When Nico Pronk isn’t chairing the National Academy of Science’s Roundtable on Obesity Solutions, helping redesign the process for creating dietary guidelines in the U.S., or furthering national health goals, he’s leading HealthPartners’ research and education efforts through its HealthPartners Institute. In 2023, the institute received $34 million in grants that support the work of its 400-plus researchers. In 2024, the institute received $11 million from the National Cancer Institute to recruit 23,000 people over three years for the Connect for Cancer Prevention Study to better understand the lifestyle and genetic factors that lead to cancer and to help prevent the disease. In addition to training 830 physician residents across HealthPartners’ systems, the institute has implemented innovative fellowships for advanced-practice clinicians, helping them gain experience and reduce burnout.