Cross-governmental strategic planning and prioritization
An expanded, coordinated federal nutrition research effort could more effectively plan and prioritize scientific discoveries across critical areas. In addition to existing priorities, such an effort would create capacity to quickly identify and address timely new scientific challenges and opportunities as they arise. Improved cross-governmental coordination would also facilitate interdisciplinary research and its societal impact. This would include accelerated translation of scientific findings into practice—for example, relevant for USDA nutrition assistance programs, FDA regulatory activities, CMS health care improvements, CDC public health efforts, DoD and VA priorities for active-duty forces and veterans, USDA agricultural priorities, and additional interests of communities, schools, and worksites. Cross-governmental coordination would also provide leadership to help develop effective public–private partnerships. A coordinated federal nutrition research authority would also facilitate appropriate expertise on review panels to identify meritorious projects and multidisciplinary investigative teams to achieve project goals and foster the development and application of high standards for scientific rigor, reproducibility, and transparency (11, 227).