From longevity clinics to $160k recovery chambers, wellness brands of all types are looking to leverage scientific expertise by forming advisory boards and signing well-known medical advisors
As the booming wellness market becomes saturated with more brands trying to stand out and build a loyal customer base, a growing number of companies are leaning into the science behind their philosophies through expert-focused partnerships.
Several brands — including Next Health, Bon Charge, Therabody, SWTHZ and Ammortal — are bringing on established scientific experts to consult or oversee product development and research, cementing their respective credibility in the wellness market.
Wellness tech brands Therabody and Bon Charge are just two of the latest brands to establish councils of scientific experts in their push to create science-backed products.
Therabody, for its part, invested over $10 million in research initiatives, spearheaded by its Scientific Advisory Board and a new partnership with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The money is going towards conducting scientific and clinical research studies across areas including beauty, wellness and athletic performance.
“I am thrilled to welcome this caliber of scientific leadership to Therabody,” said president and CEO of Therabody, Monty Sharma. “Our Scientific Advisory Board, along with our significant investment in scientific research and partnerships, will ensure we remain at the forefront of our industry and dedicated to developing the most effective, scientifically validated products available today and in the future.”
Last week, Bon Charge announced its own Scientific Advisory Board, aimed at offering insights and clinical expertise to guide the brand’s wellness, beauty, and biohacking technology developments.
The two tech brands aren’t alone in creating councils to oversee scientific accuracy and innovation at their companies. Contrast therapy brand SWTHZ already had its own medical advisory board, recently adding hot and cold scientist Dr. Susanna Søberg to its roster.
Next Health, a franchisor of health optimization and longevity centers, made a bold statement with the formation of its 14-person Scientific Advisory Council of wellness physicians, scientists and innovators. On its board are several well-known names in the longevity and wellness world, including functional medicine pioneer and co-founder of Function Health, Dr. Mark Hyman.
The founder of Next Health, Dr. Darshan Shah, is bringing his scientific expertise beyond his own brand in the latest development in the expert-brand partnerships trend. Shah just joined Ammortal, makers of a $160,000 immersive recovery chamber that combines red light and other modalities, as its first-ever chief medical officer. There, Shah will use his background in health and longevity to bolster the company’s wellness mission.
“Ammortal has been on my radar for years, and after just one session in the Ammortal Chamber, I knew this company had something truly special — something I wanted to be part of,” said Shah. “As chief medical officer, I’m eager to bring my expertise to help drive Ammortal’s growth and set a new standard in longevity and wellness technology.”
