02 — Governance

Difference councils

Three councils guide the Foundation — each with a distinct responsibility — and together they set the standards for the research we fund and the work we promote.

Impact Council

Recruits the best researchers and academics for the funded research programmes. Crucially, it promotes the outcome of research and analyses to positively change policies in industry and government and the nutritional and lifestyle behaviour of populations.

But most important of all, it will catalyse, provide the climate for and support and guide government, NGOs and industry in massively increasing their spending on effective research — research that adheres to the very highest standards of quantitative science, as exemplified in DIFFERENCE's showcase research projects. In addition, the Impact Council manages Public Relations for the Foundation.

Legal Council

Monitors the scientific research projects undertaken by the Foundation and verifies whether these projects meet customary legal requirements and whether materials published by the Foundation have a solid basis as the outcome of scientific research projects undertaken under the auspices of the Foundation.

Financial Council

Ensures that all the activities of the Foundation comply with local, national and international laws and regulations at all times.

DIFFERENCE will combine new techniques in data science, biotechnology and clinical trials and include disciplines outside of health to harden and improve the predictive value of the science. In so doing, DIFFERENCE will design the next-generation practices of nutrition research and, practically, will provide researchers with access to additional infrastructure — including labs, academic consultants and cutting-edge techniques.

Difference programme for 2026

Funding sources: insurance companies, public health services, local authorities, family offices and R&D institutions.
Public health programmes for screening and quantifying metabolic health.
Seminars and conferences with ministers of health and leaders of the World Health Organisation.
Grow public awareness and understanding of the KRAFT brand and methodology for measuring insulin.
Advance the science and practice of insulin measurement.
Launch a very low-cost lipid meter for mass screening in low-resource settings.
Open-source dashboard and app for visualisation and analysis of metabolic data.
Deploy AWS Lambda for Julia and Grafana.
Deliver metabolic health interpretations via Machine Learning interfaces.

Outcome metrics

A fifteen-year plan to reduce the following metrics globally by 30% or more.

Incidence of obesity & diabetes

Obesity affects 13% of the world population; diabetes is approximately 13%.

Reduction in time off work.

Cost of health & life policies

Reduction in risk ratio.

Reduce health-service costs

For obesity & diabetes: currently €1.2 bn of Dutch health-care expenses and €2 bn loss of labour productivity.
Universal reduction of non-communicable diseases relating to nutrition.
Redirect governmental funding to research that meets the standards of rigour elucidated by the DIFFERENCE Scientific Investment Council.

DIFFERENCE will publish their KPIs to quantify the reversal in the incidence of metabolic disturbance and the financial plight that it drives.

Remuneration. The Trustees will be remunerated only for costs incurred. Staff members will be paid according to standards established for similar charities and based on their relevant experience and effectiveness.