Prof Andrew Smyth

Bio:

Prof Smyth is Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at University of Galway and a Consultant Nephrologist at Galway University Hospitals. He trained in internal medicine and nephrology at University of Galway, Mayo Clinic USA and McMaster University, Canada). He holds a MSc of Medical Science from University of Galway and a Structured PhD in Medicine / Clinical Epidemiology from University of Galway. He is the former Director of the HRB Clinical Research Facility Galway and MSc Clinical Research at University of Galway. He collaborates closely with the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) of McMaster University. He has published >75 peer-review papers including first author publications in Lancet, Circulation and Kidney International, has >4900 citations and a H-index of 31 (March 2024).

Clinical Trials:

1. Salt Supplementation in Older Adults with Orthostatic Intolerance Disorders (STOOD)

2. Sodium Intake in Chronic Kidney Disease (STICK)

3. Clarifying Optimal Sodium Intake in Populations (COSIP)

4. Early metformin in addition to usual care in the reduction of gestational diabetes mellitus effects (EMERGE)

5. Aldosterone antagonism and enhanced clearance for health improvement evaluation in end-stage renal disease (ACHIEVE).

6. Protection of the heart with aldosterone antagonism in end-stage renal disease trial.

7. Awake Prone Positioning to Reduce Invasive Ventilation in COVID-19 Induced Acute Respiratory Failure (APPROVE-CARE) – DSMB Chair

8. A Randomised Controlled Single-Blind Investigation to Evaluate the Safety & Performance of AC5 Topical Haemostatic Device - DSMB Member

9. Symptomatic or Antimicrobial Treatment of Urinary Tract Infection (SATIN). Steering Committee Member.

10. A Study of Safety, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of 416858-CS4 Administered Subcutaneously with End-Stage Renal Disease

11. Pilot trial of hemodialysis patients undergoing aldosterone antagonism with eplerenone (PHASE)

12. Intensive vs. liberalized phosphate control in hemodialysis (TARGET)

13. Rivaroxaban for the Prevention of Major Cardiovascular Events in Coronary or Peripheral Artery Disease (COMPASS)

14. Aliskerin Prevention of Later Life Outcomes (APOLLO)

15. Dapagliflozin in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes with Inadequately Controlled Hypertension on ACE- Inhibitor or ARB and Additional Antihypertensive Medication

16. Satiety and Clinical Adiposity – Liraglutide Evidence in Nondiabetic and Diabetic Subjects (SCALE)

Top Five Highest Impact Publications

1. Smyth A, Teo KK, Rangarajan S, O’Donnell MJ, Zhang X, Rana P, Leong DP, Dagenais G, Seron P, Rosengren A, Schutte AE, Lopez-Jaramillo P, Oguz A, Chifamba J, Diaz R, Lear S, Avezum A, Kumar R, Mohan V, Szuba A, Wei L, Yang W, Jian B, McKee M, Yusuf S. Alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease, cancer, injury, hospitalisation and mortality. Lancet 2015; 386 (10007): 1945. PMID 26386538

2. Smyth A, O’Donnell M, Hankey GJ, Rangarajan S, Lopez-Jaramillo P, Xavier D, Zhang H, Canavan M, Damasceno A, Langhorne P, Avezum A, Pogosova N, Oguz A, Yusuf S. Anger or emotional upset and heavy physical exertion as triggers of stroke: the INTERSTROKE study. Eur Heart J 2022; 43(3):202-209. PMID 34850877

3. Smyth A, O’Donnell M, Rangarajan S, Hankey GJ, Oveisgharan S, Canavan M, McDermott C, Xavier D, Zhang H, Damasceno A, Avezum A, Pogosova N, Oguz A, Ryglewicz D, Iversen HK, Lanas F, Rosengren A, Yusuf S, Langhorne P. Alcohol Intake as a Risk Factor for Acute Stroke: The INTERSTROKE Study. Neurology 2023; 100(2):e142. PMID 36220600

4. Smyth A, Judge C, Kerins C, McDermott S, Niland A, Corcoran C, Dineen R, Alvarez-Iglesias A, Nolan A, Mente A, Griffin MD, O’Shea P, Canavan M, Yusuf S, O’Donnell M. Dietary counselling to reduce moderate sodium intake: effects on cardiovascular and renal biomarkers: primary findings of the COSIP and STICK phase II feasibility randomized controlled trials. eClinical Medicine 2023; 57:101856. PMID 37064508

5. Smyth A, Lahr BD, Bailey KR, Norby SM, Garovic VD. Meta-analysis of lupus nephritis and pregnancy outcomes. cJASN 2010 Nov; 5(11): 2060. PMID 20688887

Conferences:

1. Clinical Research Facility/Centre and Trial Steering Committee Interactions: an Irish Perspective. HRB-TMRN Trial Steering Committee Training Workshop. May 2023

2. How to be an Effective Investigator, Resourcing of Clinical Trials, Adverse Event Reportin in Clinical Trials. HRB-TMRN Spring School on Clinical Trials. March 2023

3. COSTICK – The Reality of Conducting Behavioural Clinical Trials. ICAT Study Day, 2022

4. Alcohol Intake: How Much is Too Much? Grand Rounds, Galway University Hospitals, November 2022

6. Kidney Function and Stroke. Population Health Research Institute (McMaster University, Canada), Research Rounds. February 2021

7. Dietary Sodium and The Kidney. Irish Nephrology Society Winter Meeting 2018.

8. Clinical Research and Nutrition – What’s the Fuss About? Grand Rounds, Galway University Hospitals, September 2018

9. Nutrition and Health: STICKing With It. HRB Grant Holders Conference, Galway, February 2017.

10. The Importance of Diet and the Kidney. Grand Rounds Presentation, University Hospital Limerick, August 2015

11. Conservative Care in End-Stage Renal Disease. Grand Rounds Presentation, McMaster University & St Joseph’s Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada, June 2015

12. Kidney Disease and Pregnancy. Grand Rounds Presentation, McMaster University & St Joseph’s Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada, October 2013

Grants as Lead PI:

1. SalT supplementation in Older adults with Orthostatic intolerance Disorders (STOOD): a phase IIa randomised controlled trial of sodium supplementation in those consuming moderate salt intake. 2023-2026. HRB. PI €398,587

2. Patient led development of a Patient Reported Outcomes instrument to improve health-related quality of life in patients with Glomerular Disease. 2022-2024 HRB. Co-PI. €229,728

3. HRB Clinical Research Facility Galway. 2022-2026 HRB. PI €2,999,832

4. National Clinical Trials Coordination Programme 2022-2024 HRB. Co-Applicant. €3,776,500

5. Cancer Clinical Trials Ireland (RCSI). 2022 HRB. Local Lead €240,611

6. Ketamine as and adjunctive therapy for major depression – a randomized controlled trial. 2019-2024. HRB. Local Lead. €38,398

7. Cancer Trials Ireland Data Management and Statistical Support. Health Research Board 2020-2024 HRB. PI. €710,625

8. Colchicine for prevention of Vascular Inflammation in Non-Cardio-embolic Stroke – a randomized clinical trial. 2019-2024. HRB. Local Lead €226,790

9. Phase 2 CRCI/MMI HRB Clinical Research Coordination Ireland .2018-2020. HRB Local PI €238,767

10. HRB Clinical Research Facility Galway. 2018-2021. HRB PI for 2020 and 2021. €3,483,560

11. Identifying interventions to prevent and manage chronic kidney disease. Postdoctoral Research Training Fellowship for Clinicians. 2016-2018 Wellcome Trust. PI. €486,492

12. Aldosterone antagonism and enhanced clearance for health improvement evaluation in end-stage renal disease (ACHIEVE) trial. 2016-2023. CIHR. Co-Applicant €2,600,000

13. Protection of the heart with aldosterone antagonism in end-stage renal disease trial. 2014-2015 CIHR Co-Applicant. €200,000

14. Sodium Intake in Chronic Kidney Disease (STICK): A Randomised Controlled Trial. 2014-2021 HRB Co-Applicant €330,000

15. National SpR/SR Academic Fellowship Program. 2011-2015 HRB PI €45,000

Total €16,004,890

Current Research Interests:

Prof Smyth is interested in the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease, particularly modifiable risk factors (including lifestyle and behavioural exposures) and the relationship between diet and health outcomes.

Awards and Notable Achievements:

Prof Smyth was a recipient on the HSE-HRB National Academic Specialist Registrar Fellowship Program, which funded his higher medical training and PhD, and also was the first Irish-based recipient of a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship, which funded his postdoctoral work.