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Sir Robert McCarrison
- the founder
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Down the memory lane
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) was founded by Sir Robert McCarrison in the
year 1918 as ‘Beri-Beri’ Enquiry Unit in a single room laboratory at the Pasteur
Institute, Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. Within a short span of seven years, this unit blossomed
into a "Deficiency Disease Enquiry" and later in 1928, emerged as full-fledged "Nutrition
Research Laboratories" (NRL) with Dr. McCarrison as its first Director. It
was shifted to Hyderabad in 1958.
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At the time of its golden jubilee in 1969, it was renamed
as National Institute of Nutrition (NIN). The following centres also started functioning
at NIN in later years:
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The stepping stones
NIN has attained global recognition for its pioneering studies on various aspects
of nutrition research, with special reference to protein energy malnutrition (PEM).
Institute’s activities are broad-based, encompassing the whole area of food and
nutrition. The Institute has achieved close integration in its research activities
between the laboratory, the clinic and the community.
The emphasis shifted to problem-oriented research, with a view to discovering practical
solutions to nutrition problems that can be applied within the existing socio-economic
framework. National Institute of Nutrition, over the eighty years of glorious service
to the nation, has to its credit an impressive record of achievements in the amelioration
of several nutritional disorders of our people.
Location – a landmark
The Institute is located on the salubrious campus of Osmania University with spacious
buildings surrounded by lush green vegetation. The Institute's strength lies in
the dedicated and devoted scientists belonging to diverse disciplines such as medicine,
pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, biochemistry, pathology, community health,
social sciences, dietetics, statistics, communication and other related areas.
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NIN today
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NIN's birth place at Coonoor, Tamil Nadu
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The Institute has been recognized by many national and international
agencies as Centre for conducting advanced as well as ad-hoc training courses in
nutrition and laboratory animal sciences. In addition, several reputed universities
have recognized NIN as a Centre for Ph.D programmes in different disciplines.
It possesses sophisticated equipment and swell-equipped
modern facilities and for clinical, laboratory and community based research. Nutrition
Wards with adequate inpatient and outpatient facilities are available at hospitals
viz., Niloufer Hospital for Women and Children, Government Maternity Hospital and
Osmania General Hospital to carry out research in clinical nutrition.
The Institute's library, well stocked with books and journals is considered as one
of the best science libraries in India. In addition, computer facilities are available
for sophisticated data analysis and information retrieval from database.
The "Nutrition Museum" of the institute is an important teaching tool which highlights
different aspects of food and nutrition and also covers the work undertaken at the
Institute.
Objectives
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To identify various dietary and nutrition problems prevalent
among different segments of the population in the country.
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To continuously monitor diet and nutrition situation of
the country.
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To evolve effective methods of management and prevention
of nutritional problems.
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To conduct operational research connected with planning
and implementation of national nutrition programmes.
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To dovetail nutrition research with other health programmes
of the government.
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Human resource development in the field of nutrition.
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To disseminate nutrition information.
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To advise governments and other organisations on issues
relating to nutrition
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