Overview
Diet, in all its complexity, is considered one of the major risk factors for cancer. The Behavioral Research Program's (BRP) goals in this area are to increase the precision of dietary intake estimates by improving self-report of dietary intake and the analytic procedures for processing reported information. This work is designed to facilitate dietary monitoring and nutritional epidemiology efforts and to advance our understanding of the relationship of diet to cancer outcomes.
Funding Opportunities
BRP encourages investigator-initiated grant applications on this topic.
On This Page
Related NIH Research Resources
- Dietary Assessment Resources
Links to data collection resources and tools, such as NCI’s Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24), the Dietary Assessment Primer, Dietary Assessment/Calibration Registry, and Register of Validated Short Dietary Instruments; food composition databases, including top food sources for the U.S. population; diet analysis tools, such as the Healthy Eating Index (HEI); and surveys and other related resources for dietary monitoring.
Selected Projects
Examples of current and past collaborative projects related to dietary assessment in which BRP staff are involved:
- Dietary Patterns Methods Project
This Project compared key diet quality indices and their associations with cancer and cardiovascular disease mortality. It was initiated to strengthen the scientific evidence base on dietary patterns and inform the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans - Interactive Diet and Activity Tracking in AARP (IDATA)
The purpose of the Interactive Diet and Activity Tracking in AARP (IDATA) study was to evaluate and compare the measurement error structure of diet and physical activity assessment tools against reference biomarkers. IDATA data and/or biospecimens are available as public use data, but researchers must submit a project proposal, which are reviewed by NCI.
Public Resources
- 2020-2030 Strategic Plan for NIH Nutrition Research
The first NIH-wide strategic plan for nutrition research emphasizes cross-cutting, innovative opportunities to advance nutrition research across a wide range of areas, from basic science to experimental design to research training. - 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointly publish the Dietary Guidelines every 5 years. - American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR)and World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) Expert Report
Comprehensive report, issued in 2018, reviewed the existing scientific evidence on diet and cancer. - AICR Continuous Update Project
An ongoing analysis of evidence related to diet and cancer prevention. - USDA’s Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review (NESR)
The NESR evaluates, synthesizes, and grades research using rigorous and transparent methodology to define the state of food and nutrition-related science.
Workshops and Webinars
BRP is dedicated to ensuring that our recorded webinars comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (as amended) for individuals who are hearing and sight impaired. If you encounter any recorded webinar that does not meet your needs, please feel free to reach out to ncidccpsbrpadvances@mail.nih.gov.
Upcoming Events
NIH Workshop on Prenatal Dietary Supplements: Evidence Gaps and Research Needs (June 30 - July 1, 2025)
Previous Events
- Food Insecurity, Neighborhood Food Environment, and Nutrition Health: State of the Science (September 21-23, 2021)
- Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour (ASA24) Dietary Assessment Tool Webinar (September 2020)
- Research Strategies for Nutritional and Physical Activity Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention Workshop (June 2016)
- Dietary Measurement Error Webinar Series (2011)