The mission of the German Institute of Human Nutrition (DIfE) is to conduct experimental and clinical research in the field of nutrition and health, with the aim of understanding the molecular basis of nutrition-dependent diseases, and of developing new strategies for prevention, treatment, and nutritional recommendations.

Scientists at the DIfE pursue these scientific goals by interdisciplinary cooperation comprising a broad spectrum of experimental and epidemiological methods. A particular focus of the institute is research on the most important diseases at present, i.e., obesity, diabetes, and cancer, whose development may involve nutrition-dependent factors.

DIfE is an independent foundation and member of the Leibniz Association, an alliance of scientific institutions.