment strategy

21 Jul 2020 --- A white paper from a group of US research, policy and government experts has laid out two complementary strategies for harmonizing and expanding federal investment in nutrition science. The creation of a new Office of the National Director of Food and Nutrition (ONDFN) or US Task Force on Federal Nutrition Research is proposed to improve cross-government coordination of nutrition research. Meanwhile, the paper also calls for nutrition research within the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) to be strengthened and accelerated, possibly by creating a National Institute of Nutrition.

“This report responds to the mounting diet-related health burdens and corresponding economic, health equity, national security and sustainability implications. [It also addresses] the current diverse federal nutrition research landscape and existing mechanisms for its coordination, which includes an overview of the NIH nutrition plan,” lead author Sheila Fleischhacker tells NutritionInsight. She is also the Former Senior Public Health and Science Policy Advisor at the NIH Division of Nutrition Research Coordination.

Published in the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)’s American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and supported by The Rockefeller Foundation, the white paper is entitled Strengthening National Nutrition: Rationale and Options for a New Coordinated Federal Research Effort and Authority. It ultimately aims to strengthen and increase funding for federal nutrition research and improve cross-governmental coordination to improve public health, food and nutrition security, and population resilience. According to the group of supporters, it will also accelerate discoveries and boost the economy.

The white paper was co-authored by a diverse collection of experts, including Dan Glickman, former US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary of Agriculture; David Kessler, former US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner; Tom Harkin, former Iowa Senator; and a number of ASN members.

Development in the face of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the burdens of diet-related diseases on population resilience, according to co-author Dariush Mozaffarian, Dean and Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Massachusetts, US.

“The nation has come together to achieve major scientific challenges in the past, such as putting a man on the moon. We need a similar major national effort to address current nutrition challenges, generating the critical science to rapidly treat and prevent diet-related diseases, improve health equity, increase population resilience to COVID-19 and future pandemics, and drive fundamental and translational discoveries for better lives,” Mozaffarian continues. 

Fleischhacker adds that in a depressed economy, some might say that some of the proposed options and calls for increased funding is a tough ask. “However, we believe COVID-19 has illustrated how nutrition research can be a key ingredient to better-addressing food insecurity and the diet-related associated health disparities connected to COVID-19 mortality.” 

The report also discusses how a new structure for coordination of existing federal nutrition research, combined with a major new investment. “For example, increasing federal nutrition funding by US$1-2 billion or more each year could together provide highly cost-effective approaches to addressing poor health, rising disparities, spiraling healthcare costs, declining qualified military recruits and other pressing food and agricultural challenges facing the US,” explains Fleischhacker.

The potential ONFDN would require congressional authorization and appropriations.Anticipating potential challenges
The target audience for the white paper is wide-ranging and includes federal officials in both executive and legislative branches, federal science agency leaders, federal military leadership, the academic community, clinical and scientific professional organizations, US businesses that can be benefited by federally supported nutrition discoveries and the public. 

Focusing on potential challenges around the proposals, Fleischhacker notes that the potential ONFDN would require congressional (legislative) authorization and appropriations. “As a cabinet-level office, ONDFN would naturally focus on major federal nutrition issues beyond research, such as nutrition assistance programs. This could dilute its relative focus on research and innovation. ONDFN may also be too politically high-level to directly address ways to strengthen on-the-ground infrastructural and investment needs within key federal nutrition research departments and agencies.”

However, eyeing a path forward, she notes that Congress can authorize the establishment of ONDFN to advise the President on food and nutrition and lead the coordination of multiple federal departments and agencies, policies, budgets and programs.

“The mandate should include a clear emphasis on strengthening national nutrition research. Congress would also appropriate funding to establish this Office and then provide annual appropriations directly to the ONDFN. Congress would also indicate the required frequency of reporting, such as annual reporting and quadrennial assessments, and indicate the committees of oversight in the House and Senate. The US President would then appoint the National Director of Food and Nutrition,” Fleischhacker details. 

In June, ASN held an event to spotlight calls for enhanced research, ranging from digestive health and dieting risks to childhood malnutrition amid COVID-19 food shortages. A session was also held to preempt the publication of this white paper. In the preceding month, NIH had announced that its strategic plan for the next decade will be guided by precision nutrition.

By Katherine Durrell