Inside Timeline’s Lab: Meet Dr. Davide D’Amico

At Timeline, we’re on a mission to advance human healthspan through science. That work is only possible because of our team of brilliant researchers behind the scenes. In this series, we’re proud to introduce you to the scientists whose passion and expertise fuel everything we do. Today, meet Dr. Davide D’Amico, PhD, a molecular biologist whose work bridges the gap between discovery science and impactful health outcomes.

Davide is the Director of Discovery and Translational Research at Timeline, leading his team's efforts in translating cutting-edge discoveries into tangible health benefits. “It’s an exciting position that bridges basic science—exploring the biology of aging and Urolithin A—with applied science, where we translate discoveries from the lab into the real world,” he says.

Read on to learn more about Davide, the research he is doing, and how he is helping to shape the future of longevity science.

A Passion for Health and Mitochondria

Davide’s core expertise is in molecular and cellular biology, which is the study of how cells function at a basic level. “I’ve always been fascinated by cellular metabolism,” Davide explains. “I was and still am curious about how lifestyle choices like diet and exercise influence our cells.”

“There’s also a cultural element—being Italian and Swiss, I grew up immersed in the Mediterranean diet and a culture that values healthy food. As a scientist, it felt natural to explore the biology behind these traditions and understand how nutrition affects aging at the cellular level.” This curiosity eventually led him to explore the molecular mechanisms of aging, particularly the role of mitochondrial decline.

Davide attended the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), one of the world’s leading research institutions. There, he earned a PhD in molecular medicine and later completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of Professor Johan Auwerx, a globally recognized leader in mitochondrial biology and aging research and scientific advisor to Timeline.

At EPFL, Davide and his research group collaborated with Timeline, offering him the opportunity to apply his expertise to meaningful and actionable outcomes. As he got to know the team and the work that Timeline is doing, it felt like the perfect opportunity to pursue his goal of helping people age better.

Turning Science Into Solutions

At Timeline, Davide leads efforts to translate cutting-edge discoveries into meaningful health benefits. “My role bridges basic biology and applied science. Taking what we learn in the lab and turning it into something that can help people live better, longer lives,” he says.

He’s especially passionate about Urolithin A, the active compound in Timeline’s Mitopure®. “What’s so exciting about Urolithin A is how broadly it benefits the body through its action on mitochondria,” he explains.

Why Urolithin A Stands Out

In the fast-growing field of longevity science, there’s no shortage of buzz around new compounds. But Davide is quick to point out what makes Urolithin A different. “It’s become something of a gold standard in the scientific community working on mitophagy and aging,” he says.

Mitochondrial decline and reduced mitophagy (the process by which cells recycle damaged mitochondria) are both hallmarks of aging and help explain the biological drivers behind why we age.^[1] Urolthin A directly targets both of these hallmarks.^[2]

“One of the most surprising aspects of Urolithin A is how broadly it benefits the body due to its action on mitochondria,” Davide shares. “Because mitochondria are present in nearly every cell, Urolithin A has the potential to impact multiple systems, from muscles to skin and immune function. What’s particularly impactful is seeing how consistently it improves mitochondrial quality and function across different tissues and age groups. It’s rare to find a compound with such a well-rounded and scientifically validated profile.”

Mitopure, The First Clinically Validated Urolithin A Supplement

Timeline stands apart from most supplement companies. Our products are built on more than 15 years of scientific research supporting the safety and efficacy of our proprietary Urolithin A, Mitopure®.

Davide explains that scientific rigor is the foundation of the work behind Timeline. “We are using the highest standards in basic science and clinical translation. We have a highly driven team and amazing collaborators and scientific advisors for all the different research fields we are involved in.”

“Clinically, we follow gold-standard methodologies, comparable to those used in the pharmaceutical industry.” Our studies are placebo-controlled, randomized, and double-blind, which enables us to be published in the most prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals, including JAMA Open Network and Nature Metabolism. Few supplement brands can make this claim.

The Potential Benefits of Mitopure

Based on published research, it is well established that Urolithin A can have a meaningful impact on cellular health,^[3] muscle function^[4] and skin health ^[5](when applied topically). However, more potential benefits are actively explored.

“Because Urolithin A targets mitochondria—organelles essential to nearly every cell—its potential applications are vast. We recently published a study with the University of Washington showing that Urolithin A not only improves skeletal muscle health but also supports the heart, [in experimental models], another critical muscle.”

While this heart research was conducted on rodent models of heart disease, Davide points out that “we’re now laying the foundation for clinical studies by expert cardiologists in this area.”

He shares that another exciting frontier for Urolithin A is the field of immune aging. “We’re about to publish a study in collaboration with Goethe University Frankfurt showing that Urolithin A significantly enhances mitochondrial quality and supports the function of key immune cells. These findings open up a promising new path for supporting immune resilience through nutrition.”

A Life of Curiosity, Outdoors, and Optimism

When he’s not in the lab, Davide finds inspiration in the Swiss mountains. “Science and the mountains both push me to explore what lies beyond the next ridge.” As a fan of the outdoors, Davide spends his free time exploring nature, hiking, and climbing the Alps. “Outdoor sports are not only a great way to stay healthy but also help me stay connected to my body and reflect on how we can live better, longer lives.”

The Future of Longevity Science Starts with Timeline

Davide’s work is a powerful reminder that real innovation happens when science is guided by purpose. At Timeline, we are proud to bring together world-class researchers who are not just studying aging but transforming how we approach it. From mitochondria to muscle, from cells to clinical trials, scientists like Davide are helping us reimagine what it means to age with strength and vitality. And this is only the beginning.