The mission statement of the institute is to determine the functional roles of micronutrients and phytochemicals in promoting optimal health and to treat or prevent human disease, and to determine the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in health and disease.

There are several major areas of research occurring at the institute, focused on many vitamins, minerals and other compounds found in the diet.

[3] Since July 2020, the director of the Linus Pauling Institute is Emily Ho, a nutritionist.

The institute is housed in the Linus Pauling Science Center,[4] which opened in October 2011.

[5] It is the largest-ever academic building on the Oregon State University campus.