The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and Radicle Science (San Diego, CA) have announced they will recognize bold, disruptive leaders redefining the dietary supplement and functional food industry with the Annette Dickinson Trailblazer Award. Nominations will be accepted from May 1 through May 30 through CRN’s platform via www.crnusa.org/trailblazer.
The late Annette Dickinson, PhD, blazed the trail for the establishment of the responsible dietary supplement industry as the first staff member of CRN in 1973. She later rose to become president of the association, serving in this role from 2002 to 2005, and remaining an active consultant and advocate for evidence-based nutrition policy even after retiring from CRN.
“The Trailblazer Award is an opportunity to honor the kind of bold leadership and impact that Annette Dickinson exemplified throughout her career,” said CRN President & CEO Steve Mister. “We look forward to celebrating the inspiring contributions of innovative leaders who are shaping the future of our industry.”
“Trailblazers don’t wait for change—they ignite it. The Annette Dickinson Trailblazer Award honors industry disruptors who are transforming health and wellness through fearless action and visionary thinking,” added Pelin Thorogood, cofounder and executive chair of Radicle Science. “As a mission-driven public benefit corporation, Radicle Science is proud to celebrate those who push boundaries and inspire expansion of what’s possible.”
Building on the CRN and Radicle Science award collaboration last year celebrating trailblazer Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, PhD, senior global director for external research for ChromaDex, Inc., a Niagen Bioscience company, the 2025 award will now honor the memory of Dickinson as it showcases today’s dietary supplement and functional food industry game-changers.
Any CRN voting member company employee is eligible for nomination. A panel of judges will select five finalists based on criteria including:
Leadership: Redefining influence through action, impact, and mentorship; spearheading initiatives that significantly enhance the landscape to develop others in executive, scientific and leadership roles.
Innovation: Catalyzing change through bold product, scientific, or strategic breakthroughs that address real consumer needs; shifting paradigms and moving the industry forward through disruptive ideas and bold execution.
Advocacy: Advancing policies and mindsets that support innovation, public health, and industry accountability; igniting momentum, inspire action and spark ripple effects that extend far beyond their own organizations.
Finalists will be announced in July, with a CRN member community vote to determine the winner. The recipient will be officially recognized at CRN’s CONVERGENCE ‘25 event, taking place Oct. 8-10 in St. Louis, MO.
For more information, visit www.crnusa.org/trailblazer or www.radiclescience.com.
