2026 Finalists | CRN Members, vote via your personal ballot received via email. Contact Gretchen Powers with questions.
Andrew Shao, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Global Scientific & Regulatory Affairs
Niagen Bioscience
"It's an incredible honor to receive this recognition. I've had the privilege of working with outstanding scientists, regulators, and industry leaders around the world who are committed to advancing nutrition science responsibly. I'm proud of what we’ve accomplished at Niagen Bioscience so far, and excited about the opportunity to continue raising the standard for evidence-based innovation."
BIO:
Dr. Andrew Shao serves as Senior Vice President of Global Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at Niagen Bioscience, where he leads the company's scientific initiatives and regulatory strategy worldwide. With 25+ years of experience in the global nutrition industry, Dr. Shao brings extensive expertise in nutritional science and regulatory affairs. Throughout his career, Dr. Shao has advised governments globally on science-based regulatory and policy reform, addressing topics from health claims and risk analysis to bioactive regulations.
FUN FACTS:
My favourite supplement: Tru Niagen
My happy place: In the basement gym at 4 am.
Special talent: I make great homemade pizza!
ORIGINAL NOMINATION SUBMISSION:
Dr. Andrew Shao has spent more than 25 years helping shape a more scientifically rigorous and transparent healthy aging industry. During his time at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Dr. Shao coauthored a series of publications that helped shape the practice of science-based safety levels for nutrients and bioactive ingredients globally. While at Herbalife Nutrition, he built a global scientific affairs team and served as Chair of the International Alliance of Dietary Supplement Association’s (IADSA) Scientific Committee. As Senior Vice President of Global Scientific & Regulatory Affairs at Niagen Bioscience, he leads the company’s R&D, regulatory and scientific affairs and quality functions while advancing stronger standards across the NAD+ and supplement categories.
Under Dr. Shao’s leadership, Niagen Bioscience has established Niagen as one of the most scientifically validated ingredients in healthy aging, supported by FDA New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) and GRAS notifications, and the first published United States Pharmacopeia (USP) monograph for nicotinamide riboside chloride (NRCl) – creating a standardized quality benchmark for NR-based ingredients.
Dr. Shao has also helped expand one of the industry’s largest external research ecosystems focused on NAD+ science, generating 300+ research collaborations across 30+ countries, contributing to 200+ peer-reviewed publications and 45+ human clinical studies, while helping drive an estimated $200M+ in third-party research funding.
Dr. Shao has also assumed leadership roles over the past twenty years within the American Society for Nutrition, including serving as past Chair of the Sustaining Partners Roundtable and currently serving as the Chair of the Publications Committee. He is active in his alma matta, the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, as past President of the Alumni Association and current member of the Tufts Nutrition Council.
Dr. Shao has coauthored over 60 peer-reviewed articles, abstracts and book chapters ranging in topics from nutrient risk assessment, to scientific frameworks to good manufacturing practices. He has presented at industry events, scientific conferences and presented to government officials around the world.
CRN Members, vote via your personal ballot received via email. Contact Gretchen Powers with questions. Learn more about this honor in CRN's April 2026 press release, “CRN and Radicle Science Announce 2026 Annette Dickinson Trailblazer Award Call for Nominations.”