The Scientific Challenge of expanding the Frontiers of Nutrition

The Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS) was founded to conduct biomedical research employing holistic systems biology approaches to improve our understanding of health and to further develop medical nutrition strategies for slowing the onset of chronic disease. Our main research axes are brain, metabolic and gut health with a special emphasis on cognition, diabetes, obesity and the gut microbiome. Some of the distinct scientific features of NIHS are the implementation of integrated systems biology and modeling, the establishment of human cell models and the conduct of longitudinal dietary challenge studies in humans. Recently the NIHS joined the EU-funded DioGenes consortium - the largest multi-centre dietary intervention study on weight management undertaken in Europe. The NIHS team is further analyzing clinical samples to better understand and describe the interplay between genes, diet and metabolism for weight management. Ultimately, the NIHS will provide scientific knowledge underpinning the development of concepts that combine medical nutrition with patient targeting or diagnostics designed to delay the onset of chronic diseases such as Diabetes, Obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease. The institute is based on the university campus of the world-renowned Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland and is part of Nestlé’s global Research & Development network.