Lisa Offringa, PhD

I bridge science with business development driving growth for Phynova across the Americas. As the scientific expert on the commercial team, I translate the evidence behind Reducose into real customer value, supporting sales efforts, building brand credibility, and advancing clinical validation and regulatory compliance to keep Phynova at the forefront of science-backed health solutions.

Provide clinical and scientific guidance on formulation and positioning, contributing to the development of evidence-based, non-pharmaceutical solutions.

Developing novel, prescription medicines derived from plants for mental health indications including cognitive deficits in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia. Conduct technical research and analysis, developing comprehensive dossiers for over 150 medicinal plants, detailing botanical descriptions, traditional uses, phytochemical profiles, bioactivity, and toxicity. Provide expert consultation during meetings with leading medicinal plant researchers, integrative medical professionals, and business executives, advancing two plants into late-stage R&D as prescription medicines. Prepare detailed safety and toxicological assessments of medicinal plants, supporting regulatory submissions.

From Nature’s Wisdom to Modern Wellness: Bridging ancient plant knowledge with modern science to create sustainable health solutions. Overview of services: ~Ethnobotanical research & consulting ~Herbal product innovation & development ~Clinical trial management ~Regulatory compliance specifically label claim substantiation ~Technical program leadership & Project management ~Consumer education & Scientific translation

Researched and authored the “Stories of Food” series, featuring 20 culturally significant foods from around the world. Each piece explored the ecological context by emphasizing genetic diversity, biodiversity, and ecosystem health, and examined their role in resilient, regenerative food systems. The series also delved into each food’s cultural significance, nutritional profile, and bioactive compounds with documented health benefits.

Responsible for the creation and buildout of the Plant Biology Department driving the company’s plant sourcing strategy for Forager, Brightseed’s AI platform, mapping bioactives to health benefits. Created best-in-class natural resources library including plants, fungi & algae increasing specimens by over 2000 samples, boosting library biodiversity by 30% and enhancing metadata accuracy to optimize inputs for Forager’s R&D pipeline. Redesigned, and implemented revisions to procurement of plant material for >20 partner and internal projects from initial screening through hit-to-lead decreasing project timeline by 50%. Served as Alliance Manager and technical program lead, overseeing bioactive profiling programs of plant samples from experimental design through final report delivery to partners. Botanical domain expert supporting company wide communications, technical sales and partnership building with customers and trade organizations resulting in a peer-reviewed publication. Recruited and trained a Research Associate for the Plant Biology team, offering ongoing mentorship and fostering career growth opportunities.

Established and built the PMO by creating comprehensive company wide processes and instruments to drive accountability and clarity across all partner and internal programs from discovery to development through a deep understanding of the product development pipeline. Data driven guidance on portfolio strategy for CEO, CTO and COO to prioritize company objectives. Accountable for operational excellence of partnership programs by organizing staffing, space and equipment usage across all relevant stakeholders including R&D, BD and leadership. Botanical SME collaborating cross-functionally with Marketing to create content and ensure scientific accuracy in communications, and with Scientific and Medical Affairs to facilitate Scientific Roundtables and the Bioactives Coalition. Recruited and onboarded an R&D Program Manager within the PMO, enhancing the team’s capacity to drive company growth initiatives.

Influence the business with technical expertise in product claims process and development, botanical knowledge and clinical trial experience. Product developer who conceptualizes, formulates and manages the development of new products primarily for the Natural Vitality® and Rainbow Light® brands. Drive innovation, product development and business strategy by applying knowledge of published research, compelling analysis of scientific data, traditional plant use, and market developments. Created the accelerated stability testing program under the R&D department to ensure label claim compliance, shelf life and determine appropriate formula overages for all new products. Develop product label claim substantiations and create Marketing materials for all retail products to meet scientific, DSHEA and FDA regulatory requirements. Design and implement multiple clinical trials and ensures timely project management and provide new product claims to the business.

Apply knowledge of traditional use, published research, compelling scientific data, and innovative developments to evaluate potential ingredient and advise on product development. Substantiate label claims for all new products and create documents to meet regulatory requirements. Analyze scientific data and apply findings to product development and claims substantiation. Provide technical and conceptual guidance on ingredient use for product development. Interpret laboratory assay results and advise on test method selection. Design and implement clinical trials and ensures timely project management.

Co-instructor for the course Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems: Maximum Sustainability across Health, Economics, and the Environment.

Taught biweekly course consisting of a short lecture with applicable laboratory exercise requiring deep understanding of concepts to facilitate hands-on learning experiences for over 180 students per semester. Redesigned course objectives in collaborative meetings with faculty and staff to improve course content.

Program Manager for an industry-sponsored Clinical Trial for the Nutrition Studies group the focused on reduced calorie intake, mindful eating and behavior change. In accordance with the Stanford Research Compliance Office, created protocols, managed budget as well as designed, executed questionnaires / assessments and managed database tracking participant compliance. Recruited, supervised participants; provided post-intervention data analysis and presentation.

Supported by an NIH Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA), conducted research in nutrition at Stanford School of Medicine, taught at San Jose State University. Researched impact of dietary plant and fiber intake on physiology, weight loss in DIETFITS 600-person clinical trial. Managed 100-person research study: effect of diet on health and diversity of human intestinal microbiota. Served on team working towards shifting dietary trends on university campuses and hospitals via education, choice architecture, behavioral design through the Menus of Change initiative. Researched global nutrition policies to combat non-communicable disease. Evaluated health benefits of traditional dietary patterns in Asian countries. Researched vegetable and fruit intake in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties for Second Harvest Food Bank. Led seminar series on Food and Health, Harnessing the Power of Food, Stanford Hospital. Educated healthcare teams about nutritional options during cancer treatment. Planned, directed panel discussions and speakers at Stanford Food Summit as Advisory Board Member. Served as Visiting Professor at San Jose State University. Taught both “Functional Morphology & Physiological Ecology,” one-semester upper-division undergraduate course.

Trained as an anthropologist, plant organic chemist and field botanist while completed required coursework for graduate studies in ethnobotany. • Conducted independent research on bioremediation potential of Usnic lichens. Characterized chemical complexing mechanisms with heavy metals via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). • Served as lead instructor for supplemental workshop, 2-semester biology course for undergraduate Biology majors. • Established “The Friends of the Greenhouse” organization to promote identification and use of local plants from SFSU greenhouse; held educational plant sales.

Around the world education travel experience to Venezuela, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, India, Singapore, Japan, China, and Hong Kong.