Internationally renowned physician-scientist Alessia Fornoni, M.D., Ph.D., has been elected to the prestigious Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL)
Established in 2018, the ASEMFL has focused on uplifting leaders in STEM as the organization works to address problems, recognize success and further excellence in Florida.
Alessia Fornoni, M.D., Ph.D., FASN, Katz Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Katz Family Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at University of Miami, is also one of the Founder of the Miami Scientific Italian Community
The election process into the ASEMFL is based upon being a current member of the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine while residing in Florida or having an outstanding record of accomplishments, national and international recognition in the field while living in the state.
An innovator at heart, Dr. Fornoni was elected into the ASEMFL because of her discovery of renal fat as a key contributor to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the clinical development of drugs to halt CKD. Her NIH-funded laboratory at the Miller School is the first to report and discover the mechanisms linking renal fat accumulation to CKD progression. Her findings at the Peggy and Harold Katz Family Drug Discovery Center, published in several high-impact journals, have led to the discovery of new drugs currently being tested globally in phase 2 clinical trials, and to the development of several start-up companies.
“It is humbling to be recognized by the academy for being able to bring back the results of my 25 years of drug discovery research at UM to the diverse community of patients I serve,” Dr. Fornoni said.
An exemplary physician-scientist and one of the few Florida-based members of the American Society of Clinical Investigation and of the Association of American Physician, Dr. Fornoni serves as a role model for physician scientists around the globe. “It is currently the highest honor to serve as co-director of the MSTP program and of the CTSI KL2 program at UM, where I can mentor the next generation of physician-scientists,” said Dr. Fornoni.
