AIDP Innovation Day 2025

AIDP Innovation Day 2025
New Research & Market Insights
October 1, 2025 - 8:00am - 11:30am PDT / 11:00 am - 2:30pm EDT
Now in its sixth year, AIDP’s annual Innovation Day presents new scientific research and market insights that are disrupting the health and wellness industry. Topics include recent clinical findings, advances in ingredient science, and applications for product development. Speakers will share data, case studies, and emerging solutions that are shaping the future of human health and longevity.
Who should attend? The program is designed for professionals in R&D, regulatory, formulation, marketing, purchasing, and management. Each session will conclude with a Q&A moderated by Maggie Jaqua, Editor-in-Chief of WholeFoods Magazine.
Agenda & Speakers

Session 1: Magtein for Brain Health and Brain Cognitive Longevity
30 minutes
8:00 am – 8:30 am PDT / 11:00 am – 11:30 am EDT
Magnesium is essential for brain structure and function. As we age, brain magnesium levels decline, reducing synaptic plasticity, weakening neuronal connections, and accelerating cognitive aging. These changes can affect memory, focus, mood, coordination, and sleep which are key pillars of overall brain performance and healthy longevity.
Magtein is a patented form of magnesium which has been uniquely designed to cross the blood–brain barrier and effectively elevate brain magnesium concentrations, driving measurable positive structural and functional changes. Recent human clinical studies demonstrate these health benefits to include improved executive functions and better sleep quality with a younger “brain cognitive age.” Such improvements support both brain health and its functional longevity, along with enhanced hand-eye-coordination reaction time. This presentation will link the mechanistic science of Magtein to brain magnesium and its real-world outcomes in cognition, healthy brain cognitive aging, hand-eye-coordination, mood and sleep.

About the Speaker
Rafea Naffa, PhD.
Director of R&D, ThreoTech
Dr. Rafea Naffa is the Director of R&D at Threotech. With a PhD. in biochemistry, he specializes in collagen and bioactive ingredients. He focuses on transforming scientific research into impactful and real-world health solutions and passionate about fostering collaboration creating meaningful connections through science and innovation. He works on the science behind Magtein supplement known for its cognitive health benefits.

Session 2: New research demonstrates the efficacy of Ginfort® at single daily dose of 100 mg
30 minutes
8:30 am – 9:00 am PDT / 11:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT
Ginfort® is a highly concentrated, single dose ginger extract standardised to > 26% Gingeroids. Prior research has shown that Ginfort® is very effective in reducing the symptoms associated with functional dyspepsia at 200 mg twice daily. In the recent dose-ranging human clinical study, Ginfort® was found to be effective in reducing the symptoms associated with Functions dyspepsia with a daily single dose of 100 mg. This talk discusses the results of this dose-ranging human clinical study demonstrating the efficacy of Ginfort®.

About the Speaker
Somashekara Nirvanashetty, PhD.
Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, Olene Life Sciences
Dr. Somashekara is an accomplished biochemist with over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and agri-food innovation. He holds a PhD from Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, in collaboration with IIT-Madras. Dr. Somu has filed more than 45 patents, authored 10 peer-reviewed publications, and contributed to two book chapters.
As Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Olene Life Sciences, he leads R&D, innovation, and intellectual property development, driving the creation of novel, clinically validated nutraceutical solutions. Recognized for his unique blend of scientific rigor and entrepreneurial vision, he is a respected thought leader and sought-after speaker in the life sciences arena.

Session 3: Magnesium Acetyl Taurinate - ATAMg® - Bioavailable Magnesium and Acetyl Taurine for Metabolic Health
25 minutes
9:00 am – 9:25 am PDT / 12:00 pm – 12:25 pm EDT
ATAMg® combines the power of magnesium with the emerging functional ingredient acetyl taurine. This magnesium complex enhances the bioavailability of magnesium through the lipophilic nature of the acetyl taurine ligand. Clinical research has shown that ATAMg can help alleviate many symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Additionally, exciting new research from Stanford has identified acetyl taurine as an endogenous metabolite of taurine that regulates appetite and body weight. This presentation will review what ATAMg is, how and why it is bioavailable, how it can help support PMS symptoms, and the emerging research on weight management and metabolism.

About the Speaker
Mike Weiser, PhD.
VP of Research & Development, AIDP
Mike Weiser, Ph.D is the VP of R&D at AIDP and is a natural products industry veteran with a background in neuroendocrinology and biomedical science. He specializes in functional ingredient innovation, preclinical and clinical research, and finished good formulation in the dietary supplement and functional food & beverage industries.

Session 4: Advancing Gut Health Through Targeted Prebiotic Interventions: Ingredient-Specific Mechanisms and Metabolic Implications
20 minutes
9:25 am – 9:45 am PDT / 12:25 pm – 12:45 pm EDT
Recent advancements in microbiome science have catalyzed a shift in how prebiotics are formulated and applied across consumer health products. This presentation will examine the functional roles of emerging prebiotic ingredients in modulating gut microbial composition and activity. Additionally, we will examine the intersection of gut health and metabolic wellness, with a focus on how these ingredients may influence GLP-1 pathways and broader metabolic outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into how the latest consumer trends, along with the evolving science of prebiotics, is shaping product development in the health and wellness sector.

About the Speaker
Samantha Ford, MS
Business Development Director, AIDP
Samantha Ford is Business Director at AIDP, Inc., where she leads market development of specialty ingredients in the nutraceutical space. Since entering the industry in 2008, she has held diverse roles spanning product development, clinical investigations and business development. Her expertise centers on gut health, metabolic wellness, and foundational nutrition. Samantha has contributed to peer-reviewed publications, served as a global expert speaker, and played key roles in introducing novel technologies to the market. With a BS in Dietetics from Purdue University and MS in Nutrition from Northeastern University, Samantha brings a multidisciplinary approach to advancing science-backed wellness solutions.

Session 5: Ashwa.30: A Formulator's Guide to Low-Dose, High-Impact Product Innovation
30 minutes
9:45 am – 10:15 am PDT / 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm EDT
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a well-known adaptogen with established roles in stress modulation and physical performance enhancement traditionally. Ashwa 30® (Low dose Ashwagandha) is a bioactive-optimized root-only extract standardized to >15% withanolides and an ATP-active fraction. Ashwa 30 was tested in preclinical trials on endurance, stress and anxiety and it demonstrated a significant improvement in stress, endurance and anxiety. Further Ashwa 30 was validated for its benefits on stress & endurance in the clinical studies. The clinical study on cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise-induced fatigue in healthy individuals demonstrated a significant improvement in VO₂ max and maximal heart rate compared to the placebo. Participants in the treatment group showed lower lactic acid levels at exercise, indicating prolonged aerobic metabolism. CPK levels were significantly reduced, suggesting mitigation of muscle energy stress. Borg RPE and fatigue scores improved in the Ashwa 30 group. Ashwa 30 was well tolerated, with no treatment-related adverse events. Hematological, hepatic, renal, metabolic, and vital sign parameters remained within normal clinical ranges following intake of Ashwa 30. Ashwa 30 supplementation for eight weeks significantly enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness, delayed fatigue onset, and was safe for use in healthy adults. In addition Ashwa 30 significantly decreased stress evident from significant reduction in cortisol levels following an acute stress induced after a week on Ashwa 30 intake indicating potential stress relieving benefits.

About the Speaker
Bharathi Bethapudi, PhD.
Assistant General Manager (Scientific & Regulatory Affairs), Natural Remedies
Dr. Bharathi Bethapudi works at R&D at Natural Remedies Pvt Ltd Bangalore, India. She is a postgraduate in Pharmacology & Toxicology discipline and is a board-certified toxicologist from American Board of Toxicology (ABT). Bharathi’s key research interests include clinical and pre-clinical research, new product developments for the supplements/nutraceuticals. She has additional interests in global regulatory issues pertinent to botanicals. Over a decade she has published her research in peer reviewed research journals and authored book chapters on herbal extracts.

Session 6: Nutra-oil: delivering a truly natural, highly effective, clean source of vitamin D3
15 minutes
10:15 am – 10:30 am PDT / 1:15 pm – 1:30 pm EDT
At Nutriearth, we have developed an entirely new source of natural and sustainable vitamin D3 for nutraceutical and healthy food. Nutra-oil is produced using a patented, unique method that replicates the body’s natural vitamin D3 synthesis. Our vitamin D3, sourced from Tenebrio molitor, offers significant advantages:
- Highly efficient: superior absorption and bioavailability proven.
- Novel and natural: a unique and simple method validated by over 60 worldwide patents.
- Clean and sustainable: a solvent-free production method that requires no chemical extraction or additives, ensuring both environmental responsibility and supply reliability

About the Speaker
Lisa Morand, PhD.
R&D Engineer / Nutrition Scientist, Nutriearth
Lisa Morand, PhD, is an R&D engineer and nutrition scientist at Nutriearth, an innovative company specializing in vitamin D–rich insect flour and oil. In 2023, she obtained her PhD. in human nutrition and cardiovascular disease, with a thesis on the bioaccumulation of fat-soluble vitamins from black soldier fly larvae and their bioavailability.
Her current work focuses on exploring applications for Nutriearth’s ingredients and developing scientific protocols to assess the stability, bioavailability, bioaccessibility, and efficacy of the vitamin D contained in these ingredients. In this role, she collaborates closely with multiple departments, bridging research, development and production to deliver innovative and reliable solutions.
About AIDP
Analyze. Invest. Develop. Partner.
AIDP Inc. is a leader in functional ingredients with a focus on extensively researched products. Since 1996 we have provided cutting-edge ingredients that meet consumer demand for wellness and healthy aging. AIDP identifies trends early, provides unique solutions, and works with customers to formulate strong market potential end products. Our commitment is to source high-quality ingredients and provide proprietary solutions that address formulation challenges.