After earning a PhD in pharmacology and joining the faculty at Harvard, Dr. Pradhan-Nabzdyk began collaborating with fellow scientists Dr. Manoj Bhasin and Dr. Frank LoGerfo. Through their work together, she became increasingly interested in the growing popularity of botanical ingredients within Western markets.
This led them to co-found Canomiks, where they apply scientific rigor to understand how traditional ingredients like turmeric and ashwagandha work at the genetic level, bridging ancient wisdom with modern genomics.
As a female scientist, Dr. Pradhan-Nabzdyk discussed the career challenges women face in science, noting research showing that while women enter PhD and postdoc programs in equal numbers to men, there is a dramatic drop-off in their late twenties and early thirties when family responsibilities emerge. She shared her own experience juggling her and her husband’s conflicting work schedules with parenthood.
“A lot of times I have woken up at 4:30 in the morning, get my work done, then take care of my kid,” she said. “I always tell my friends, I’m never going to get the mother of the year award, but the most important thing for me is my son is doing well in school. He is getting fed, and he’s thriving. Will I be able to manage every little detail of his life? Probably not. And sometimes I miss appointments or sometimes he shows up late and that’s all OK.”
Having experienced the challenges of being a woman in science first-hand, Dr. Pradhan-Nabzdyk, the former co-chair of Women in Nutraceuticals (WIN) Science Committee, said it is crucial women receive support at every level.
“We have to support women in every which way we can,” she said. “Not just giving them maybe flexible hours but also helping with mentoring and asking the pertinent questions when they go up for promotions, writing grants, all of that. It takes a village to raise a woman scientist.”
She also emphasized the importance of science-based evidence in natural products, advocating for rigorous research to combat industry skepticism and ensure consumer safety.
Dr. Pradhan-Nabzdyk highlighted how consumers are becoming more discerning about supplement safety and efficacy, demanding science-backed products. To address this, Canomiks launched whattotrust.com, a service that evaluates nutraceuticals based on their scientific development and testing protocols. The platform verifies companies’ clinical trial claims and provides ongoing dialogue to help businesses improve their scientific standards.
