Project Overview
Strengthening Nutrition and Cognitive Development Through One Health Approaches
- Timeline: Fall 2025 – Spring 2027 (Phase I)
- Funding: University of Florida Strategic Investment
- Related Initiative: UF Global Health Nexus (PHHP + IFAS Collaboration)
Faculty leads
- Dr. Sarah McKune, University of Florida, College of Public Health and Health Professions (PHHP)
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"This initiative leverages the best of what we do at UF: interdisciplinary, cutting-edge scientific research to solve complex problems that affect all citizens of the world. By pulling together the best and brightest in agriculture, public health, medicine, education, and other pockets across campus, we hope the initiative will contribute to solutions that increase children’s ability to thrive here in Florida and around the world."
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- Dr. Adegbola Adesogan, University of Florida, Global Food Systems Institute (GFSI)
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"The Brain Food Initiative is a unique opportunity to examine and build on the evidence that consumption of animal-source foods, fruits, vegetables, and nuts contribute to reduced infant and childhood stunting and improved cognition and health."
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Collaborating Units
- One Health Center of Excellence (OHCE)
- Global Food Systems Institute (GFSI)
- UF Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health, and Health Professionals (PHHP)
- UF Department of Animal Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)
About the Initiative
The Brain Food initiative aims to create a Global Health nexus within University of Florida through a strategic collaboration between UF’s College of Public Health and Health Professionals (PHHP) and Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). Led by Dr. Sarah McKune (PHHP) and Dr. Gbola Adesogan (IFAS), this initiative seeks to create an integrated, sustainable, and internationally recognized program in global health- anchored in the One Health and Planetary Health framework.
Over 144 million children under 5 suffer from stunting, a direct result of poor nutrition 
and inadequate public health infrastructure. The consequences are lifelong: impaired cognitive development, chronic disease, and reduced productivity. By uniting UF’s expertise in nutrition, epidemiology, animal science, agriculture, and digital innovation, we aim to lead globally in combating childhood stunting and achieving sustainable food and health systems.
This initiative promotes the production and consumption of nutrient-dense foods including animal-source foods, fruits, vegetables, and legumes while integrating research in food safety, zoonotic disease prevention, and digital simulation technologies.
Objective
To ignite a globally unprecedented health and nutrition program that links human, animal, environmental health- bridging expertise across UF and delivering innovative solutions for the vulnerable population, especially women and children in the Global South.
Innovation Spotlight
A Digital Twin is a first-of-its-kind digital twin platform to simulate and optimize national food-health systems in the Global South. Most health and food systems in the Global South are ill-equipped for modern challenges like climate change and pandemics. This digital twin, will:
- Visualize and simulate system-wide impacts.
- Optimize interventions for human and animal health.
- Enable governments to plan smarter and respond faster.
- Leapfrog outdated systems with AI-driven predictions
Impact
By tackling the root causes of malnutrition and stunting, the Brain Food Initiative aims to improve early childhood cognitive development, reduce disease burden, and strengthen resilience in vulnerable communities. The project positions UF as a global leader in research and innovation at the intersection of agriculture, nutrition, and public health.