Radicle Science and CRN honor Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, PhD, with inaugural Trailblazing Woman Award

The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington, D.C.) alongside Radicle Science announced the winner of their inaugural Trailblazing Woman Award at CRN's annual meeting, Convergence '24. This year's honoree is Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, PhD, the global director for external research at ChromaDex.

The award is meant to honor women who have made "remarkable contributions to the dietary supplement and functional food industry through leadership, innovation, and mentorship." Nkrumah-Elie was selected for her commitment to "advancing science, promoting diversity, and mentoring the next generation of female leaders."

“We’re thrilled to celebrate Dr. Nkrumah-Elie’s remarkable achievements and the lasting impact she’s made on our industry,” said Pelin Thorogood, co-founder and executive chairwoman of Radicle Science, in a press release. “A brilliant researcher, Dr. Nkrumah-Elie’s influence extends far beyond her scientific contributions—she’s a mentor, a connector, and a fierce advocate for women in science. Her passion for creating opportunities and uniting people in meaningful ways is why she’s such a worthy recipient of our inaugural Trailblazing Woman Award.”

“Dr. Nkrumah-Elie has led the evolution of the ChromaDex External Research Program (CERP) to become an award-winning and industry leading research program," added Andrew Shao, PhD, senior vice president, global scientific and regulatory affairs, ChromaDex. "Under her leadership, CERP has amassed nearly 300 research collaborations with institutions around the world, over 30 published clinical trials and several IP opportunities. Dr. Nkrumah-Elie and her dedicated team have elevated CERP to become the gold standard for industry-academia collaboration.”

Nkrumah-Elie is also a member of CRN's Senior Scientific Advisory Council and contributes actively to industry organization such as Women in Nutraceuticals, and the American Society for Nutrition.

“We appreciate Dr. Nkrumah-Elie’s engagement and leadership in the CRN member community,” said Andrea Wong, Ph.D., CRN senior vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs. “Her depth of knowledge, combined with her dedication to advancing scientific excellence and mentoring future generations, has made a significant impact.”

Nkrumah-Elie was one of five finalists for the award, namely:

• Rachel Brewer, PhD, executive director of research and development, USANA Health Sciences
• Lori Lauersen, senior vice president of global research and development, Unilever Health & Wellbeing Collective
• Amy Mozingo, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, SGS Nutrasource/GRAS Associates
• Taneesha Routier, J.D., regulatory lawyer and compliance expert, XYMOGEN

Nutritional Outlook spoke to Nkrumah-Elie after she received her honor. See the interview below: