About Us
est 2005
Nutraceuticals Research Institute
Nutraceuticals Research Institute was established in 2005 as an educational center with the mission of making evidence-based natural products information available to everyone. Over the past 20 years, through the leadership of Dr Hawkins, NRI has played a key role in global evidence-based natural health education and in the furthering of the field through innovative clinical research.
The Nutraceuticals Research Institute provides research services, consulting, education, and training, all while focusing exclusively on botanical products, essential oils, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements.
MISSION
Our mission is to make high quality natural health research accessible. As a global leader in natural products clinical research, we work with brands to improve the evidence that substantiates their product claims.
VISION
Our vision is to see every high quality product supported by high quality scientific evidence. We know the way to achieve this vision is to increase both the quantity and quality of natural product clinical trials.
QUALITY
Our academic roots dictate a quality-over-quantity approach which informs which brands we accept as clients, which individuals we accept as participants, and what type of content we release for our participant community.
MEET OUR TEAM
Our interdisciplinary team consists of a wide range of experts who are fully hands-on with every clinical research or educational project here at NRI. As a boutique research firm, NRI is able to ensure that both trial sponsors and trial participants have full access to members of our senior research team.
JESSIE HAWKINS, PHD, CPI
Founder & President
Dr. Hawkins is a Harvard trained clinical researcher with over 20 years of experience in the natural products industry.
Elizabeth Dunne, MS, RDN
Sr. Researcher: Nutrition & Dietary Supplement Science
Elizabeth is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the research team's nutrition and supplement content expert.
ELIZABETH HAWKINS, BS
Research Staff: Psychology
KAYLA FULLER, BS
Research Staff: Kinesiology
EMILY JOHNSON, CRNP
Research Staff: Site Clinician
KARI PARSON
Community Outreach
LAUREN JOHNSON
Participant Liaison
RACHEL LILLY
Chairwoman, Nutraceuticals Research Ethics Board
JENNIFER JAEGER, RN
Research Staff: Site Nurse
KATE GLEN, RN
Research Staff: Site Nurse
KRISTI SMITH, RN
Research Staff: Site Nurse
MATT BROWN
Sales
OUR HISTORY
2005
VINTAGE REMEDIES
In June 2003, Jessie Hawkins established a small start-up that would evolve into Nutraceuticals Research Institute. Her goal was to make evidence-based information about natural health available to everyone.
Over the next 12 years, Dr. Hawkins would release four books and six personal enrichment programs through the Vintage Remedies brand, helping over 100,000 families worldwide learn how to use natural products safely and effectively.
2005
2010
NATURAL HEALTH COLLEGE
Now a recognized professional in the natural health field, Dr Hawkins frequently encountered aspiring natural health professionals looking for college programs. Frustrated with the lack of evidence-based options available, she began the work to establish the first fully authorized natural health college in the Southeastern United States to offer aromatherapy and herbal education with a recognized academic credential.
Dr. Hawkins would spend the next several years working to convince the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to authorize post-secondary programs for herbalism and aromatherapy.
2013
FRANKLIN INSTITUTE OF WELLNESS
In November 2013, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission voted unanimously in favor of authorizing the Franklin Institute of Wellness as a recognized institution of higher education, thanks to Dr. Hawkins' hard work. That same month, FIW began enrolling the first class of students who would graduate from the first legitimate college of herbalism and aromatherapy in the southeastern United States.
2013
2016
CLINICAL RESEARCH
Discontent with the lack of high quality scientific evidence available for natural products, Dr. Hawkins established the research division of the Franklin Institute of Wellness.
The research division would conduct original clinical trials and epidemiological studies for the natural products industry as well as integrative health nonprofits.
2018
FRANKLIN SCHOOL OF INTEGRATIVE HEALTH SCIENCES
Moving towards Dr Hawkins' original vision of becoming a research-centered academic institution, the Franklin Institute of Wellness became the Franklin School of Integrative Health Sciences, later shortened to Franklin Health. This name change allowed a clear distinction between the academic and research departments.
2018
2020
CLINICAL RESEARCH FOCUS
In 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic compelled the closure of our on-site classes. The pandemic also led to dramatic increases in research demands.
To adapt to these unprecedented times, Franklin Health made the transition from a research-focused college to an educational-focused research firm, opening clinical research services to a global market. Clinical research became the primary focus of Franklin Health.
2023
NUTRACEUTICALS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
In 2023, Dr. Hawkins expanded the research institute to Huntsville, AL, her childhood hometown. With this institute no longer exclusively located in Franklin, the name evolved to reflect its expanded purpose: Nutraceuticals Research Institute.
2023
OUR FUTURE
ONWARD.
Today NRI works with nutraceutical industry. leaders from around the globe to fulfill Dr. Hawkins original goal of improving both the quantity and quality of natural product evidence, making it accessible to everyone.
Through NRI, Dr. Hawkins also provides a free information library for the expansive community of research study participants, as well as both personal and professional educational opportunities ranging from personal enrichment webinars to primary investigator research training to luxurious Study Abroad trips to Europe.