Dr. Gene Bruno
Gene Bruno, DBM, MS, RH(AHG) is the Chief Scientific Officer at Nutraland USA and Professor Emeritus of Nutraceutical Science at Huntington University of Health Sciences. Known as “The Vitamin Professor”, he is a multiple award-winning formulator universally recognized as one of the industry’s leading experts in nutraceutical science, specializing in evidence-based dietary supplement formulation and development.
Gene has dedicated his career to combating “fairy dusting” — the practice of including ineffectual amounts of nutraceuticals in formulations—and advocates for products based on real science rather than marketing science.
As Chief Scientific Officer at Nutraland USA since 2023, Gene leads the company’s scientific initiatives, driving innovation and ensuring the highest standards of quality and safety across the product portfolio. Under his leadership, the company has conducted multiple clinical trials on plant-derived ingredients, including a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with over 300 human subjects on the sleep benefits of Somnatural, a plant-derived melatonin from St. John’s wort, and another trial scheduled on the cognitive benefits of Miricell rice germ polyamines.
In 2025, he coauthored a groundbreaking study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine titled Effects of Spermidine-Rich Rice Germ Extract Supplement on Biomarkers of Healthy Aging and Autophagy-Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study, conducted in collaboration with The Center for Applied Health Sciences. Read Nutraland rice germ extract pilot study: ‘A pivotal moment for spermidine research’.
Gene develops regulatory-compliant structure/function claims, health claims, and qualified health claims for innovative dietary supplements. He reviews scientific literature on health and nutraceuticals, creates extensive white papers for each product developed, and writes third-party literature that functions as sales aids. He conducts live and web-based training sessions on products for sales representatives and retailers, serving as an engaging expert spokesperson in venues including radio, television, and live events. Read Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, RH(AHG), Chief Scientific Officer.
Between 2021 and 2023, Gene served as Vice President of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs at Twinlab Consolidation Corporation (TCC) in Boca Raton, Florida. From 2018 to 2021, he was Senior Director of Product Innovation at TCC. Between 2015 and 2018, he held the position of Chief Innovation Officer at NAC Marketing Company LLC, doing business as New Vitality, in Edgewood, New York. From 2012 to 2015, he served as Vice President of Formulation and Scientific Oversight at Twinlab in the Greater New York City Area, where he developed new formulations, updated existing formulations, developed literature educational materials and marketing materials, and served as liaison with regulatory, legal, and sales departments. Read Nutraland Appoints Gene Bruno as Chief Scientific Officer.
From 2010 to 2012, Gene was Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at New Vitality. Between 1989 and 2009, he served as Vice President of Education at Great Earth Companies for 20 years. From July 2007 to June 2008, he held the position of Vice President of Technical Services at Phoenix Laboratories. In 2009, he worked as a Consultant for Jarrow Formulas. He also served as a Lecturer at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy between January 2005 and December 2006, teaching complementary and alternative medicine to second-year PharmD students. Watch Is Your Supplement Real or Fake? A Podcast Interview with Gene Bruno.
As Professor of Nutraceutical Science at Huntington University of Health Sciences from 2004 to 2023, Gene educated healthcare professionals and students for nearly 20 years. He now holds the title of Professor Emeritus of Nutraceutical Science at the institution. He headed the team that developed a Doctorate program in Integrative Healthcare at Huntington. He has developed both residential and distance education training programs for dietary supplement retailers and was awarded the Nutrition Business Journal’s award for having developed the best training and customer service program in the natural products industry.
Gene earned his Doctoral degree in Botanical Medicine from the National University of Medical Sciences, with campuses in Spain, USA, and Panama. He earned his Master’s degree in Herbal Medicine from the University of New England in Australia between 2003 and 2005. He also earned a Master’s degree in Nutrition from Huntington University of Health Sciences.
Additionally, he earned an Advanced Diploma in Herbal Medicine from the Australian College of Phytotherapy, a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from Huntington College of Health Sciences, and completed his Certified Nutritionist certificate from American Health Science University. He also earned a Diploma in Comprehensive Nutrition from the American Academy of Nutrition and completed general education coursework at Chaffey College.
Gene is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild, designated by the credentials RH(AHG). Gene has authored and coauthored multiple books on nutrition and health. He coauthored What’s In Your Blood & Why You Should Care: How to Cleanse and Detoxify Your Blood for Optimum Health in 2019. He is also the author of A Guide to Complementary Treatments for Diabetes: Using Natural Supplements, Nutrition, and Alternative Therapies to Better Manage Your Diabetes, published in 2010.
He published Vitamin C: Research Update in Current Sports Medicine Reports in June 2006. He is currently writing The Vitamin Professor’s Guide to Real Science vs. Marketing Science: Over 120 Evidence-Based Nutraceuticals for Promoting Health & Wellness. a comprehensive guide on assessing dietary supplements for legitimacy.
Gene has written hundreds of articles on nutrition, herbal medicine, nutraceuticals, and integrative health issues for trade, consumer, and peer-reviewed publications. His articles have appeared in Vitamin Retailer Magazine, Nutritional Outlook, Natural Practitioner Magazine, Taste For Life, WholeFoods Magazine, TotalHealth Magazine, and Nutraceuticals World. He has developed natural products for dozens of dietary supplement companies and has formulated hundreds of innovative, evidence-based dietary supplements.
Gene hosts two podcast series: The Bioactive Nexus Podcast and The Vitamin Professor Podcast. exploring nutraceutical topics and other issues relevant to the dietary supplement industry. Through these podcasts, he interviews industry leaders and discusses the latest research on dietary supplements, botanical medicine, and nutrition science.
He publishes a bimonthly newsletter titled The Vitamin Professor on LinkedIn, which has attracted over 2,400 subscribers. The newsletter reviews the most recent research on nutraceuticals, covering topics such as omega-3 fatty acid intake and stroke, plant-based nutraceuticals and menopausal symptoms, integrative medicine approaches, and evidence-based dietary supplements. Read The Vitamin Professor – Issue 3. Watch Stephen Lukawski and The Vitamin Professor Gene Bruno on KISC My Health Radio Show with Peter Mingils.
Gene is known throughout the dietary supplement industry for his unwavering stance that formulation should be based on real science, not market science. He eschews the practice of “fairy dusting” and speaks passionately at industry trade shows and professional conferences about ethical dietary supplement formulating, promoting the necessity of providing clinically relevant doses of nutraceuticals shown in human research to be effective for the purpose intended.
When asked about the most common misconceptions people have about the dietary supplement industry, he states that the biggest misconception is that the industry is unregulated, when in fact it is highly regulated but lacks sufficient enforcement. Read The Vitamin Professor.
Read 10 Astaxanthin Health Benefits – Backed by science and Nutraland Appoints Gene Bruno as Chief Scientific Officer.
Visit his LinkedIn profile and The Vitamin Professor Homepage.