Pioneering Keck Medicine of USC scientist Janos Peti-Peterdi, MD, PhD, received congratulations in early March in Salzburg, Austria, from Austrian President Heinz Fischer upon his induction into the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. The group of more than 1,700 scientists, researchers, artists and philosophers from across the globe focuses on furthering ethical and scientific values.

“This recognition is a particularly great honor for me personally,” Peti-Peterdi said. “I am a hearty supporter of Europe and U.S.-Europe relationships. Membership in the academy will allow me to further enhance my ongoing collaborations with many scientific research laboratories across Europe.”

Peti-Peterdi, who is a native of Hungary, has also been elected into the American Society for Clinic Investigation, an honor society of physicians and scientists. His induction will be April 24 in Chicago.

His selection by the two prestigious groups reflects the international recognition of his laboratory’s pioneering work and cutting-edge research on kidney disease. Peti-Peterdi and his lab have received $5 million in funding for the next five years for research from various medical groups, including the National Institute of Health, the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.

Using a unique visual research approach with state-of-the-art microscopy technology to look into the intact, living kidney in mouse models of various kidney diseases, his lab is dedicated to finding a cure for chronic kidney disease and developing new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of kidney and cardiovascular diseases.