Our work in action

PhD and Board-certified DNM (Doctor of Natural Medicine, MSc Sports Medicine, Dip MT (Diploma in Manipulative Therapy), PES (Performance Enhancement Specialist), MCMT (Mastery in Manual Therapy), ATC (Certified Athletic Trainer), PRT (Postural Restoration Trained), CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist) Dr. Navin Hettiarachchi is an internationally recognized expert in high-performance sports medicine and holistic athlete care. With over 25 years of experience across the NBA, WNBA, NCAA, and Olympic circles, he has become a strategic leader in optimizing elite athlete recovery, resilience, and performance. He specializes in evidence-based, state-of-the-art athlete care practices integrating multiple healthcare modalities together - nutrition, functional medicine, osteopathy, athletic training, sports psychology, etc. to identify the root cause of a complex health issue and get transformative results for his clients - mirroring Nuvia’s integrative and evidence-informed philosophy. At Nuvia, he offers strategic insight into applying integrative, movement-based, and nutrition-focused care in high-demand settings. His added focus on psychological well-being as part of physical performance aligns with Nuvia’s whole-person vision.

PD Dr. med., Principal Investigator, University Clinic of Psychiatry Basel, GP, Psychiatrist in Training (specializing in metabolic psychiatry) Timur Liwinski is Principal Investigator at the University Clinic of Psychiatry Basel and a general practitioner currently specializing in psychiatry with a focus on metabolic psychiatry, brings critical research leadership and clinical insight to Nuvia. His work centers on the intersection of mental health and metabolism, with particular emphasis on how nutritional and lifestyle interventions can influence psychiatric outcomes. With a strong publication record and substantial grant experience in clinical research, Dr. Liwinski combines scientific rigor with practical clinical understanding. His expertise spans interdisciplinary collaboration across psychiatry, metabolism, neurology, and nutrition, enabling him to bridge traditionally separated fields. As both a medical doctor and researcher, he understands the complexities of translating emerging metabolic approaches into responsible psychiatric care. In addition to leading and designing research protocols, he contributes outstanding scientific communication skills and mentors junior researchers, strengthening the academic foundation of the organization. His translational orientation - connecting clinical research with applied health interventions - helps ensure that Nuvia’s educational initiatives, therapeutic frameworks, and research programs remain grounded in robust evidence while remaining clinically meaningful and implementable.

MD, PGDPH (Public Health), PCC (Police Cadet), MHP (Metabolic Health Practitioner) Dr. Nolawiheir Tickheir is a certified clinician, public health leader, and advocate for equity-driven innovation in healthcare. With a Doctor of Medicine from Haramaya University, postgraduate training in Public Health from the University of South Africa, and additional certification in metabolic nutrition therapies (including through the internationally recognized Nutrition Network), he brings a multidisciplinary focus across clinical care, public health, and systems strengthening. His work centers on advancing equitable access to care through evidence-informed, community-centered approaches, with a strong interest in how clinical nutrition and metabolic therapies can help address the rising burden of chronic disease. Throughout his career, Dr. Tickheir has combined frontline medical practice with leadership in health administration, research, and policy. He has also participated in international humanitarian efforts, contributing to cross-border initiatives that address health disparities in underserved communities. His work reflects a deep commitment to improving access to care and empowering populations through context-sensitive, evidence-informed approaches to prevention and healing. At Nuvia, Dr. Tickheir lends strategic insight on the integration of nutrition and lifestyle medicine into public health systems and beyond. His experience across clinical medicine, governance, and global health makes him a valued voice in guiding scalable models of care that address both the biological and social determinants of health.

MS Healthcare Management, RDN, LD, CLT (Certified Lifestyle Eating and Performance Therapist) Founder and Director, Kidney Nutrition Institute Jessianna Saville is a renal nutrition specialist and healthcare innovator known for her leadership in patient-centered, evidence-informed care for people living with chronic kidney disease. As founder and director of the Kidney Nutrition Institute, she has developed pioneering educational programs that empower patients to preserve kidney function and delay disease progression through personalized nutrition and lifestyle strategies. A Registered and Licensed Dietitian with a Master of Science degree and additional certification in lifestyle therapy (CLT), Jessianna brings over a decade of clinical experience and system-level insight. Her work bridges the clinical and behavioral aspects of care, helping patients and practitioners navigate complex medical nutrition therapies in ways that are both science-based and practical. Jessianna also has extensive experience designing and delivering medically accredited education for healthcare professionals, including kidney-specific nutrition training that meets clinical guidelines while promoting personalized, culturally relevant care. She is passionate about equipping clinicians with the tools to deliver effective, individualized support - also in underserved or complex cases. At Nuvia, she contributes strategic insight into chronic disease management, clinical education, and scalable therapeutic frameworks. Her dual focus on empowering patients and elevating clinical nutrition practice makes her a valuable voice in advancing Nuvia’s mission to make integrative, person-centered care both accessible and impactful.

PhD (Pharmacy), CAS Nutrition and Health (ETH Zurich) Founder, MetaboliCo GmbH Dr. Cristina Fante is a forward-thinking leader at the intersection of pharmaceutical science, nutrition, and metabolic health. Holding a PhD in Pharmacy and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Nutrition & Health from ETH Zurich, she combines a strong scientific foundation with applied nutritional insight. She brings extensive experience from the pharmaceutical and medtech industry. As the founder of MetaboliCo GmbH, Dr. Fante brings metabolic research out of academic journals and into the hands of practitioners and individuals, connecting metabolic science with nutrition and lifestyle through scientific communication, product consulting, and health education. Her work bridges clinical, research, and entrepreneurial domains - turning evidence into real-world solutions. Passionate about metabolic health, she is particularly interested in how nutrition and lifestyle interventions can succeed where pharmacological treatments fail. At Nuvia, she offers insight into how such strategies can be framed and communicated in ways that are both scientifically rigorous and widely accessible - supporting the association’s mission to translate evidence into usable tools that promote long-term health.

Certified Professional Coach (ICN Business School, RNCP Level 7 – Master’s level) Founder, Deep Sense Aphy Mputu is a certified professional coach, leadership consultant, and motivational speaker with more than 25 years of experience in human development, community leadership, and organizational well-being. As the founder of Deep Sense – CARE 360, he supports expatriates, executives, and families in navigating stress, burnout, and cultural adaptation through a holistic approach that integrates mental health awareness, emotional resilience, and practical workplace strategies. Before establishing his coaching practice, Aphy spent over 15 years in corporate environments, including eight years at Amazon Luxembourg, where he worked as a tax specialist and elected employee representative. In the latter capacity, he supported staff and management through complex interpersonal, legal, and mental health issues - an experience that shaped his mission to bridge human care and professional performance. Alongside his corporate and coaching work, Aphy has held leadership and advisory roles in non-governmental and community organizations for over two decades, integrating structured management with compassionate leadership. During this time, he guided and mentored teams, developing strong facilitation, listening, and guidance skills grounded in empathy, ethics, and empowerment. His experience in these roles further deepened his expertise in counseling, conflict resolution, team development, and ethical decision-making. At Nuvia, Aphy contributes his extensive experience in holistic coaching, mental well-being, and human-centered leadership as a member of the Global Advisory Board. His work emphasizes care, clarity, and authentic connection -helping individuals and organizations cultivate resilience, purpose, and sustainable transformation.

RNutr, MSc(Nutrition and Biomedicine), PGDip(Psychodietetics), NTP Marta is a registered nutritionist and certified nutritional therapy practitioner with postgraduate training in psychodietetics. Her professional background spans pharmaceutical drug design and synthesis, nutrition R&D, and dietetics academic publishing. Experienced in leadership and management roles, Marta has been working internationally with researchers, institutions, and private organizations to advance nutritional psychiatry research and make nutrition therapy protocols accessible to the public. Bridging her personal and professional experience, Marta is committed to leveraging metabolic health through nutrition education for healthcare professionals, implementation of nutrition therapies in clinical research, and individual consultations. As a member of Nuvia’s Global Advisory Council, Marta brings valuable insight into the communication and dissemination of credible, integrative nutrition research through a biopsychosocial lense - supporting Nuvia’s mission to bridge science, education, and public health impact.

LMHC, MA (Clin. Psych.), Post‑Master’s Cert. Nutrition & Integrative Health Licensed Mental Health Counselor Founder, Mental Health Keto and Brain Fog Recovery Source Nicole Laurent is a licensed mental health counselor with over 15 years of clinical experience helping adults navigate mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, and cognitive health. Nicole specializes in integrating ketogenic metabolic therapy with evidence‑based psychotherapy (CBT, DBT, EMDR). Her work empowers clients to use nutrition and lifestyle as powerful adjuncts in mental and neurological health. In addition to her clinical practice, Nicole is founder of Brain Fog Recovery Source (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), recognized as one of seven pioneers of metabolic psychiatry by the Baszucki Brain Research Fund and the Milken Institute (Metabolic Mind Award, 2022). She also provides continuing education and consulting for professionals seeking to implement metabolic therapies within mental health care settings. At Nuvia, Nicole brings strategic expertise at the intersection of nutrition science, metabolic health, and psychosocial support - advancing our mission to integrate scientifically grounded lifestyle interventions into the care of individuals with complex mental‑health and metabolic needs.