In this episode, Mark sits down with Neal Mercado, Chief Science Officer at Melrose, one of Australia’s leading wellness brands.

With a background in pharmaceutical sciences and more than 15 years in product formulation and clinical research, Neal brings rare insight into how supplements are actually developed, tested, regulated, and sometimes compromised.

Neal most recently advised on the creation of FUTURELAB, a product range dedicated to the science of ageing well. Together, they unpack what works, what doesn’t, and what consumers need to know in an industry crowded with noise.

This is a grounded conversation about longevity, metabolic health, and why scientific rigour matters more than ever.

In this episode, we cover:
• How supplement products are formulated and regulated
• The real risks of adulteration and misleading labels
• What a Chief Science Officer actually does
• The science behind berberine and metabolic health
• Why resveratrol remains controversial
• The biggest challenges facing the supplement industry
• How FUTURELAB approaches ageing well differently
• The rise of personalised health and precision medicine
• Where longevity science is heading next