Keck School of Medicine professor Takeshi Saito, MD, PhD, elected to American Society for Clinical Investigation

Takeshi Saito, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine, molecular microbiology & immunology, and pathology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC has been elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), one of the country’s oldest and most respected medical honor societies supporting the scientific efforts, educational needs, and clinical aspirations of physician-scientists.

“Dr. Saito’s contributions in bringing together biomedical research and health care delivery, exemplify the critical role that physician-scientists play in advancing medical research and the practice of medicine,” said Carolyn C. Meltzer, dean of the Keck School of Medicine. “His election is a testament to his impactful work and commitment to furthering medical knowledge and clinical care.”

Saito is among 100 physicians elected in 2024, and one of 19 members of the Keck School of Medicine’s faculty who have been inducted into the society’s membership since it was established in 1908.

“It is a huge honor to be selected from among the nation’s physician-scientists to membership in the society,” said Saito. “I admire the contributions that many of the society’s physician-scientists have made to understanding disease and advancing the practice of medicine. To be included among them for my research is humbling and deeply gratifying.”

Advancing knowledge of origins of liver disease

Saito, who earned his medical degree and his PhD in molecular virology at Showa University School of Medicine, joined the faculty of the Keck School of Medicine in 2010. Saito treats patients suffering from liver diseases and runs a research laboratory that elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying disorders of the liver.

His research focuses on learning how hepatocytes, the major cell type of the liver, perform in their natural state and how they react when confronted with common causes of liver diseases such as hepatitis viruses, alcohol abuse or metabolic syndrome. Saito is known to be an expert in using a state-of-the-art study platform – mice that are bioengineered to grow human livers, also known as humanized liver chimeric mice – to understand how liver diseases begin, and the pathways involved with their progression.

“Investigating the mechanisms and the biological processes behind the progression of disease is the first step to finding new treatments,” said Saito.

Saito noted that it is physician-scientists’ mission to address gaps in knowledge that lead to unmet needs in the clinic. In the case of liver disease, which is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, he noted that since most people do not notice or experience symptoms of liver disease until significant damage has taken place, they tend not be diagnosed or receive care until they have developed end-stage liver disease. Consequently, many of these patients have no treatment options other than to have a liver transplant.

“I believe it is our duty as physician-scientists to focus on addressing the gaps in knowledge that contribute to unmet needs in the clinic, particularly in the case of liver disease, where early detection and treatment are often lacking,” said Saito. “My hope is that our discoveries will lead to new treatments for people with this condition.”

Recognizing excellence: the ASCI membership selection process

Each year, the ASCI Council considers nominations of several hundred physician-scientists aged 50 years or younger who have achieved prominence in their field through groundbreaking research. Every nomination must be supported by at least four other notable physician-scientists. Out of the nominees, the ASCI selects only 100 new members a year.

Membership in the ASCI is considered a prestigious recognition of the researcher’s outstanding achievements and a testament to their impactful contributions in academic medicine and science.

The society is composed of more than 3,000 physician-scientists representing all medical specialties. It is one of the few organizations focused on the special role of physician-scientists in research, clinical care, and medical education, as well as leadership positions in academic medicine and the life sciences industry.