Wade Smith

Dr. Wade Smith, MD, PhD is a Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine and a member of the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. He is a practicing neurologist with specialized training in Neurocritical Care and Vascular Neurology, caring for patients with acute stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage among all neurovascular conditions. His clinical work focuses on acute neurological emergencies and stroke care at the UCSF Medical Center.

Dr. Smith's research primarily centers on developing methods to rapidly triage stroke patients using biometrics, with particular expertise in HeadPulse technology - minute movements produced by the heartbeat on the head. His work demonstrates how alterations in the HeadPulse provide diagnostic tools for stroke, brain injury and other neurological conditions. He has made significant contributions to endovascular stroke therapy research, cerebral concussion assessment, and stroke diagnosis protocols. His research has been consistently funded, including as Principal Investigator for the NorCal-RCC for Northern California Regional Coordinating Center (NIH U24NS107229).

Analysis of Dr. Smith's publication history reveals a strong focus on stroke diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. His work spans from basic biometric measurements (HeadPulse) to clinical trials (DAWN trial) and systematic reviews. Key trends include the development of prehospital stroke assessment tools, refinement of endovascular stroke therapy protocols, and innovative approaches to stroke diagnosis using biometric measurements. His research has been highly influential in both clinical practice and academic neurology, with numerous high-impact publications in leading medical journals.

Dr. Smith has served as Principal Investigator for significant NIH-funded research projects, including the NorCal-RCC for Northern California Regional Coordinating Center (NIH U24NS107229, 2018-2023). His collaborative work extends across multiple institutions, with frequent co-authorship with researchers from UCSF, UCLA, and other leading academic medical centers. His research has received substantial attention, with numerous publications picked up by news outlets, referenced in policy sources, and cited extensively in the medical literature.