New NIH Office for Nutrition Research  Restores the NIDDK Office of Nutrition Research back into the NIH Office of the Director (within the Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives)
Modeled after the NIH Office of Disease Prevention (ODP), Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), or Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)
Would lead efforts to build and coordinate new collaborative relationships and synergies within NIH, with other federal agencies and departments, and with external stakeholders including public-private partnerships to drive nutrition research and innovation
Plan and coordinate trans-NIH nutrition research initiatives
Lead cooperative efforts to identify and stimulate priority areas of science, provide guidance on rigorous methodology, offer trainings, and increase the impact, visibility, and dissemination of findings
Director of the NIH Office of Nutrition Research would also serve as the Associate Director of Nutrition Research  Legislation is not required
Elevates the leadership, staffing, resources, and capacities of this important area within and outside NIH
Reestablishes close communication and coordination with the NIH Director and the other divisions and offices within the NIH Office of the Director
Increases capacity and expertise for dissemination of sound nutrition science
Can engage strong external advisory mechanisms
Some dedicated funding to stimulate research across NIH
Not viewed as serving only one institute
Ability to transition to an NIH center and/or institute over time  Size and resources of such an office remain relatively limited for substantially needed strategic planning, cross-governmental collaboration, public communication, assistance with the DGAs, DRIs, and national monitoring and surveillance, food and nutrition regulatory activities, and external partnerships
Insufficient independent funding to stimulate major extramural or intramural research
Inadequate authority and resources to support new national training of scientists and health care professionals
Budgets, staff sizes, and influence can vary widely between offices and fluctuate over time  NIH Director has discretion to restore this office into the NIH Office of the Director
Congress can authorize (ideally with new appropriations) the creation of this office within the NIH Office of the Director