Linus Pauling Institute, Cancer Chemoprotection Program Core Laboratory The Iistitute was co-founded in 1973. More than 40 years ago, the founder concluded that vitamins and other micronutrients play a significant role in enhancing human health and preventing chronic diseases, not just deficiency diseases. He founded his own institute to carry out research in this field that he believed would be of enormous importance to public health. The Institute moved from Palo Alto, CA, to the campus of Oregon State University. Researchers at the institute investigate the role that vitamins and essential minerals (micronutrients) and chemicals from plants (phytochemicals) play in human aging, immune function, and chronic diseases, especially heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. A major emphasis is to understand the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in disease etiology, and the preventive effects of dietary constituents with antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties. The goal of these studies is to understand the mechanisms by which diet, micronutrients, and dietary supplements affect disease initiation and progression and can be used in the prevention or treatment of human diseases, thereby enhancing lifespan and healthspan.