The Council for Responsible Nutrition announces Science in Session theme and lineup

In an August 5, 2025, press release¹, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) announced the theme and lineup for this year’s Science in Session, part of the series of events taking place during Convergence ‘25 in October. The events include the Innovation Exchange, Wellcomms, and Convergence conference, taking place Oct. 8–10 at the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, Missouri. Industry trade association CRN represents more than 180 dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, as well as their service providers.

This year’s Science in Session theme “Edge of Innovation: Bioactives to Advance Human Health” will examine data on prebiotics, postbiotics, polyphenols, botanicals, and other bioactives and their impacts on cognitive resilience, women’s health, bone development, and prenatal nutrition.

“Science in Session is where we bring forward-looking research directly to industry leaders,” stated Andrea Wong, PhD, CRN senior vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, in the press release. “This year’s agenda highlights frontiers in research exploring diverse areas where bioactives and nutrition interventions may support health across the lifespan—from maternal wellness to stress resilience to healthy aging.”

As listed in the press release, the presentations from scientists and academic researchers at the event include:

• Role of prebiotics in women’s health and longevity: Brenda J. Smith, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine
• The microbiota-gut-brain axis: mechanisms and the role of postbiotics: Melanie Gareau, PhD, University of California, Davis
• Plant polyphenol metabolites and resilience to stress-induced mood and anxiety: Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Botanical derived progestins and their impact on women’s health: Joanna Burdette, PhD, University of Illinois Chicago
• The influence of dietary phytochemicals on skeletal development and bone growth: Jin-Ran Chen, MD, PhD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences / Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center
• Targeting the developmental origins of metabolic disease in offspring through maternal natural health product supplementation: Todd C. Rideout, PhD, State University of New York at Buffalo

Science in Session is open to CRN members and nonmembers. It will run concurrently with Wellcomms, the event covering marketing in the wellness space². The main Convergence conference will take place October 9-10.

In July, CRN also announced³ the lineup for the Innovation Exchange. Attendees registered for Science in Session receive complementary access to the Innovation Exchange. ADM, Balchem Corporation, Nutriventia, Radicle Science, SuanNutra, and Verb Biotics will be presenting on a variety of topics including the gut microbiome, brain health, precision wellness, and more.

“The presentations for CRN’s 2025 Innovation Exchange reveal exciting science-based breakthroughs for forward-looking dietary supplement and functional food formulations,” stated Innovation Exchange Steering Committee member Michael Hartman, PhD, in a press release. “We look forward to hearing from these creative, transformational companies on their ahead-of-the-curve innovations and invite industry stakeholders to join us this fall for this exploration.”

References

1. The Center for Responsible Nutrition. CRN’s 2025 ‘Science in Session’ to Dive Into Power of Bioactives for Human Health https://www.crnusa.org/newsroom/crns-2025-science-session-dive-power-bioactives-human-health (accessed 2025-08-08).
2. Colli, M. Innovation Exchange 2025 lineup announced by CRN https://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/view/innovation-exchange-2025-lineup-announced-by-crn (accessed 2025-08-08).
3. The Center for Responsible Nutrition. 2025 Signature Events https://www.crnusa.org/2025events# (accessed 2025-08-08).