Research forms the backbone of dietetics practice and the basis for the Academy’s work in education and policy. The Academy develops research priorities that guide the organization’s:

• Policy and standards for practice
• Strategy for advocating, facilitating, convening, funding and educating its members
• Collaboration with other scientists, health care providers and professional organizations.

The Academy promotes evidence-based practice and urges members to become involved in the research process. Practice-based research activity is critical to discovering not only how nutrition interventions affect different disease states, but also how they impact outcomes and the lives of patients. In addition, practice-based research in community settings fills a public health function and determines the role of nutrition in achieving a healthy population.