Research Assistant Professor, Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University
Dr. Smith uses a combination of fluorescence microscopy, omics-style data, and machine learning to understand how environmental signals influence the essentiality of different biochemical pathways. His research uses antibacterials to inhibit specific cellular processes, and his main area of research has been in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). His research has focused on investigating how perturbations to one or more pathways contribute to Mtb cell death across different physiological states.
Mtb is widely known to be difficult to treat because of persister cells that emerge after antibiotic treatment, making combination treatment over long periods of time required to eradicate the infection. Dr. Smith will be applying this perspective to Lyme disease research. Specifically, his research will focus on how precision combo therapies could be the key to treating persistent Borrelia infection in PTLDS and understanding which therapies will lead to better clinical success in treating the infection.
Dr. Smith earned his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and his PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Texas-San Antonio. He is currently a Research Assistant Professor in Molecular Biology and Microbiology at Tufts University.
His therapeutic project was selected for the 2024 Emerging Leader Award, a $150,000 grant.
Project Overview
Systematic measurement of drug interactions against Borrelia burgdorferi.
Dr. Smith will be leveraging his past research on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to better understand and evaluate combination therapies for Lyme disease. Mtb is widely known to be difficult to treat because of persister cells that emerge after antibiotic treatment, making combination treatment over long periods of time required to eradicate the infection. Dr. Smith will be applying this perspective to Lyme disease research. Specifically, his research will focus on how precision combo therapies could be the key to treating persistent Borrelia infection in PTLDS and understanding which therapies will lead to better clinical success in treating the infection.