Mark Tarnopolsky ‘85

Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky’s groundbreaking research and clinical work in neuromuscular and neurometabolic disorders has earned him respect and accolades on an international scale, but most importantly, he has improved the lives of children and adults suffering from a wide array of chronic illnesses.

Dr. Tarnopolsky is the only physician in Canada to focus the majority of his practice on mitochondrial diseases, an area where he has developed innovative treatments and approaches to neuromuscular disease and aging. His work, which is also unique in its involvement of both children and adults, strives to find cures for chronic diseases like muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig’s disease, but also to provide the best treatment possible in the absence of a cure. His lab regularly publishes more than 25 scholarly papers annually and is also involved in clinical trials related to Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Friedrich’s ataxia and Pompe disease.