About NourishED Research Foundation (NRFi)
Our History
NourishED Research Foundation, Inc. (NRFi) was established in 2024 to address a critical gap in federal funding and research prioritization for binge eating disorder (BED) and related mental health equity issues. Despite the high prevalence and impact of these conditions, there is still limited empirical investigation into accessible, inclusive, and effective treatment options.
Our mission emerged from the need to explore interventions that are:
- Free or low-cost,
- Responsive to the unique lived experiences of individuals with binge eating disorder,
- 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).
NourishED Staff & Volunteers
The NourishED Research Foundation, led by Brenna Bray, PhD, is dedicated to advancing knowledge in the field of eating disorders, including binge eating disorder. Dr. Bray is a prominent eating disorder researcher, educator, activist, and behavioral health specialist with extensive training in Biomedical Science, Neuroscience, and Complementary and Integrative Health, supported by NIH funding. The NRFi's Board of Directors, Advisory Board, and various teams focused on research, clinical care, and social outreach bring together expertise in eating disorder research, mental health equity, education, public health policy, and social justice advocacy. Learn more here.
NourishED Blog & Media Hub
Stay informed and inspired with the latest from the NourishED Research Foundation. Our Blog & Media Center offers valuable insights into binge eating disorder, mental health equity, social justice in treatment access, and the lived experiences of individuals affected by eating disorders.
Explore expert-written articles, research previews, event recaps, and community stories that emphasize inclusion, healing, and practical solutions. Whether you're a practitioner, advocate, or someone with lived experience, this space aims 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 dedicated to using eating disorder research to empower breakthroughs in awareness, understanding, prevention, and treatment access for conditions like binge eating disorder. Our mission is deeply interconnected with issues of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, oppression, and invalidation that affect not only those who experience eating disorders but also the wider community. We prioritize community-based research, patient narratives, and lived experiences, ensuring equal-access treatment options for eating disorders are available to everyone.
Rooted in rigorous scientific inquiry, compassionate advocacy, and collaborative partnerships, NourishED Research Foundation emphasizes the importance of patient narratives and lived experiences. We remain committed to representing marginalized populations with eating disorders who have historically been overlooked in research and often lack access to healthcare. This exclusion limits their representation in treatment-seeking populations used for research recruiting. Furthermore, we strive to advance empirical support for equal-access treatment options that are free or low-cost, accessible without health insurance or a formal diagnosis, promoting mental health equity.
Our research focuses on interventions that value holistic healing and are designed for community-based, remote, and nearly on-demand delivery. By disseminating our 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 NourishED Research Foundation 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!