Team Spotlight: Using Art to Raise Awareness -Team Fight CKD

Join us in fighting CKD

We are Team Fight CKD, one of the student teams participating in the One in Seven campaign, a student-led initiative to raise awareness about kidney disease and support kidney research at the USC Kidney Research Center. Through this program, we are learning about kidney health, connecting with scientists and physicians, and working together to raise awareness and funds for research that can improve the lives of the more than 850 million people worldwide affected by kidney disease.

Lena Peresztegi:  Growing up as the child of two kidney physician-scientists, I was exposed to conversations about kidney health, physiology, and research from a very young age. Science was always part of daily life in our home. In freshman year, my siblings and I started experimenting with cell physiology concepts and basic cell culture techniques, which lead us to think about biological solutions to global challenges. Together we formed a small research team and developed the idea of a biological seawater-to-freshwater conversion system, a project aimed at addressing the growing global freshwater crisis. Our project progressed through multiple levels of competition, including local , the Los Angeles County , and the California State Science Fair, and ultimately we placed third at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Dallas. That experience shaped the way how I think about and find solutions for complex problems.

Over the years, Anna and I also learned more about the prevalence of kidney disease and how often it goes undetected, despite affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

Together we started a student-led campaign in our local community to raise awareness and funds for kidney disease research.

Art has always been an important part of how I express ideas and explore the world around me. I love painting and often incorporate themes from science and medicine into my work. For me, art is a powerful language that can make complex or invisible problems more visible and relatable. Through my artwork, I hope to highlight important challenges kidney disease patients face, spark curiosity, awareness, and conversation in my community. In the future, I hope to pursue a career in medicine.

Grace Booth: Being close to nature as a kid, I quickly became passionate about the environment and the science of environmental systems. Throughout high school, I’ve developed on this passion, creating a non-profit organization to clean up our beaches and raise money for ocean conservation organizations. I also volunteered for the PV Land Conservancy to assist in preserving valuable ecosystems.

In my free time, I enjoy spending my time in nature, whether that’s through running, hiking, or paddleboarding. Nature has always been an outlet for me to relax, but it has also served as creative inspiration for my art. I enjoy painting scenes of nature and incorporating my passion for environmental conservation into artworks about the need to preserve important species and protect our natural resources.

My love for science and community service is what drew me to the one-in-seven internship class. I was intrigued by the ability to learn more about scientific research and raise money for life-saving research at the USC Kidney Research Center. Through these different aspects of my life, scientific discovery has given me a purpose and shown me how impactful research can be. I hope to pursue a future career in environmental science and conservation.

Lily Booth: I am a senior at Palos Verdes High School and along with Grace and Lena I am one of the directors of the 1-in-7 Internship class. I have always been passionate about helping my community, and being part of the One-in-Seven campaign has given me the opportunity to support an important cause by raising awareness and funds for kidney disease research at the USC Kidney Research Center. I hope to pursue a career in medicine in the future, and this experience has allowed me to learn more about how research and community engagement can work together to improve people’s health. Outside of school, I enjoy playing basketball, running, and spending time with friends and family. I am really excited to be part of this campaign and grateful for the chance to contribute to research that can make a real difference for patients with kidney disease.

Sevi Botiller: Growing up in a community where health disparities were evident, and witnessing my parents struggle to navigate the medical system, I made a commitment to improving access to affordable healthcare. I began to explore public health through programs such as the UCLA Pre-Medical Summer Scholars Program and volunteer work with AYUDA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children living with diabetes in developing countries.

Working with AYUDA, I traveled to the Dominican Republic, where I helped organize and lead a camp for children living with diabetes. We taught essential health management skills and provided families with critical resources. This experience reinforced my belief that healthcare is not just about treatment, but about education, accessibility, and community support.

Motivated by this perspective, I became interested in the one-in-seven USC internship. Through fundraising and awareness campaigns, I can further develop my ability to advocate for healthcare access and engage communities in meaningful initiatives.

Outside of my academic and service pursuits, I enjoy expressing myself creatively through writing poetry, playing guitar, and drawing. I am especially passionate about fashion design, which allows me to combine creativity with personal expression and attention to detail.

Annie Sherry: My interest in neurobiology has developed over time as I have always been interested in the human brain and the way it shapes who we are. This interest became especially meaningful to me after watching my grandmother experience Alzheimer’s disease, which opened my eyes to the impact neurodegenerative disorders have on individuals and their families. Since then, I have been motivated to better understand these conditions and explore ways to address them. In high school, I have pursued this interest through a research project on how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may contribute to the development of Alzheimer’s disease later in life. This project allowed me to connect biological processes with broader social and environmental factors, shaping the way I think about disease and prevention. To further expand my knowledge, I completed a neurobiology course through the University of Chicago, where I explored the structure and function of the nervous system in greater depth. I plan to continue building on this passion by working on another neurobiology-focused research project this summer. I am particularly interested in studying neurodegenerative diseases and contributing to research that could lead to earlier detection, better treatments, or preventative strategies. My interest in science and desire to make a meaningful impact is what drew me to the One-in-Seven USC internship. I am eager to learn more about scientific research while also helping raise awareness and support for life-saving medical advancements. Outside of academics, I enjoy running, spending time with friends and family, and exploring new films.

Using Art to Raise Awareness

As a team, we share a passion for art and creativity, and we are using art as a way to raise awareness about kidney disease. At the Palos Verdes High School Art Show, we will be setting up an informational booth about kidney health and chronic kidney disease, and we will be donating the proceeds from our artwork to support kidney research through the One in Seven campaign.

By combining science, creativity, and community engagement, we hope to help raise awareness about kidney disease and support the research that can lead to new treatments and better outcomes for patients.We are excited to be part of this campaign and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the work being done at the USC Kidney Research Center.