On February 27, Women’s College Hospital’s Dr. Ayodele Odutayo received the CIHR Research Excellence, Diversity, and Independence (RED) Early Career Transition Award. His project, “Expanding the use of SGLT-2 inhibitor to improve cardiorenal disease,” was selected for funding and ranked first in the competition.
Cardiovascular and kidney disease are leading causes of illness and poor health. While these conditions can manifest independently, they frequently coexist, leading to the development of more advanced diseases. The simultaneous presence is called ‘cardiorenal syndrome,’ a condition associated with the risk of heart disease, heart failure and end-stage renal disease.
Dr. Odutayo’s project aims to deepen our understanding of cardiorenal syndrome and reshape the course of cardiovascular and kidney diseases.
“Sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are new medications that reduce the occurrence of kidney disease and heart failure,” Dr. Odutayo said. “The use of these medications has only been studied in select people who are at high risk. The key goal of the grant is to design and conduct a new clinical trial to examine the effect of SGLT2i in new patient populations that are at risk for cardiorenal disease.”
The Kidney Foundation of Canada (KFOC) is the co-sponsor of this research grant.
“We’re excited to participate in this new program partnership with CIHR. The Foundation has a long-standing history of funding capacity through our KRESCENT program, and we see true value in supporting young researchers in their early career,” said Leanne Stalker, national director of research at KFOC. “KFOC believes in working to ensure that kidney research and kidney care are representative of, and accessible, to all. We look forward to supporting Dr. Odutayo through his innovative capacity-building program and contributing to the development of a more diverse health research community.”
Dr. Odutayo has always had a passion for medicine and health equity.
“We moved from Nigeria to the British Virgin Islands and then to Canada,” he shared. “In this journey, I became keenly aware of the gaps in health and wellbeing of these countries. And during my graduate studies, I was particularly intrigued by the important research gaps that existed in nephrology. There is much to be discovered in nephrology to improve clinical outcomes for patients.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Odutayo has drawn inspiration from many mentors, not just for their clinical expertise but also for their commitment to advocating for patients, both on an individual and population level.
“As the oldest of two children in a single parent immigrant family, I could not have predicted the academic journey I’ve been privileged to have,” he said. “I feel fortunate for the mentors who invested in me early on in my training. I hope my academic journey speaks to the impact that early culturally responsive mentorship can have on young students, regardless of the communities they come from or the resources they have. I feel particularly privileged to be the recipient of this award.”