OCTOBER 28, 2024
CAPS Award provides access to CRN’s signature symposium, Science in Session; presented in partnership with the American Society for Nutrition Foundation
WASHINGTON — The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, announced the winners of its CAPS graduate student award program for 2024 that grants the next generation of nutrition scientists access to its annual Science in Session symposium,which features experts in nutrition and dietary supplement research. This year’s program focused on “Living Well Longer: Bioactive Innovations for Healthy Aging.” andtook place on Wednesday, Oct. 9 as one of the lead-in events to CRN’s annual conference — CONVERGENCE — at the Grand AmericaHotel in Salt Lake City.
In 2021, CRN joined with the American Society for Nutrition Foundation (ASNF) to create the CRN and ASNF Program for Scholars (CAPS). 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 (ASN) based on their academic record and commitment to research. Winners receive travel support and complimentary registration to Science in Session, and are partnered with a CRN member “mentor” to help facilitate networking opportunities with industry professionals.
“We are always excited to engage with talented students who are interested in learning more about nutrition and want to make valuable contributions in advancing science,” said CRN Senior Vice President, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Andrea Wong, Ph.D. “We hope their participation in our symposium will give them greater insights into scientific innovation and future career opportunities.”
The 2024 CAPS awardees are Opeyemi Ogedengbe, M.Sc., who is seeking her Ph.D. in nutrition science at the University of Maryland – College Park, and Gwoncheol Park, M.S., a Ph.D. student in nutrition at Florida StateUniversity. Both winners offered reflections on what their selection meant.
“Poor dietary habits are among the risk factors contributing to diabetes and other metabolic diseases,” Ms. 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.”
Mr. 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. 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.”
CRN also provides ASNF with support for mid- and senior-career nutrition researchers through the Mary Swartz Rose Awards.
Hear directly from the 2024 CAPS Award recipients (video) here:
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 Twitter @CRN_Supplements and LinkedIn.