Meet Dr. Song Gao, PhD: A Mission Rooted in Science and Purified Crocin

Dr. Song Gao is a visionary scientist and entrepreneur with over 30 years of expertise in life sciences, medicinal chemistry, food science, and natural products. As the founder of Saffron Health Sciences, he has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between nature’s most potent compounds and rigorous scientific validation.

A Personal Commitment to Healthy Aging

Dr. Gao’s journey into specialized saffron health research began with a personal mission. Motivated by his mother's challenges with age-related cognitive decline, he committed his life to identifying natural solutions that support long-term visual clarity, brain health, and vitality. This dedication led to years of studying the complex causes of neurodegeneration and the neuroprotective role of natural antioxidants.

The Science of Crocin Rich®: Beyond Standard Saffron Extracts

Through his extensive research, Dr. Gao identified that the primary health benefits of saffron are driven by crocin, a rare and powerful water-soluble antioxidant and carotenoid. While most saffron supplements contain standard saffron extracts with only 3% crocin or less, Dr. Gao developed a proprietary extraction process to produce Crocin Rich®.

• Superior Potency: Delivers up to 75% purified crocin.

• FDA Acknowledged: This innovation has twice received New Dietary Ingredient (NDI #1257) acknowledgments from the FDA.

• Patented Innovation: Dr. Gao holds multiple US patents for crocin-based formulations designed for therapeutic and nutraceutical use.

Distinguished Academic and Professional Background

Dr. Gao’s scientific authority is built on a deep academic foundation from top-tier global institutions:

• Ph.D. in Food Science and M.S. in Pharmaceutical Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

• Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

• M.S. in Medicinal Chemistry and B.S. in Chemistry from Sichuan University.

Before founding Saffron Health Sciences, Dr. Gao spent three decades at the intersection of life sciences and product development. He served as a Senior Scientist at Kraft Foods, where he focused on health and wellness programs and the applied sciences of health-oriented ingredients. He has also held leadership roles in the natural ingredients industry, specializing in natural compounds, extracts, and the development of commercial healthy food products and scientific publications.

Innovation Through Patents

Dr. Gao is the inventor behind multiple US Patents that form the scientific backbone of Saffron Health Sciences, including:

• US Patent 9,211,298 & 10,842,805: Compositions containing enriched natural crocin and their nutraceutical uses.

Today, Dr. Gao continues to lead Saffron Health Sciences in providing premium, science-backed supplements designed to support healthy aging, vision, and mental clarity for adults worldwide.

Selected Publication

Finley JW and Gao S, A Perspective on Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) Constituent Crocin: A Potent Water-Soluble Antioxidant ...” J. Agric. Food Chem. 2017, 65, 1005−1020.