Brian R. Smith, MD
Professor of Laboratory Medicine, of Biomedical Engineering, of Medicine (Hematology) and of Pediatrics; Deputy Dean for Scientific Affairs (Clinical Departments); Chair, Department of Laboratory Medicine, co-PI of the Yale CTSA and co-director of the YCCI
Photo by Robert A. Lisak
Dr. Smith received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University, his medical degree from the Harvard Medical School, and his residency/fellowship training at The Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Dana Farber Cancer Center. He is board certified in Pathology / Hematopathology and in Internal Medicine / Hematology-Oncology. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Smith has an investigative interest in the inflammation-coagulation interface, especially in relation to biomaterials, as well as in cellular immunotherapeutics, with over 175 publications. His educational activities include direction of an NIH-funded research training program in Immunohematology and Transfusion Medicine and he also occasionally lectures in the areas of biomedical ethics, “therapeutic pathology”, and in the education of the physician-scientist.
Dr. Smith's research laboratory primarily investigates the inflammation-coagulation interface, especially at the cellular level, i.e., the interaction of leukocytes and platelets, but also at the level of soluble mediators such as the complement system. A major interest is in relating basic biological events to human disease, for example, studying the mechanisms and consequences of platelet, leukocyte and complement activation during cardiac surgery, as a consequence of transfusion, in the pathophysiology of tumor metastasis, and in primary hematologic disorders. Because of the importance of inflammation-coagulation in the success or failure of clinically utilized biomechanical devices, the laboratory is also engaged in aspects of biomedical engineering. Smith has conducted clinical trials in cardiac surgery and cellular therapy / transfusion medicine.
In addition to these areas, Dr. Smith is involved in clinically oriented research designed to improve hematologic and immunologic diagnostics and ''personalized'' cell therapy, has published in the area of bioethics, and is engaged in educational methodology research to improve medical student education in Laboratory Medicine.