Grants

Thank you for your interest in the Foundation’s Grant Program. The Foundation proudly offers several annual research grants in an effort to stimulate innovation and discovery within the profession. Please refer to the table below for information on the focus of each of our named research grants. The Foundation’s ability to provide research grants is determined by investment activity and fundraising efforts.

How to Apply

The Foundation accepts applications for most research grant funding on an annual basis. Any person may apply for Foundation grants and will be given fair and protected-class-neutral consideration for an award. The ability to provide research grants is dependent on fundraising efforts and investment activity.

The applications for select Foundation awards are currently available within our electronic application portal, linked below. Applications must be submitted electronically, within the platform, for consideration. Emailed and hard-copy versions of applications will not be accepted.

The Foundation is currently accepting applications for its 2025-2026 Grants! Please visit our application portal for more details. Applications are due Monday, November 17, 2025 at 5:00 pm CT. Follow us on LinkedIn to get the latest updates.

Applicants will be notified of the Foundation’s funding decisions by spring 2026.

Please contact Foundation Program Manager at grants@eatright.org with questions.

2025 Recipient List

Click to Apply

Grant Application Details

Allene Vaden Memorial Grant for Foodservice Management Research
Grant amount: $5,000

This grant is given to encourage young academics to enhance and stimulate research in foodservice management.

Amy Joye Memorial Research Award
Grant amount: $5,000

Applicants are required to work with a mentor whose projects involve human research and focus on: Dietary assessment methodology to investigate/enhance accuracy of dietary reports*, Obesity prevention/weight control, or Fruit/vegetable gardens.

*Accuracy of dietary reports requires validation or comparison of dietary reports by study participants to actual dietary intake. Such validation does not simply compare two self-report methods by study participants because with that study design, actual dietary intake is unknown. Instead, validation requires comparison of dietary reports by study participants to a method that does not rely on another self-report method by study participants.

Ann A. Hertzler Memorial Research Grant
Grant amount: $15,000

This grant serves to support research aligned with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Research Priorities. An annual research question is developed to solicit proposals.

Colgate Palmolive Fellowship in Nutrition, Oral Health/Dental Education
Grant amount: $15,000

This grant is given to support research in nutrition and oral health or dental education by doctoral students seeking a doctorate in nutrition and oral health or dental education, Masters thesis research on nutrition and oral health/disease or RDNs with advanced degrees doing research in the area of nutrition and oral health. Non-US residents may apply.

Commission on Dietetic Registration Emerging Researcher Grant
Grant amount: $10,000

This grant supports researchers with limited to no track records of extramural funding from competitive research grants and/or no first-authored, peer-reviewed research publications to conduct research that aligns with CDR’s Strategic Plan.

Commission on Dietetic Registration Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Grant
Grant amount: $5,000

This grant supports faculty members or program directors of ACEND-accredited educational programs who oversee ongoing research within their programs that relates to CDR’s Strategic Plan and engages nutrition and dietetics students who are completing their eligibility requirements to take the registration examination for dietitians.

Diabetes (DDPG) DPG Karen Goldstein Memorial Grant for Diabetes MNT Application
Grant amount: $20,000. Available every other year.

This grant is given to provide financial support to a Diabetes DPG member for outcomes research in diabetes medical nutrition therapy.

Jean Hankin Nutritional Epidemiology Research Grant
Grant amount: $20,000

This grant is given to provide financial support to a doctoral student working on a dissertation in the area of nutritional epidemiology.

Julie O’Sullivan Maillet Research Grant
Grant amount: $3,000

This grant is given for a research project that aims to demonstrate the value of dietetics professionals on the health of the public or demonstrate the evolving role of dietetics professionals in the profession.

McCormick Science Institute Research Grant
Grant amount: $10,000

The purpose of the McCormick Science Institute Research Grant is to fund research that explores the potential health benefits of whole culinary herbs and spices; extracts are not allowed.

Molly Kellogg Grant for Advancement in Nutrition Counseling
Grant amount: $3,000

This grant is given to advance counseling skills excellence in the dietetic profession by providing financial support to RDs and DTRs to pursue research in the nutrition counseling process.

Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group Research Grant
Grant amount: $10,000

This grant is given for innovative research relating to vegetarian nutrition to an individual who is an RDN, DTR or Dietetic Student member of the Academy. Preference will be given to members of the Vegetarian Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group.

2025 Recipient List

Amy Joye Memorial Research Award
Funded by friends and family of Amy F. Joye, MS, RD

  • Recipient: Dena Champion, MS, RD, CSO, CNSC
    Proposal Title: Growing Health: A Garden-Based Food is Medicine Program Evaluating Carotenoids, Cognition, and Gut Microbiota

Commission on Dietetic Registration Emerging Researcher Grant
Funded by the Commission on Dietetic Registration

  • Recipients:
    • Deniz Azarmanesh, PhD, RDN
      Proposal Title: Construct Validation of the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and the Dietary Inflammatory Score (DIS) among Pregnant Women: Foundations for a Longitudinal Study
    • Christina G. H. Young, RDN, CLC
      Proposal Title: Con Hānai Waiū O Nā Kānaka ʻŌiwi (Breastfeeding of Native Hawaiians)
    • Charlotte Martin, MS, RDN
      Proposal Title: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Identify and Analyze Nutrition Misinformation on Social Media
    • Cole Patoine, MS, RDN
      Proposal Title: Effect of Daily Fresh Watermelon Consumption on Gut and Cardiometabolic Health in Young Adults with Overweight and Obesity
    • Ashley T. Roseno, PhD, RDN, LRD 
      Proposal Title: Project NOURISH: Enhancing Science Learning to Foster Careers in Nutrition and Dietetics
Commission on Dietetic Registration Student-Faculty Collaborative Research Grant
Funded by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
  • Recipients:
    • Jeremy Akers, PhD, RDN
      Proposal Title: The Effect of Precision Nutrition Counseling on Newly Prescribed GLP-1 RA Adults with Overweight and Obesity
    • Olivia S. Anderson, PhD, MPH, RD
      Proposal Title: Cultivating Advanced Lactation Training: Development and Evaluation of a Gateway Module for Allied Health Students
    • Sarah Gunnell Bellini, PhD, RDN, CD
      Proposal Title: The Impact of Dietitian Nutrition Education Interventions on Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and the Relationship with Disordered Eating and Eating Disorders
    • Luc LaBonte, DCN, RD, LD
      Proposal Title: Development and Validation of a Nutrition-related Quantitative Literacy and Numeracy Questionnaire
    • Andrea J. Lobene, PhD, RDN, LDN
      Proposal Title: Collaborating with Dietetic Interns and DPD Students to Conduct an Acute Feeding Study in Younger and Older Adults

    Jean Hankin Nutritional Epidemiology Research Grant
    Funded by Jean Hankin, DrPH, MS, MPH, RetRD

    • Recipient: Kayleen Whitley, MS, RD, LD
      Proposal Title: Are Baby Feeding Approaches Associated with Caregiver Responsive Feeding in Infancy and Infant Size

    Julie O’Sullivan Maillet Research Grant
    Funded by Julie O’Sullivan Maillet, PhD, RD, FADA, FAND

    • Recipient: Ellisa J. Nyberg, MS, RDN, CSG, LDN
      Proposal Title: Evaluating Effectiveness of Competency-Based Education in Dietetics

    McCormick Science Institute Research Grant
    Funded by the McCormick Science Institute

    • Recipient: Jong Min Lee, PhD, RDN
      Proposal Title: Preference for Low-Sodium Soups Flavored with Herbs and Spices among College Students and the Use of a Salinometer to Measure Sodium Content

    Molly Kellogg Grant for Advancement in Nutrition Counseling
    Funded by the Molly Kellogg, RD, LCSW

    • Recipient: Meg Salvia, PhD, RDN
      Proposal Title: An Evaluation of Key Components to Improve Nutrition Counseling in Eating Disorders Treatment Settings: Pathways to Achieving Counseling Competency and Impacts of the Dietitian-Patient Relationship

    Wimpfheimer-Guggenheim Global Hunger Relief Program Grant 
    Funded by Alice A. Wimpfheimer, MS, RDN, CDN

    • Recipient: Maggie Jerome, PhD, RDN, CNSC
      Proposal Title: Nutrition Support Education and Direct Nutrition Assistance for Pediatric Patients in Siem Reap, Cambodia

    validation

    For example, school meals (breakfast and lunch) in 24-hour dietary recalls (with various manipulations by study investigators) from child participants are validated against direct observations of school meals by research staff (J Am Diet Assoc 2002;102:386-395; Prev Med 2003;36:601-614; J Nutr Educ Behav 2003;35:124-134; Nutr Res 2003;23:1537-1546; J Am Diet Assoc 2006;106:1656-1662; J Am Diet Assoc 2009;109:846-856; J Acad Nutr Diet 2014;114:1902-1914; J Nutr 2015;145:2185-2192).

    Or, 24-hour dietary recalls from adult participants are validated through feeding studies in which foods and beverages for all meals for adult participants are provided at a facility where true intake and plate waste is ascertained by research staff (Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77:1171-1178; J Am Diet Assoc 2004;104:595-603; Am J Clin Nutr 2014;100:233-240).