The Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI) is the result of the merger in April 1995 of the former National Research Institute of Health (NRIH), the Ethiopian Nutrition Institute (ENI) and the Department of Traditional medicine (DTM) of the Ministry of HealthThe merger was affirmed by the council of ministers regulation No 4/1996, which recognized the Institute as an autonomous public authority having its own legal personality.

Currently the Institute is focusing on priority disease research and strengthening the national public health laboratory services in the country. It is also the technical hand of the federal Ministry of Health.

 The Institute conduct research on the caused and spread of diseases, nutrition, traditional medicine and medical practices and modern drugs and there by support the activities for the improvement of Health in the country;

It also  contribute to the development of health science and technology,   more over it has been given the mandate to serve as a referral medical laboratory services relating to the occurrence, causes prevent and diagnosis of major diseases of public health importance and to establish and support National Laboratory Quality Assurance programs and systems.

The Institute secures average annual revenue of 25 million Birr and more than 20 million USD (in cash and in kind) from different donors.

The Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute is governed by  Board of directors represented from various government organizations, Higher learning institutions and agencies, the Board is chaired by the  Minister of ministry of health.