Network in Epidemiology and Nutrition (NEON) with the aim to strengthen and utilize research in nutritional epidemiology

Nutritional epidemiology maps and evaluates associations between diet and health and how this knowledge may be implemented in public health work.

NEON, Network in Nutrition and Epidemiology, is open to all with research interest in nutritional epidemiology, active in Sweden. The network has grown yearly.

Areas of competence are broad, ranging from methodology and research on the interplay between diet and genetics to facilitating health equality.

NEON has since its inception strengthened and utilized research in nutritional epidemiology by stimulating cross-disciplinary collaborations, increasing member competence and research quality as well as sharing knowledge with the research community and society at large.

NEON here applies for a 2025-2027 grant with the aim to continue to stimulate cross- and multidisciplinary research collaborations, increase researcher competence and research quality, and stimulate the application of research results in public health work. A central aim is to continue to facilitate collaborations within and across disciplines.

A working group of eleven members, representing the major universities and the National Food Agency, leads all activities.

National two-day conferences are held annually where junior and senior researchers exchange experiences and discuss methodological development and new collaborations.

The network homepage houses an inventory of researchers, research projects and courses in the field, important information about network activities and links to relevant sources. Information is shared with an electronic sendlist.

Expected outcome of the network is increased cross-disciplinary collaborations, strengthened competence and research quality, and strengthened application of nutritional epidemiology research in public health work.Continued funding of the network is crucial for its current dynamics and force, in that its activities would be greatly reduced should it function on voluntary basis without financial resources.