When Phynova’s name was announced as the winner of the 2026 NutraIngredients-USA Award for Nutrition Research Project of the Year, Director of Marketing Americas Jewell Blackwell’s emotional reaction quickly became one of the night’s most memorable moments
The awards, held in Chicago in July, recognized excellence across the nutrition and dietary supplement industry
“It was just a moment of absolute elation and pure joy,” Blackwell told NutraIngredients. “I was so thrilled that this really powerful botanical ingredient is receiving the esteemed recognition that it truly deserves.”
For Blackwell, the award is more than just industry recognition. It reflected years of work by a small team dedicated to advancing research on metabolic healthto help manage post-meal blood glucose
“I was thinking about all the time invested that we’ve put into testing Reducose, the incredible experts and institutions we’ve partnered with along the way and just a wave of gratitude that everyone’s hard work was understood and recognized,” she said
Blackwell told NI the research program was built around the idea of people managing their metabolic health without dramatically changing the way they eat
“Our research has really set out to answer one simple question, which is, can we give people an easy, science-backed way to better manage their metabolic health without disrupting their lives and asking them to stop eating carbohydrates?” she said
For more than a decade, the company has expanded its clinical research program to evaluate Reducose in healthy adults and people with type 2 diabetes, investigating its effects across mixed meals while validating its mechanism of action and long-term safety
Blackwell said the breadth of the evidence likely helped distinguish the project from other award entries
“It’s an ongoing body of work with multiple peer-reviewed studies,” she said
While the current body of evidence has consistently demonstrated Reducose’s ability to reduce post-meal glucose and insulin spikes, Blackwell said the company’s next phase of research will broaden its focus
Rather than concentrating solely on acute postprandial responses, Phynova plans to research longer-term metabolic outcomes and explore potential connections with gut health, hormonal health, women’s health and healthy aging
“Our research strategy is based on the belief that metabolic health pathways are interconnected,” she said. “Understanding these connections can help us develop meaningful, long-term health solutions.”
Blackwell added that she hopes the award inspires greater investment in rigorous clinical research across the nutrition industry while giving brands and consumers greater confidence in science-backed ingredients
“I really hope it encourages a greater investment in long-term clinical research,” she said. “Ultimately, I hope more people discover Reducose and improve their metabolic health.”
