# What happened Humann, a nutrition company based in Austin, Texas, announced a research partnership with the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) and its Innovation Institute for Food and Health (IIFH). The collaboration will study precision nutrition approaches that could improve cardiovascular health, physical and mental performance, and longevity.
# Who is involved
- Humann: consumer nutrition company focused on cardiovascular health.
- UC Davis IIFH: a research institute that combines nutrition science and technology.
- Dr. Harold Schmitz: will lead the research program and join Humann's scientific advisory board.
# What the research will do Humann and UC Davis plan to design and conduct scientific research, including clinical trials. The stated focus is the intersection of nutrition and cardiovascular health in men and women across multiple life stages. Specific areas called out include blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar — factors that the announcement links directly to cardiovascular outcomes over time.
Dr. Schmitz is noted for research on nitric oxide and for work bridging science-based food and nutrition innovation across academia and industry. He will direct study design and execution to advance knowledge that can be translated into consumer-facing innovation.
# Why the partnership matters to consumers and the industry The announcement frames cardiovascular health as a central driver of longevity and day-to-day physical and mental performance. Humann positions the partnership as a way to deepen scientific understanding of how targeted nutrition can influence measurable cardiovascular risk factors, and to accelerate product-relevant innovation based on clinical evidence.
UC Davis' IIFH is described as bringing advanced technology and nutrition-science expertise to the collaboration, with the intent to speed translation of findings into practical insights for consumers.
- Joel Kocher, CEO and co-founder of Humann: "Humann started with the belief that nutrition can play a meaningful role in supporting cardiovascular health, but we've always known there is much more to discover. Scientific partnerships have always been central to how we build this company, and our collaboration with IIFH gives us the opportunity to deepen our understanding of how nutrition can support cardiovascular health."
- Dr. Harold Schmitz: "Cardiovascular health is a critical driver of longevity, as well as optimal physical and mental performance throughout all stages of life. Nutrition can play a defining role in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, blood sugar, and other factors that work together to define cardiovascular health over time."
- Justin Siegel, faculty director of IIFH at UC Davis: "UC Davis has long been a leader at the interface of advanced technology and nutrition science, including cardiovascular nutrition. This collaboration creates an exciting opportunity to leverage cutting edge technologies to deepen our understanding of the connections between nutrition, cardiovascular health, and healthy aging."
# Immediate next steps implied by the release The organizations will begin planning and carrying out research activities and clinical trials designed by Schmitz and collaborators. The announcement signals intent to combine Humann's product-focused interests with UC Davis' scientific capabilities and technology platforms to generate actionable data.
# What to watch for
- Study registrations or clinical-trial announcements linked to Humann or UC Davis.
- Published findings on nutrition interventions that affect blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, or nitric oxide pathways.
- Any changes to Humann's product claims or new product launches tied to trial results.
# Where to find more information The release directs readers to Humann's website (humann.com) and UC Davis' site (ucdavis.edu) for updates and further details.