Francisco Chacon, Ph.D.
Francisco T. Chacón, Ph.D., is a plant biologist whose work centers on botanical natural products, phytochemistry, and the discovery of bioactive plant compounds with potential applications in human health and nutrition. He earned his Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Penn State University, where his research focused on the chemistry, biosynthesis, and biological activity of plant‑derived metabolites, contributing to peer‑reviewed publications that explore how specific natural products are produced in plants and how they interact with biological systems.
Across his training and research roles, Dr. Chacón has built expertise in advanced analytical methods (including chromatography and mass spectrometry), natural product isolation and characterization, and molecular biology techniques used to probe biosynthetic pathways and regulatory networks in plants. This blend of chemistry and molecular biology allows him to connect the presence of a compound in a botanical ingredient with its likely mechanism of action, helping distinguish between ingredients with robust mechanistic support and those backed only by traditional or anecdotal use.
His scientific work spans from method development and metabolite profiling to functional assays that assess bioactivity, giving him a practical understanding of how to evaluate potency, specificity, and safety of plant‑derived compounds for potential use in supplements or functional ingredients. Drawing on this background, he pays particular attention to issues such as standardization of extracts, batch‑to‑batch variability, and the influence of plant genetics and environmental conditions on phytochemical content.
On the Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Chacón applies this rigorous, research‑driven perspective to ingredient selection, formula design, and substantiation of product claims. He helps evaluate the strength of evidence supporting candidate ingredients—reviewing primary literature, examining mechanistic plausibility, and scrutinizing study designs and endpoints—so that products are grounded in high‑quality science rather than marketing trends.
By bridging academic plant biology and practical product development, Dr. Chacón supports the creation of formulations that are both innovative and evidence‑based, with clear rationales linking phytochemistry to expected physiological effects. His contributions help ensure that new botanicals and natural product combinations are chosen and dosed in a way that reflects current scientific knowledge, aligns with emerging research, and maintains a high standard of transparency and integrity in how benefits are described to consumers.