• Research

    A translational research leader

This article is part of a series honoring recipients of the 2021 Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumni Award. This award is given in recognition of exceptional contributions of Mayo Clinic Alumni to medicine, including, research, education, practice and administration. The individuals receiving the award have often been recognized nationally or internationally in their fields. These articles were originally published in Mayo Clinic Alumni Magazine and on the Mayo Clinic News Network.


Dr. Burnett head shot
John Burnett Jr., M.D.

John Burnett Jr.,  M.D., is a Mayo Clinic cardiologist with a joint appointment in the Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering. He is the Marriott Family Professor of Cardiovascular Research at Mayo Clinic and director of the Mayo Clinic Cardiorenal Research Laboratory.

Dr. Burnett has led translational research efforts in cardiovascular diseases to meet unmet patient needs. He studies the endocrine role of the heart in cardiorenal homeostasis, with a goal of the engineering and clinical development of novel designer natriuretic peptides to treat cardiovascular disease.

He has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1986. Along with his team, he has developed three novel designer peptides that are now in clinical trials to target heart failure and resistant hypertension.

Dr. Burnett's work has resulted in 29 patents, five new biotechnology companies and more than 580 peer-reviewed publications — some that have revolutionized the field. He received the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Heart Failure Society of America.

Dr. Burnett joined the Mayo Clinic staff in 1982 after completing residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiology and nephrology research at Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education in Rochester.