Case Western Reserve University

Faculty Member, Pathology

Professor

About

Dr. Mark A. Smith received his B.Sc. with Honors in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Hatfield College, Durham University, England (1986). He went on to earn a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Nottingham University, England, in 1990. Dr. Smith spent the next two years as a Research Fellow at Sandoz Forschungsinstitut in Vienna, Austria before joining CWRU in 1992. Dr. Smith is currently Professor of Pathology and Director of Basic Science Research of the University Memory and Cognition Center, and also serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Executive Director of the American Aging Association.

The focus of Dr. Smith’s research involves investigating the pathological mechanism(s) underlying selective neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Smith’s research involves a variety of techniques ranging from histological to molecular biology to cellular models and encompasses diagnostic, mechanistic, and therapeutic strategies. Current projects are directed towards 1) fundamental metabolic alterations; 2) homeostatic dysregulation of transition metals; 3) signal transduction alterations; and 4) inappropriate re-entry into the cell cycle.

Dr. Smith has authored over 800 peer-reviewed manuscripts and chapters and, with over 18,000 citations, is recognized as one of the most highly published and cited researchers in the fields of Neuroscience & Behavior, Alzheimer Disease, and Free Radical Biology.

Dr. Smith is the recipient of several awards including the Ruth Salta Junior Investigator Achievement Award from the American Health Assistance Foundation, Young Scientist Lectureship Award from the International Society for Neurochemistry, the Nathan Shock New Investigator Award from The Gerontological Society of America, the Zenith Award from the Alzheimer's Association, the Jordi Folch-Pi Award from the American Society of Neurochemistry, the Hermann-Esterbauer Award from the HNE Society, and the Denham Harman Award from the American Aging Association. Dr. Smith has also been honored as a Fellow of the American Aging Association and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists. Finally, Dr. Smith has been recognized for his contributions to teaching with, among others, the Outstanding Mentor Award, School of Graduate Studies and the 2009 J. Bruce Jackson, M.D., Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Mentoring, Case Western Reserve University.