OCTOBER 9, 2025
ST. LOUIS — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and Radicle Science today announced Deshanie Rai, Ph.D., as the 2025 Annette Dickinson Trailblazer Award honoree, recognizing her barrier-breaking contributions and leadership in the health and wellness industry.
Dr. Rai, vice president, global science, regulatory and advocacy at OmniActive Health Technologies and adjunct professor at Tufts University, has made consumer selfcare a focus of her career contributions through the development, translation and dissemination of rigorous science in compliance with regulatory guidelines. She has leveraged her technical skillsets across multiple therapeutic areas and her strengths as a cross-functional partner to bring several meaningful product and messaging innovations to global markets. These included gastrointestinal health and the microbiome, eye health and vision performance, women’s health, and pediatric allergy management. Dr. Rai is adept at connecting the dots and troubleshooting and has successfully identified and implemented strategies to accelerate regulatory pathways while still prioritizing product integrity and consumer safety. While the products she has worked on have reached consumers in North America, Europe, Oceania and Asia, she has also made an impact in Africa through her volunteer efforts in promoting food security.
CRN President & CEO Steve Mister with Deshanie Rai, Ph.D., and Pelin Thorogood of Radicle Science. Download high-res image.
“I am both humbled and extremely grateful to be selected as the Annette Dickinson Trailblazer Award honoree,” said Dr. Rai. “This recognition is a tribute to the many colleagues who have guided me as I blazed my way through this journey. It inspires me to keep pushing boundaries to advocate science that makes a difference, and to lead with courage and purpose.”
Dr. Rai’s work has mobilized cross-functional, multi-company and nonprofit partnerships to shape science and policy, including a multi-prong initiative to champion the role of nutrition in eye health across the lifespan—pursuing recognition of science-backed bioactives, clinical practice guidelines, and policy change. She is widely recognized within the industry and academic communities for mentorship, professional development, and “paying it forward.”
“The CRN member community’s selection of Dr. Rai recognizes not only her technical and scientific achievements, but her commitment to lifting up others and amplifying the value of an array of disciplines—science, regulatory, innovation, advocacy, marketing—to deliver meaningful health improvements,” said Gretchen Powers, CRN vice president, marketing and member experience.
“Dr. Rai exemplifies what the Annette Dickinson Trailblazer Award stands for — brave leadership, breakthrough science, and lasting impact. Her work shows that when innovation meets purpose, consumers gain not only better products, but greater trust in what they use. We are proud to honor her as this year’s Trailblazer,” said Pelin Thorogood, Radicle Science co-founder and executive chair.
Dr. Rai has donated her award funds to the CRN and American Society for Nutrition Foundation (ASNF) Program for Scholars (CAPS) that provides complimentary registrations for the association’s Science in Session event.
About CRN:
The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), founded in 1973, is a Washington, D.C.-based trade association representing 180+ dietary supplement and functional food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and companies providing services to those manufacturers and suppliers. In addition to complying with a host of federal and state regulations governing dietary supplements and food in the areas of manufacturing, marketing, quality control and safety, our manufacturer and supplier members also agree to adhere to additional voluntary guidelines as well as to CRN’s Code of Ethics. Follow us on LinkedIn and X @CRN_Supplements.
About Radicle Science:
Radicle Science is a health tech trailblazer on a mission to bring clinical evidence and precision to natural products and wellness. Its pioneering proof-as-a-service platform combines AI, clinical data, consumer science and crowdsourcing to rigorously validate the effects of natural products across diverse populations—at unprecedented scale and speed. The platform delivers improved health outcomes for consumers, innovative R&D insights for brands, and bridges the long-standing gap between consumer belief and scientific validation. Learn more at www.RadicleScience.com.