Ali Naji, MD, PhD

Ali Naji, MD, Ph.D,  an internationally recognized kidney transplant surgeon and immunologist, is  the Jonathan E. Rhoads, Professor of Surgical Science.  Associate director of the Institute for  Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism at the University of Pennsylvania School of  Medicine. After earning his MD from Shiraz University School of Medicine in  Shiraz, Iran, Dr. Naji completed his surgical training at the University of  Pennsylvania and, in 1981, earned his PhD in Immunology at the same  institution.  Dr. Naji is a member of  the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Steering Committee of the Clinical  Islet Transplant Consortium NIH/NIDDK; the Human Islet Cell Resource Program;  member of the Kidney and Pancreas Committee for the United Network for Organ  Sharing (UNOS); and the Collaborative Islet Transplant Registry (CITR), EMMES  Corporation.      Dr. Naji has been a leader in the investigation of the immune mechanisms  leading to kidney transplant rejection.   His laboratory was among the first to demonstrate the central role of  B lymphocytes in gathering the immune attack against organ transplants, which  has led the way for novel therapeutic interventions to prevent progression  and loss of kidney transplant function due to antibody mediated rejection. In  addition to his groundbreaking scientific work, Dr. Naji has led efforts to  promote successful islet transplantation for the treatment of Type 1  diabetes. He established a dedicated islet isolation facility at the  University of Pennsylvania and performed some of the first clinical trials of  islet transplantation in the United States. As part of the cooperative NIH  sponsored islet transplantation consortium, translation of his research has  demonstrated the efficacy of B lymphocyte directed immunotherapy in the  induction of islet transplant tolerance in order to avoid chronic  immunosuppression  in recipients of islet  transplantation.       Dr. Naji has published over 300 articles in the fields of transplantation,  immunology, and diabetes. He has an impressive mentoring record, training  over 20 students and post-docs who have gone on to careers focused on  advancing scientific research at the interface of diabetes and  transplantation. Dr. Naji has received recognition and honors including the  University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine Dean’s Award for Excellence  in Graduate Student Training, the Lady Barbara Colyton Prize for Autoimmune  Research, the Paul S. Russell Lectureship, the Paul Lacey Memorial Award  Lecture, and the Thomas E. Starzl Prize in Surgery and Immunology (University  of Pittsburgh) in recognition of his outstanding clinical and scientific  achievements.