About NourishED Research Foundation (NRFi)
Our History
NourishED Research Foundation, Inc. (NRFi) was established in 2024 in response to a critical gap in federal funding and research prioritization for binge-type eating disorders. Despite the high prevalence and impact of these conditions, there remains limited empirical investigation into accessible, inclusive, and effective treatment options.
Our mission was born from the need to explore interventions that are:
- Free or low-cost,
- Responsive to the unique lived experiences of individuals with binge eating disorder (BED)
- Inclusive across diverse identities and demographics
- Easily accessible—whether community-based or virtually delivered
These priorities reflect the consensus of leading eating disorder researchers and clinicians, as identified in Bray et al., 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025a–d (in preparation).
Our Staff, Volunteers, & Partners
NourishED Research Foundation is founded and directed by Brenna Bray, PhD. Dr. Bray is an eating disorder researcher, educator, activist, and behavioral health specialist with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience and post-doctorate training in Complementary and Integrative Health with federal funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH)'s the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). | NRFi's Board of Directors, Advisory Board, Research-, Clinical-, and Social Outreach Teams include expertise in eating disorder research, clinical care, education, outreach, public health policy, and social justice advocacy. Learn more here.
NourishED Blog & Media Hub
Stay informed and inspired with the latest from NourishED. Our Blog & Media Center shares insights on binge eating disorder, mental health equity, social justice in treatment access, and the lived experiences of individuals impacted by eating disorders.
Here you can explore a range of content including expert-written articles, research previews, event recaps, and community stories that center inclusion, healing, and real-world solutions. Whether you're a practitioner, advocate, or someone with lived experience, this space is designed to educate, empower, and amplify voices that matter.
NourishED Research Foundation (NRFi): Nourishing Knowledge, Empowering Hope. Advancing Holistic Healing for Eating Disorders, For Everyone.
NourishED Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research foundation that uses eating disorder research to empower breakthroughs in eating disorder awareness, understanding, prevention, and treatment access. We do this in large part by supporting issues of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, oppression, and invalidation that pertain to eating disorders and to many who do not experience eating disorders. We prioritize community-based research, patient narratives and lived experiences, and equal-access treatment options for eating disorders, for everyone.
Rooted in rigorous scientific inquiry, compassionate advocacy, and collaborative partnerships, we prioritize patient narratives and lived experiences. We hold a commitment to representing marginalized populations of individuals with eating disorders who have historically been overlooked and under-represented in research, as they often lack access to healthcare and so are not included in treatment-seeking populations that are used for research recruiting. Similarly, we seek to advance empirical support for equal-access treatment options that are free/low-cost and accessible without health insurance or a formal diagnosis.
Our research prioritizes interventions that value wholistic healing and are designed for community-based, remote, and nearly on-demand delivery. By disseminating research findings to clinicians, practitioners, eating disorder specialists, and the broader community, we aim to de-stigmatize eating disorders and empower individuals living with these conditions. Together, we envision a future where every individual thrives in body and mind. Join NRFi as we innovate for a healthier future.
Community Partners
Hi there!
Welcome to NourishED! We're a 501(c)(3) non-profit research organization that uses uses research to improve awareness, prevention, treatment outcomes, and lived experiences of eating disorders and other mental health disparities. We're so glad you're here!