Maximizing human developmental
potential

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) is a government agency accountable to the Ministry of Health. In addition to providing knowledge and information on disease prevention and health promotion to the government and health services to the general population, NIPH conducts health surveillance and research. The wide range of internationally recognized scientific expertise at NIPH is reflected in, among others, 22 active projects financed by the European Commission. NIPH is furthermore responsible for 9 out of the 16 national health registries, manages one of the two largest Norwegian biobanks in Biobank Norway, and manages and delivers data from Norway’s regional health studies. The NIPH also collaborates with the WHO, EU, EEA, sister institutions, universities, organizations and health authorities in low and middle income countries on global health issues.

The main goals of this activity are to determine the prevalence of disease and risk factors, as well as causes and consequences of disease, thus providing a scientific foundation for health policy including the design and implementation of preventive measures. To investigate the effects of public health interventions is also an important part of the research strategy of the NIPH. Epidemiologic methods are fundamental in this activity. The use of national health registries, longitudinal health surveys and cohorts and utilization of biological material from national biobanks are encouraged to achieve outstanding research of strategic importance. Strengthening international collaboration is also emphasized in the strategy.

The NIPH is working to improve public health by strengthening the preventive health efforts in society. The institute has overall responsibility for knowledge production and systematic reviews for the health sector and provides knowledge about the health status in the population, influencing factors and how it can be improved. In addition, the institute provides scientific advice and forensic science services to the police and judiciary. The NIPH is responsible for national health registries, biobanks and health studies, such as the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MOBA), and performs research, health analyses, systematic reviews and risk assessments.