NEB develops instruments designed to improve assessment of diet, physical activity and obesity. We recognize our unique opportunity in the NIH Intramural Research Program to create and rigorously test tools that have the potential to substantially advance nutrition-related scientific inquiry for all scientists in this field. Among the many potential methodological investments, we have selected those that seem most critical for progress and best suited for testing within our epidemiologic research portfolio. Recent examples of methodological projects include:

• Web-based instruments for 24-hour recall of dietary intake and physical activity;
• Use of improved portable devices for activity monitoring,
• Statistical methods for error correction; and
• Laboratory-based studies to calibrate methods for large studies within the general population, such as meat intake biomarkers and metabolomic studies.