About Us
AboutNAD is an educational resource created by scientists to explore the cutting-edge research behind the molecule nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and its vital role in cellular energy. Specifically, we are focused on the recent surge of interest and research surrounding the innovative NAD precursor called nicotinamide riboside (NR). Our mission is to provide a balanced look at NAD’s role in human health by providing the latest educational and scientifically proven content to the public.
Although it has been known to the scientific community for over a century, NAD is receiving renewed attention as its many roles in human health and disease are discovered. For instance, declining NAD levels have been associated with aging and a wide variety of health conditions, such as increased risk of cancers and infection. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the latest findings on the protective role NAD may play in the innate immune response and cellular repair and controlling inflammation are of particular importance to share. As researchers explore new strategies for increasing NAD levels to support cellular energy and health, one unique, proven nutritional NAD-boosting intervention has captured their attention: nicotinamide riboside (NR). Our goal is to disseminate high quality and peer-reviewed research on NR and NAD, and to offer health-minded consumers original content summarizing and synthesizing these advancements, especially in these rapidly changing and uncertain times.
Meet Our Experts
AboutNAD was established by a team of researchers and scientists at ChromaDex Inc. to compile the growing research surrounding NAD and its nutritional precursors in one place online. Our team of scientific experts regularly review and contribute to the AboutNAD content.
Charles Brenner, Ph.D.
Chief Scientific Advisor
Dr. Charles Brenner is the Roy J. Carver Chair and Head of Biochemistry at the University of Iowa, as well as a founding co-director of the University of Iowa Obesity Initiative. In 2004, Brenner, then a faculty member at Dartmouth College, discovered nicotinamide riboside (NR) to be a vital precursor of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which is made available by nicotinamide riboside kinases (Nrks) that are conserved between yeast and humans. In 2007, Dr. Brenner’s lab discovered a second pathway by which NR is converted to NAD+ and showed that NR can extend the lifespan of yeast cells by virtue of elevating NAD+ levels and increasing the activity of the NAD+-dependent Sir2 enzyme.
In the past decade, Dr. Brenner has made multiple seminal contributions to NAD+ metabolism, which include engineering a yeast strain to convert inexpensive NAD+ precursor vitamins into NR, solving the crystal structure of human Nrk1, developing the methods for quantitative NAD+ metabolomics, and demonstrating the activity of oral NR in animal models of fatty liver disease; obesity; type 2 diabetes; diabetic and chemotherapeutic neuropathy; heart failure; and central brain injury. Dr. Brenner also led the first clinical trial of NR, which established safe oral availability in humans. He released preclinical results on April 20, 2020 that displayed promising preclinical findings showing viral infections deplete NAD+ and SARS-CoV-2-infected cells activate NAD+ defense pathway that utilizes Nicotinamide Riboside (NR).
Andrew Shao, Ph.D.
SVP, Global Regulatory & Scientific Affairs
Dr. Andrew Shao has spent nearly two decades in the global nutrition industry, holding a doctorate in nutritional biochemistry and master’s in human nutrition science, both from Tufts University. He currently serves as SVP, Global Scientific & Regulatory Affairs for ChromaDex Corp. Prior to joining ChromaDex Dr. Shao held several scientific and regulatory leadership roles for multinational companies and trade associations including Amway, Herbalife Nutrition and the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN). Dr. Shao has advised governments around the world on science-based regulatory and policy reform on topics ranging from health claims, to risk analysis to regulation of botanicals. He is a member of the American Society for Nutrition, the Institute of Food Technologists and the Tufts Nutrition Council.
Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie, Ph.D
Director, External Research
Dr. Yasmeen Nkrumah-Elie has over a decade of experience in molecular nutrition and toxicology research. She completed both her BS in Biological and Agricultural Engineering and her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, specializing in Toxicology, from The Florida A&M University. She received her postdoctoral training on the intersection of molecular nutrition and toxicology from Oregon State University. Prior to joining ChromaDex, she conducted metabolomics research and helped to initiate foodomics collaborations at the University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus. Yasmeen has published research in the areas of nutritional products, micronutrient deficiencies, and clinical metabolomics. In 2017, she was awarded by the American Society of Nutrition for her clinical and translational foodomics research. As the director of the ChromaDex External Research Program (CERP), Yasmeen and her team are helping to advance NAD and nicotinamide riboside (NR) research all over the world, while setting the industry standard for excellence in nutritional supplement research collaborations.