Dr. Sydney Hartsell Receives Prestigious National Cardiorenal Research Award
Dr. Sydney Hartsell Receives Prestigious National Cardiorenal Research Award
Sep 10, 2025
Sydney Hartsell, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor in the Division of Nephrology at the University of Utah, has been awarded the highly competitive NKF/Women in Nephrology/Bayer Cardiorenal REACH grant. Selected as one of just nine recipients nationwide, this award underscores the growing impact of Dr. Hartsell’s research in cardiorenal medicine.
The Cardiorenal REACH (Research, Education, and Awareness for Cardiovascular Health) program is a national initiative supported by the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), Women in Nephrology (WIN), and Bayer. Designed to support early-career investigators with a passion for advancing science at the intersection of kidney and cardiovascular health, the award offers both funding and national recognition.
Dr. Hartsell’s proposal stood out among dozens of applicants, marking a significant milestone in her academic career. Importantly, this award is independent of her home institution, highlighting how her work has resonated on a national scale with a panel of external mentors and sponsors.
“People with type 2 diabetes are disproportionately burdened by kidney disease, heart disease, and early death. The medication class of SGLT2 inhibitors can slow down or prevent kidney and heart disease, helping people with type 2 diabetes live longer and healthier lives. Unfortunately, these benefits are limited because many people do not stay on these medications long-term, for reasons that are poorly understood. Our preliminary data showed that women had particularly high rates of SGLT2 inhibitor discontinuation,” Dr. Hartsell explained. “This project will use a combination of big data, artificial intelligence/machine learning and interview-based qualitative analysis to identify predictors of SGLT2 inhibitor discontinuation and gain patient perspectives on barriers to therapy, especially those that may be unique to women.”
She added, “I am honored to have the support of the REACH Award, Bayer, National Kidney Foundation, and Women in Nephrology to explore these critical knowledge gaps. My fantastic team of mentors and co-investigators, including Drs. Srinivasan Beddhu, Stavros Drakos, Tom Greene, Jincheng Shen and Catherine Derington, were instrumental in this success."
With this recognition, Dr. Hartsell joins a growing network of physician-scientists working to shape the future of kidney, heart and metabolic health through innovative research.