Akay Bioactives’ Chief Scientific Officer Named 2026 NutraChampion!

We are proud to share that Dr. Krishnakumar Illathu Madhavamenon, Chief Scientific Officer of Akay Bioactives, has received the prestigious 2026 NutraChampion Award at this week’s NutraIngredients-Asia ceremony.

The NutraIngredients-Asia Awards recognize excellence in nutrition research, ingredient innovation, and finished products within the APAC nutraceutical market. The ninth annual awards attracted hundreds of submissions, with just 17 awards presented during the ceremony in Bangkok.

Unlike recognition for a single product or research project, the NutraChampion Award recognizes an individual whose career has created meaningful, long-term benefits for industry. Dr. Krishnakumar’s selection reflects not only the scale of his scientific achievements, but also his ability to translate research into ingredients and technologies that are used in consumer products around the world.

Honored for his Role in Transforming botanical knowledge into modern innovation

For more than two decades, Dr. Krishnakumar has helped advance botanical ingredient development from traditional extraction toward standardized, patented, and clinically substantiated solutions.

As Akay Bioactives’ scientific leader, he oversees work spanning ingredient discovery, phytochemical characterization, extraction optimization, intellectual property development and human clinical research. He has authored or co-authored over 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications and contributed to 30 issued patents and intellectual property filings.

He is also the creator of FenuMat®, Akay’s patented, plant-based delivery technology designed to improve the bioavailability, stability and functional performance of botanical compounds. This technology has been paired with a growing range of bioactives and is now used in finished products from leading health and wellness brands worldwide.

Congratulations, Dr. K, on this well-deserved recognition. We are honored to be part of the journey.