Dr. Hancke has published over 80 scientific papers and has an astounding 20 patents. Since 1980 he has been investigating medicinal plants, beginning with  four years at the Swedish Herbal Institute in Sweden, where he studied the immunomodulating properties of Andrographis paniculata [ParActin®] and collaborating closely with Universities and Research Centers all over the world, including  USA, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy and Chile.

For instance, in 2008 he worked  for a research consortium in cancer funded by the World Bank.  One of the lines of research he proposed was to investigate Aristotelia chilensis [MaquiBerry®] in cancer, considering that polyphenols of fruits, particularly anthocyanins, had a strong and beneficial impact on health. His work was the basis of the introduction of HP Ingredients’ distinctive super berry – Maqui berry – which has been shown to contain the highest content of proanthocyanidins. Further, Dr. Hancke was one of the first experts to review promising preliminary research on Citrus Bergamot’s powerful effects on cholesterol profiles and cardiovascular health. He was instrumental as well in working with Annie Eng to commercialize this valuable fruit.

Dr. Hancke has worked with Annie Eng since the early days of HP Ingredients, helping bring to market the compelling portfolio of HP Ingredient’s safe, patented, clinically proven nutraceutical ingredients for use in your state-of-the-art formulations.

In addition to sourcing medicinal plants for HP Ingredients, and supervising the handpicking of the organic Maqui berries in woven baskets by the indigenous Mapuche at 3600 feet altitude, he spends his spare time as a full professor of pharmacology at Universidad Austral de Chile.

Dr. Hancke studied Veterinary Medicine at Universidad Austral de Chile, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Germany. He  obtained a grant from the WHO at the Medical School of Hannover, and was an honorary Research fellow at the Charing Cross Hospital, University of London.