Stitziel named scholar-innovator
Cardiologist receives Harrington Discovery Institute award to support the development of breakthrough treatments for heart disease
Nathan O. Stitziel, MD, PhD
Nathan O. Stitziel, MD, PhD, a professor of medicine and of genetics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been named a recipient of the Harrington Discovery Institute 2025 Scholar-Innovator Award. The award helps accelerate breakthrough treatments for conditions such as heart disease, autoimmune disorders and cancer. He is among 10 physician-scientists from across the nation who is honored this year.
Stitziel’s research leverages human genetic studies to identify causal genes and molecular pathways that contribute to cardiovascular complications beyond cholesterol and lifestyle. This research unlocks the potential to develop new therapies that can address a variety of chronic conditions that patients encounter. He has identified several molecular pathways that, if blocked or reduced, have important treatment implications for coronary artery disease and related metabolic conditions. Stitziel’s award will specifically help him to develop a completely new approach for treating cardiovascular disease by inhibiting one of these novel pathways.
Stitziel serves as the director of the Center for Cardiovascular Genetics and director of Translational Cardiovascular Genetics within the Department of Medicine’s Cardiovascular Division. He is also an associate director of the Medical Scientist Training Program at WashU Medicine.
The Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals in Cleveland supports the development of new medical treatments by helping to make innovative research commercially viable and ready for clinical use. The two-year Scholar-Innovator Award provides $100,000, with an opportunity to compete for up to $300,000 in additional funding and to qualify for investment funds up to $2 million.
