A core part of the NOPREN network is its work groups. This is where members collaborate on specific nutrition-focused, policy-relevant topics and conduct action-oriented applied research and translation to inform policy and create impact. NOPREN work groups are constantly evolving in order to respond to real-world research gaps and opportunities. New work groups are created as the need and interest arises. Coordination between the work groups and the larger NOPREN infrastructure allows for direct feedback loops between researchers and changemakers (policymakers, practitioners, and local implementers) on the ground. This structure allows NOPREN to broadly disseminate the findings of its time-sensitive policy research.
Examples of NOPREN work group activities include: publishing editorials and original research, providing thought leadership and content expertise, developing measures and tools, creating and disseminating policy briefs, and generating other tangible resources that build capacity, knowledge, and momentum in their respective fields.
NOPREN work groups are open to all interested people. We highly encourage early career researchers and practitioners to join and engage in networking and professional development opportunities.
NOPREN hosts several work groups in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Healthy Eating Research (HER) program.
If you are interested in joining a NOPREN work group, contact the work group fellow listed below.

Drinking Water
Contact Abigail Colburn

Contact Jessica Luong

Contact Ximena Perez-Velazco

Food Service Guidelines
Contact Jane Dai

Contact Caitlin Lowery


Contact Kyle Busse

Contact Deborah Olarte or Marisa Tsai
NOPREN Acknowledgement:
Please acknowledge NOPREN for any products developed as part of a NOPREN Work Group or that received NOPREN funding.
Products developed as part of a NOPREN Work Group should include the following acknowledgement. “Authors of this publication (report, survey instrument, journal article, etc.) are members of the XXX Work Group supported by the Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (NOPREN). NOPREN is supported by Cooperative Agreement Number U48DP006374 funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity and Prevention Research Centers Program. The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the CDC or DHHS.”
For Work Groups that are jointly supported by NOPREN and Healthy Eating Research (Early Childhood, COVID-19 Food & Nutrition, Healthy Food Retail), please modify the above acknowledgement to: “members of this work group are jointly supported by Healthy Eating Research (HER) and the Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (NOPREN). HER is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; NOPREN is supported by…The findings and conclusions in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of HER, CDC or DHHS.”
If you received funding from NOPREN to support your work, please include the following funding acknowledgement: “This project was funded by NOPREN, a program of the CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity.”
If you are unsure whether to include an acknowledgement on your work, please contact [email protected].