Dr. Chien has provided clinical expertise in identifying science-based innovations, considering their marketability and has successfully launched many new ingredients in different health categories. Dr. Chien has extensive background in intellectual property, regulatory and new product development in the dietary supplement industry. Prior to joining HORN, Dr. Chien was the principal inventor of a series of patented chromium molecules for insulin management at Interhealth Nutraceuticals, including Zychrome, a next-generation chromium dinicocysteinate complex, which received the NutrAward for best new ingredient at Nutracon 2012. During her graduate school years, Dr. Chein’s main research was in multistep organic synthesis of conducting polymers. She collaborated with Alan Heegar, Nobel laureate for chemistry in 2000, and has published papers in several peer-reviewed journals. One of the papers was reviewed by Nature magazine. Dr. Chien received her PhD from University of California, Santa Barbara in materials. She is a member of the American Chemical Society and can be contacted at [email protected].
 
Health E-Insights: Why does someone buy HORN products?
 
Dr. Chien: HORN represents the best-in-class ingredients that are backed by unmatched technical experts and science. We build lasting relationships that are deeply rooted in trust, transparency and integrity. We are not selling the ingredients. We are providing you solutions to build success together.
 
Health E-Insights: How important is it to promote the HORN brand?
 
Dr. Chien: HORN has been in the industry for more than 50 years. We want HORN to represent a brand that is not only associated with high-quality premium ingredients, but also the integrity that our employees bring to the business.
 
Health E-Insights: Do you feel the supplement business has changed in the past three years? If it has, how so?
 
Dr. Chien: Yes. Innovation continues to be a challenge for the industry, especially with the recent events from attorneys general regarding DNA barcoding, and negative reports on the industry. However, HORN is continuously striving to pride innovative ingredients that are driven by clinical studies. The drive to deliver great health benefits from the natural ingredients will eventually overcome the negative press. It is a process.
 
Health E-Insights: Any significant trends you see taking place in the industry?
 

Dr. Chien: Regulations and innovation. For regulations, the industry is working with the FDA as well as within trade associations, trying to establish a product registration for the finished dose products that the public can get access to and hoping we will become more visible regarding product information for the public. For innovations, it’s new ingredients that are backed by real science and new delivery forms that make dietary supplements more convenient for consumers to use.
 
Health E-Insights: Can you describe a typical business day in your innovative products position?
 
Dr. Chien: I continue to look for science-based ingredients from the international market. The world is flat. The thousands of years of old remedies in Asia and Africa can be new ingredients for many Americans.
 
Health E-Insights: What things do you do outside of work to help you be better at your job?
 
Dr. Chien: I include both physical and mental activities. Yoga is great for both. I like to look at life in a more deep and philosophical way that helps to put all things into perspective. You only live life once. And you need to make some impact, big or small to the world before leaving. At the end of the day, my job is to make sure that our ingredients reflect my philosophy of life and it is not driven by money.   
 
Health E-Insights: What makes you laugh?
 
Dr. Chien: Friends cracking silly jokes, tough projects that got pushed through and babies and dogs making silly faces.
 
Health E-Insights: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
 
Dr. Chien: Workwise, I invented a new molecule that could help diabetes. Life-wise, I produced a happy and healthy daughter. This year I finished reading the entire Bible in four months, cover-to-cover.
 

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Sheldon Baker is a partner in the Baker Dillon Group and has created numerous nutraceutical marketing communications and public relations campaigns for many well-known companies and brands.  For Health E-Insights interview consideration and campaign development, contact him at [email protected].