The internationally celebrated kidney disease researcher is also an award-winning mentor and advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration.
At the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, interdisciplinary collaboration spurs discovery.To advance this mission and accelerate research engagement among current and future physician-scientists, Alessia Fornoni, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine, has been named assistant dean for research training and development at the Miller School.
Supporting the Next Generation of Scientists
The director and chair of the Peggy and Harold Katz Family Drug Discovery Center, Dr. Fornoni holds secondary appointments in the Miller School’s Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Department of Cell Biology. She is also co-director of the Medical Scientist Training Program, which combines graduate training in dual-degree M.D./Ph.D. programs in biomedical sciences, public health and biomedical engineering with innovative medical education.
“Supporting, training and inspiring the next generation of physician-scientists is one of our most critical functions as a research-focused medical school,” said Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., dean and chief academic officer at the Miller School. “Dr. Fornoni’s outstanding track record of championing research success, mentoring young scientists and advancing biomedical discovery makes her exceptionally suited for this position. I am confident she will play a pivotal role in developing the next generation of physician-scientists while enhancing discovery and innovation across the Miller School of Medicine.”
Dr. Fornoni’s new role follows the recent pledge of $30 million from the University of Miami to enhance basic science research at the school. She will collaborate with Miller School leadership, department chairs and center and institute directors to shape the strategic direction and implementation of a cross-disciplinary research training portfolio. An enthusiastic embrace of team science, for which the Miller School is known, will be crucial to her success.
“I will continue to contribute to the development of interdisciplinary collaboration, which is largely recognized as the best strategy for innovative investigation and a unique opportunity for junior faculty to carve a path to independence,” Dr. Fornoni said. “I also intend to promote the establishment of a faculty incubator program that will allow us to attract and retain talent to the school.”
Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Research
Dr. Fornoni is co-director of the Miller School’s NIH-funded K12 program and the T35 summer research school for first-year medical students, experience that will prove valuable as she oversees the Research Innovation and Scholarly Engagement (RISE) program within the Office of Medical Education. RISE facilitates medical student access to and support for mentored biomedical research.
“My overarching goal is the development and implementation of strategic plans to enhance research training and development initiatives while fostering a culture of collaboration and interdisciplinary research,” Dr. Fornoni said.”
Dr. Fornoni has received many commendations for her work with students, including the Best Graduate School Mentor of the Year award in 2016, the Best Faculty Mentor in the Department of Medicine in 2019, the Women in Academic Medicine Leadership Award in 2019, the Barkin/Roger Outstanding Mentor Award in 2020 and the Provost Mentorship Award in 2024. In recognition of her effort to establish educational bridges between Italy and the U.S., she was recognized as a Knight of the Star of Italy in 2018.
Expert in Kidney Disease
As a physician-scientist in the Miller School’s Katz Family Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Dr. Fornoni has made seminal contributions to the understanding of kidney disease. Through her pioneering work on insulin signaling, cholesterol metabolism and sphingolipid-related pathways, Dr. Fornoni uncovered novel pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic approaches for glomerular disorders. Her internationally recognized research findings are now being translated into viable therapies for people with kidney disorders.
Dr. Fornoni became a member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation in 2017, the Association of American Physicians in 2019 and the Florida Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine in 2023. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Investigation and Kidney International, and formerly served as deputy editor of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. She has been appointed as the newest at-large councilor for the American Society of Nephrology Council, beginning January 2025. Dr. Fornoni’s research has been published in high-impact journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, Science Translational Medicine and Cell Metabolism.
“I have a genuine passion for the development of new knowledge. At this stage of my career, being able to guide others to appreciate the global transformative impact of research has become my priority,” she said. “I hope this role will better allow me to continue to transform the U into a better U. This is the institution that trained me to become a globally recognized research and educational leader, and I am committed to mentoring others to achieve this goal.”
