L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano I n 2000, when attor- n e y K e n K l e i n b e r g was diagnosed with a kidney condition, he turned to Dr. Vito Campese, who was then the H e a d o f N e p h r o l o g y a n d Hypertension at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern C a l i f o r n i a ( U S C ) . C a m p e s e w a s u n a b l e t o d e t e r m i n e t h e c a u s e o f K l e i n b e r g ' s c o n d i t i o n because research on kidney diseases was very limited at the time. The two discussed the lack of available informa- tion and the general scarcity of kidney research, eventual- ly deciding to create a non- profit organization exclusive- l y d e d i c a t e d t o f u n d i n g research on kidney diseases. In 2002, they founded the U n i v e r s i t y K i d n e y Research Organization (UKRO), and later, in col- laboration with USC, they established the USC/UKRO Kidney Research Center, which was inaugurated in September 2015. After a few years of dialysis and a trans- plant, Kleinberg is now doing well and continues his career as an entertainment lawyer. D r . V i t o C a m p e s e , m e a n - while, became a Professor E m e r i t u s o f M e d i c i n e a t USC, and in his honor, the research center was renamed t h e V i t o M . C a m p e s e M D / U K R O K i d n e y Research Center at USC during a ceremony held on October 1. This date was cho- s e n s p e c i f i c a l l y , a s D r . Campese began his work at USC on October 1, 1974. "I've been here for 50 years, and today we blow out the can- dle," Campese said, visibly moved. "I built my career here, starting as a fellow, then assistant, associate pro- fessor, and finally full profes- sor since 1985. I've always focused on kidney diseases and hypertension." "This is not just a recogni- tion of his longevity," said S u s a n B a i l e y G u r l e y , Chair of the Department of Medicine and holder of the Kenneth T. Norris Chair in Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine," but of his con- stant dedication to under- standing hypertension and kidney diseases, which con- tinues today, as he remains very active and involved in our Division's activities. Dr. Campese has been a pas - s i o n a t e a d v o c a t e f o r t h e research he has led, and he was instrumental in estab- lishing the Kidney Research C e n t e r h e r e a t U S C . H i s vision has influenced count- less colleagues and trainees, shaping the future of kidney health. Even before I arrived a t U S C a s a k i d n e y researcher, like all profes- sionals in the field, I was well aware of Dr. Campese's contributions. I was thrilled to move to USC to work with him. "What makes today even more special is that we're also honoring the phil- anthropic contribution of Dr. Campese, the namesake o f t h e V i t o M . C a m p e s e , MD, UKR Kidney Research Center at USC. His generous support will ensure that this institution remains at the f o r e f r o n t o f l i f e - s a v i n g research for generations to come." "This recognition reflects a l i f e d e d i c a t e d t o w o r k , p a t i e n t s , s t u d y , a n d research, as well as to edu- cating new generations of doctors. That's why I'm still very active in teaching," said D r . C a m p e s e , w h o w a s joined by his siblings Tom- maso, Luigi, and Anna, who traveled from Barletta, and his nephew Dario, who lives in Los Angeles. Dr. Campese proudly dis- cussed one of the most inno- vative projects the research center is working on: the creation of a synthetic kid- ney. "This is a kidney made from natural organic com- ponents, unlike an artificial kidney. USC has a number o f b r i l l i a n t r e s e a r c h e r s , including Andy McMahon and Zhongwei Li, who are among the world's leading s t e m c e l l r e s e a r c h e r s . A t r a n s p l a n t a b l e s y n t h e t i c organic kidney would be a huge breakthrough because so many people are waiting for a transplant. The ability to produce synthetic kidneys is an absolutely incredible m e d i c a l d i s c o v e r y . W h a t remains is the human trans- plantation phase, which will result from clinical research, and it will require tens of millions of dollars to com- plete. It's a long-term pro- ject; it's not something that can be solved in a few days. It will take 10 years to reach human trials. Clinically, this would mean no more dialy- sis, no more transplants. So, it's revolutionary." " I n a d d i t i o n , w e a r e i n v o l v e d i n m a n y o t h e r research projects on lupus, d i a b e t e s , a n d w e ' r e a l s o evaluating the role of envi- ronmental factors and the progression of kidney dis- ease. We're truly becoming a f o r c e . W e w a n t t o b e t h e l e a d e r s i n t h e c o u n t r y , " e x p l a i n e d C a m p e s e , w h o also mentioned that another I t a l i a n r e s e a r c h e r , D r . Laura Perin, is part of the team. Dr. Perin is an Associ- ate Professor at CHLA, Keck S c h o o l o f M e d i c i n e , a n d Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Surgery at Children's Hospital, Los A n g e l e s . " D r . P e r i n ' s r e s e a r c h f o c u s e s o n t h e mechanisms regulating kid- ney damage, with a special f o c u s o n g l o m e r u l a r injuries. She uses several regenerative approaches, including extracellular vesi- cles, stem cells, 'organ on chip' technology, and devel- opmental biology, to under- stand the molecular mecha- nisms that modulate kidney r e g e n e r a t i o n . S h e h a s received numerous awards and has published over 70 articles in the field of kidney regeneration." "I've enjoyed many satis- f a c t i o n s i n m y c a r e e r , though they haven't come easily. For example, becom- ing the head of a nephrology division in the United States is not simple for a foreigner. You have to prove yourself t w i c e a s m u c h t o a c h i e v e c e r t a i n r e s u l t s , " s a i d Campese, who founded the Italian-American Society of Nephrology in Italy, and in t h e U S , h e e s t a b l i s h e d ISNAFF (Italian Scientists a n d S c h o l a r s i n N o r t h A m e r i c a F o u n d a t i o n ) i n 2006, serving as its presi- dent until 2019, when he p a s s e d t h e r o l e t o C i n z i a Zuffada, Associate Chief Sci- entist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "In mid-Octo- ber, I'll be traveling to Ric- cione, Italy, to give a lecture at a conference of the Italian S o c i e t y o f N e p h r o l o g y , where I will also receive an award. In November, there will be the annual meeting a t t h e I t a l i a n e m b a s s y i n W a s h i n g t o n , D C , a n d a w a r d s w i l l b e p r e s e n t e d there as well. One of these awards is named after my d a u g h t e r , w h o d i e d o f leukemia years ago, so it has a s p e c i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e f o r me." F o r D r . C a m p e s e , t h e most unexpected satisfac- tions have come in touching ways. "One of my patients, who lives in Boston, took an overnight flight to be here this morning. A colleague, a nephrologist from Taiwan University, with whom we c o l l a b o r a t e , f l e w i n f r o m T a i p e i t o b e h e r e t o d a y . T h e s e t h i n g s t o u c h m y heart." SILVIA NITTOLI The University of Southern California dedicates Renal Research Center to Dr. Vito Campese Dr. Campese with his siblings, Tommaso, Luigia and Anna (Photo: Silvia Nittoli) LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY

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