CRN recognizes up and coming nutrition scientists during annual Science Symposium | Drug Store News

The Council for Responsible Nutrition announced the winners of its CAPS graduate student award program for 2024. This year’s program took place on Wednesday, Oct. 9, as one of the lead-in events to CRN’s annual conference — Convergene at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City.

In 2021, CRN joined with the American Society for Nutrition Foundation to create the CRN and ASNF Program for Scholars. As part of CRN’s efforts to support the nutrition research community and enhance awareness of the role dietary supplements play in nutrition, CAPS award winners are selected from graduate student members of the American Society for Nutrition based on their academic record and commitment to research. Winners receive travel support and complimentary registration to Science in Session, which features experts in nutrition and dietary supplement research. This year’s symposium focused on “Living Well Longer: Bioactive Innovations for Healthy Aging.”

“We are always excited to engage with talented students who are interested in learning more about human nutrition and want to make valuable contributions in advancing the science,” said Andrea Wong, senior vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs at CRN. “We hope their attendance and participation in our symposium will give them greater insights into the research they are currently conducting.”

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The 2024 CAPS awardees are Opeyemi Ogedengbe, who is seeking her Ph.D. in nutrition science at the University of Maryland – College Park, and Gwoncheol Park, a Ph.D. student in nutrition at Florida St. University. Both winners offered reflections on what their selection meant.

“Poor dietary habits are among the risk factors contributing to diabetes and other metabolic diseases,” Ogedengbe said. “I am confident the CRN symposium will offer me the experience and knowledge needed to effectively translate this intervention, along with enhancing my research skills and overall professional development.”

Park’s area of study is nutrition and gut microbiome, which began to pique his interest during his sophomore year as an undergraduate. “My aim was to discover microbiome-based therapeutic interventions for human disease and promote healthy aging," Park said. "The topics of the Science in Session program align perfectly with my research interests. I believe this is an extraordinary opportunity that will push my boundaries and open doors to a broader world.”

[Read more; CRN adopts guidelines for supplements, functional food sold on e-commerce platforms]

CRN also provides ASNF with support for mid- and senior-career nutrition researchers through the Mary Swartz Rose Awards.