Dr. Alessia Fornoni is a tenured Professor of Medicine, Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, and Biochemistry at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where she serves as Director and Chair of the Peggy and Harold Katz Drug Discovery Center. She is also Assistant Dean for Research Training and Development and Co-Director of both the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and the CTSI/KL2 program. An internationally recognized physician-scientist, Dr. Fornoni has made seminal contributions to understanding the mechanisms underlying glomerular and chronic kidney diseases. Her pioneering research on insulin signaling, cholesterol metabolism, and sphingolipid-related pathways has identified novel disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets, several of which have advanced toward clinical translation. Her research program is supported by the National Institutes of Health, industry partners, and private foundations, and her work has been published in leading journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Cell Metabolism, Science Translational Medicine, and Kidney International. Dr. Fornoni brings extensive experience spanning academic medicine, industry, entrepreneurship, and drug discovery. In 2013, she served as Global Head of Discovery for Cardiovascular and Metabolism at Hoffmann-La Roche in Basel, Switzerland, and she has founded biotechnology companies focused on developing innovative therapies for patients with kidney disease. Her vision centers on bringing together scientists, clinicians, patients, industry, investors, and nonprofit organizations to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into meaningful therapies for kidney disease. Dr. Fornoni is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, and the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida. She serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Clinical Investigation and Kidney International and previously served as Deputy Editor of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. She was appointed At-Large Councilor of the American Society of Nephrology beginning in 2025. A dedicated mentor and advocate for the development of physician-scientists, Dr. Fornoni has trained graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior investigators from around the world and has received numerous awards recognizing her mentorship, research, and leadership. In recognition of her efforts to strengthen scientific and educational collaborations between Italy and the United States, she was named a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy by the President of Italy in 2018. Through her roles in research, education, innovation, and professional leadership, Dr. Fornoni remains committed to advancing kidney health, developing the next generation of scientific leaders, and fostering collaborations that accelerate the discovery of transformative therapies for patients with kidney disease.