The overall goal of the department is to conduct research and provide solutions to nutritional problems in Ghana. In pursuance of this goal, the Nutrition Department since its inception has focused its research in the areas of maternal, infant and young child nutrition, food consumption and food security and micronutrient deficiency and interventions. These are priority food and nutrition problems in Ghana.

The Nutrition Department has extensive experience in community-based research in the area of livelihoods and food security, infant and young child nutrition with focus on breast-feeding, complementary feeding and the feeding of children born to HIV-positive mothers. Research in micronutrients has focused on supplementation and food-based strategies to improving iron and vitamin A intakes among vulnerable groups. Current research in this area involve nutritional therapy for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

The Department has international recognition for Vitamin A and carotenoid analysis and has provided laboratory support for both national and international vitamin A programs. Scientists in the Department have also provided technical support in the design and evaluation of health and nutrition intervention programs implemented by organizations such as UNICEF, the LINKAGES project, BASICS, Freedom from Hunger among others.