UPEI/AVC researcher awarded funding from The Kidney Foundation of Canada

The Kidney Foundation of Canada today announced $350,000 in research funding to Dr. Sunny Hartwig, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Science, at the University of Prince Edward Island's Atlantic Veterinary College. Hartwig's funding includes the foundation's Krescent New Investigator Award, a competition in which she ranked first in the country.
Hartwig comes to AVC from Boston where she held a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Her research speciality is the genetic development of the kidneys, with an aim to help understand why some kidneys develop normally, and some are diseased.
'I believe we will see a cure for kidney disease within our lifetime,' says Hartwig. 'And not just a tool to prevent the disease from developing before birth, but regeneration. I believe we'll find a way to help diseased kidneys repair themselves. It's an exciting time to be involved in this research.'
At an announcement today, Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of the AVC, said the college is actively engaged in a diverse research agenda that includes human and public health, as well as animal health.
'The Atlantic Veterinary College is driven by discovery,' said Reynolds. 'Our research is far reaching in scope and impact, and includes kidney disease, heart and stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases. What we do has a real impact on people's lives.'
Mr. Leslie Hunter, President of the P.E.I. Chapter of The Kidney Foundation of Canada, presented Hartwig with her award at a ceremony today. He was joined by Mr. Tim Fox, Executive Director of the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Branch of the Kidney Foundation of Canada.
'I'm thrilled that we are able to provide this substantial support for the work of Dr. Sunny Hartwig,' said Fox. 'Dr. Hartwig's research is critical to reducing the burden of kidney disease, especially among children. It is this kind of research that brings hope to patients and their families for better treatment options and a better quality of life. To have such a talented researcher here in the Maritimes is very exciting for our Branch and for all of Atlantic Canada.'
Dr. Katherine Schultz, UPEI's Vice-President of Research & Development, said Hartwig's work furthers UPEI's commitment to research in human health.
'We've identified human health and development as one of our core areas of research focus,' said Schultz. 'And adding Dr. Hartwig's star to our already shining constellation of research in this area proves what we've known for years: UPEI and AVC research excellence touches not just Atlantic Canada, but reaches around the world.'
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