She will be the first nephrologist from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to be inducted into the association, which includes six other UM faculty members.
Dr. Fornoni will be inducted into the AAP on April 9 at its virtual annual meeting. Founded in 1885, the AAP is an elected society of America’s leading physician-scientists including Nobel laureates and members of the National Academy of Science and the Institute of Medicine. In partnership with the American Society for Clinical Investigation and other societies, AAP offers mentorship and role models for physician-scientists who are early in their careers.
“My vision is to bring clinical care, science, industry, and not-for-profit organizations together to deliver new therapies for kidney disease,” said Dr. Fornoni, Professor of medicine and molecular and cellular pharmacology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Chief of the Katz Family Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Director of the Peggy and Harold Katz Family Drug Discovery Center, and Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) program Director and research mentoring Leader. Founder of the Miami Scientific Italian Community currently holds the position of Executive Vice President.
Through her pioneering work on insulin signaling, cholesterol metabolism and sphingolipid-related pathways, Dr. Fornoni has uncovered new pathogenetic mechanisms leading to kidney disorders. Her discoveries are being translated into new therapies, which have been licensed to start-up companies and are now entering clinical trials.
“I am proud of being a faculty member at the University of Miami, where I can contribute to building a culture for innovation, as scientists, clinicians, and investors collaborate to bring potential new treatments to our unique and diverse patient population,” said Dr. Fornoni, who serves on the advisory board of several companies as well as patients’ foundations.
Dr. Fornoni received the best graduate school mentor of the year award from UM in 2016, the provost’s award for scholarly activities in 2018, and the Women in Academic Medicine leadership award in 2019. Her trainees now occupy key academic and industry positions in five different continents. After receiving her training at UM, Dr. Fornoni joined the faculty in 2005. Her research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, industry and private foundations. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Diabetes and Kidney International. She was visiting professor at more than 50 academic institutions and international meetings worldwide, and her contributions have been published in high-impact professional journals.
Source: University of Miami
