How a Biotech Engineer and Toxicologist Built a Global Brand to Change Wellness

Using patented purification methods and a community-first growth strategy, the Root Brands is redefining what it means to build a science-led wellness company.

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Dr. Christina Rahm and Clayton Thomas, founders, The Root Brands

When biotech engineer Dr. Christina Rahm and environmental toxicologist Clayton Thomas launched the Root Brands in 2020, they weren't trying to sell another supplement—they were out to transform the wellness industry from the inside out.

Even under organic standards, raw materials like plants and minerals can carry harmful contaminants. Rahm had already developed patented methods to detoxify these ingredients—technologies advanced enough to be applied to both consumer ingredients and even remediate nuclear waste. Today, she holds nearly 30 patents spanning nutraceuticals, skin care, packaging, and environmental cleanup. What if those same processes could be applied to everyday nutraceuticals? That insight shaped Root’s DNA. The company would clean inputs at every stage—sourcing, manufacturing, and packaging—to create safer, more bioavailable products.