Research & Innovation
Building evidence for better health.
TNN Africa works at the intersection of nutrition science, healthcare innovation and technology to develop practical solutions for real-world health challenges.
Research
Nutrition Research
Evidence-based approaches to nutrition and health.
Digital Health Research
Understanding how technology can improve access, engagement and outcomes.
Clinical Innovation
Translating clinical knowledge into new care models.
Implementation
Moving evidence from research into practical healthcare delivery.
AI & Health Technology
Building the next generation of nutrition and healthcare products.
TNN Africa sits at the intersection of clinical expertise, product development and emerging technology. Our technology work focuses on translating real healthcare problems into digital products that make nutrition and healthcare more personalised, accessible and actionable. Technology is used to solve specific problems, never as an end in itself.
Making nutrition more personalised
AI-Enabled Nutrition
AI can help transform nutrition from static information into experiences that respond to an individual's food choices, health goals, symptoms, clinical context, behavioural patterns and health data. TNN Africa has explored this through products such as PlateMind, where AI is used to analyse food, interpret nutrition information and provide personalised insights for people managing diabetes.
Example: PlateMindTurning clinical knowledge into intelligent tools
Clinical Decision Support
Healthcare professionals work with increasingly complex information. TNN Africa explores how digital products and AI can help translate clinical knowledge into structured, usable decision-support experiences across clinical workflows, nutrition assessment, patient data, evidence-based recommendations and human oversight. The goal is not to replace clinicians, but to build tools that help clinicians and patients make better-informed decisions.
Example: Lana ClinicalMaking food data useful
Nutrition Intelligence
Nutrition information is often fragmented across food composition databases, recipes, clinical guidelines and consumer-facing products. TNN Africa works on translating this information into structured nutrition intelligence that can power digital products: from food composition and recipe data to nutrient analysis, meal intelligence and personalised insight. PlateMind is an example of how this nutrition intelligence becomes part of a consumer-facing digital health experience.
Moving nutrition beyond the consultation room
Digital Health & Patient Experience
Many nutrition interventions are still delivered through episodic consultations. TNN Africa has explored digital models that extend support beyond the clinic through digital nutrition programmes, patient-facing platforms, personalised guidance, symptom-aware support, health tracking, digital education and ongoing engagement. This work spans products such as Sito Health, OncoNourish and PlateMind.
Selected Innovation Projects
Technology should start with the healthcare problem, not the technology.
Grants & Consortium Partnerships
From research to implementation.
TNN Africa works with research institutions, implementation partners and organisations to translate nutrition science into practical programmes, digital solutions and healthcare innovations.