About Us

Built to Treat Disease at Its Origin

We’re a nutra‑pharmaceutical company addressing the root drivers of human health, not just symptoms. Our work is grounded in mitochondrial science, cell metabolism, exercise physiology, and nutrition. By targeting the interconnected pathways that drive both rare genetic disorders and the widespread conditions of aging, we’re developing safe, effective therapies that treat disease at its origin.

Our Founder

Mark Tarnopolsky, MD, PhD, FRCP(C)

Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky is a neurometabolic and neuromuscular disease clinician‑scientist and internationally recognized authority on the role of exercise and nutrition in muscle disease, mitochondrial genetic disorders, aging, athletic performance, and obesity.

He founded Exerkine in 2013 to translate decades of human and mechanistic research into a new class of mitochondrial‑targeted therapies aimed at improving outcomes in both genetic and acquired conditions. His work bridges academic research, clinical medicine, and product development.

Dr. Tarnopolsky holds an endowed chair in Neuromuscular Disorders at McMaster Children’s Hospital and Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation and serves as Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine and Director of the Neuromuscular and Neurometabolic Clinic at McMaster Children’s Hospital.

He has authored more than 570 peer‑reviewed publications (h‑index 149) and is among the most cited researchers globally in mitochondrial and neuromuscular medicine. His career contributions have been recognized by major international organizations, including the International Biochemistry of Exercise Association and the American College of Sports Medicine.

In parallel with his academic career, Dr. Tarnopolsky has spent over 20 years consulting for the pharmaceutical industry and previously co‑founded and served as Chief Scientific Officer of Life Science Nutraceuticals, bringing translational and commercial rigor to Exerkine’s development strategy.

Our Team

The People Behind the Science

Mats Nilsson

Senior Scientist

PhD

Mats Nilsson is Exerkine’s Senior Research Scientist, leading clinical trials, research design, data quality control, and dissemination of results in peer‑reviewed journals and conferences. With more than 20 years of research experience, his expertise centers on the molecular basis of aging and the therapeutic role of exercise and nutritional interventions, with over 60 published manuscripts to his name. He co‑developed the “Integrated Systems Hypothesis of Aging” with Dr. Tarnopolsky, recognized with an editor’s choice award and cover of Biology journal. Mats also brings a unique athletic perspective, having competed on the Swedish national track and field team for over a decade and earned a top‑10 junior world ranking.

Bart Hettinga

Chief Operating Officer

MBA, CPA, CMA

Bart Hettinga is the Chief Operating Officer at Exerkine, directing business operations, research programs, and financial strategy, while ensuring compliance and governance across the organization. Over 12 years, he has been instrumental in scaling Exerkine from a research organization to a post‑revenue biotech enterprise. Bart’s career began at the bench conducting wet‑lab and human research before transitioning to senior operations and management roles - a trajectory that gives him rare fluency across both science and business. He holds an MBA in strategic financial management, is a CPA member, and has co‑authored more than 10 peer‑reviewed publications in exercise physiology and metabolic disease.

Kirsten Magi

Director, Marketing & Business Development

MBA, BSc

Kirsten Magi is the Director of Marketing and Business Development at Exerkine, leading brand strategy, digital marketing, communications, and partnership development for the StayAbove Nutrition brand. She brings more than a decade of marketing and partnership experience from organizations including Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Tennis Canada, and McMaster University, where she managed multi‑million dollar sponsorship portfolios and earned multiple leadership recognitions. Kirsten holds an MBA in Strategic Marketing from McMaster University (Dean’s Honour List) and a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University, where she competed as a full‑scholarship NCAA Division I athlete. Her background as a nationally ranked tennis competitor and ongoing community sport leadership inform a genuine passion for performance, health, and evidence‑based wellness.