Meaningful research.
Mighty impact.

The Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) is a world-leading, multidisciplinary research institute. We’re focused on the role of active living, sport, food and nutrition to create healthy, thriving communities, and to reduce the rates of chronic health conditions.

INFANT

A world-renowned program helping families with healthy eating, active play and reduced screen time from the start of their baby’s life.

TransformUs

IPAN is the home of TransformUs, a world-first program making it easy for schools to create active learning environments for better student engagement, learning and health outcomes.

Celebrating 10 years as a research institute

Quality research in active living, sport, food and nutrition is vital for healthy and vibrant communities. Discover how our research is making a difference.

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Baker-Deakin Department of Lifestyle & Diabetes Centre for Sport Research

Our research domains

Research

Biology of health and disease

Understanding how the biological mechanisms behind exercise and nutrition work, and how they impact on health.

Preventing and managing chronic conditions

Developing and implementing lifestyle-based solutions to prevent and manage chronic conditions.

Healthy active living

Real-world solutions to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in the community.

Food, nutrition and health

Developing quality evidence and using it to tackle the diverse range of food and nutrition issues in our community.

Research

Latest news

More news

Peanut butter helps build muscle power in older adults, study shows

Eating peanut butter every day has been shown to boost muscle health in older Australians, new research has found.

Research newsMarch 13, 2026

Deakin expert receives global recognition for talk on women in sport

Deakin University is celebrating a major global achievement, with Dr Dominique Condo’s TEDxDeakin Uni Melbourne talk on women in sport selected for the official TED global channel - a rare honour that places her work before millions worldwide.

Institute newsFebruary 27, 2026

Australia’s food labelling system isn’t working – here’s how we can fix it

Prof Mark Lawrence and colleague Prof Christina Pollard examine Australia's Health Star Rating scheme in an article for The Conversation.

Institute newsFebruary 17, 2026