Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith, MD is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, where she leads a research laboratory focused on therapeutic resistance mechanisms and novel treatment strategies for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Her work particularly emphasizes AML associated with FLT3 mutations, which occur in approximately 30% of AML cases and confer poor prognosis.

Dr. Smith employs a 'bedside to bench and back' translational approach, utilizing patient samples to investigate how tumors evolve under cancer therapy selective pressure. This strategy enables the development of methods to circumvent evolutionary adaptations that lead to treatment resistance.

• Yale University, CT - BS in Chemistry (1998)
• Duke University - MD (2002)

Her research interests center on identifying resistance mechanisms to targeted therapies in AML, with particular focus on FLT3 inhibitors and RAS signaling pathways. Dr. Smith's laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms of resistance, develops novel therapeutic combinations, and characterizes AML genomics to improve risk stratification and treatment selection.

Analysis of Dr. Smith's recent publications reveals a strong focus on FLT3-mutant AML, therapeutic resistance mechanisms, molecular characterization of AML, and development of novel targeted therapies. Her work spans basic science investigations of resistance mechanisms, preclinical validation of new therapeutic approaches, and clinical trial analyses to refine risk stratification and treatment selection.

Dr. Smith has received numerous prestigious awards throughout her career:

• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Special Fellow in Clinical Research Career Development Award (2010)
• European Hematology Association/American Society of Hematology Translational Research Training Program Award (2010)
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Medical Student Training Fellowship (1998)
• Multiple Yale University honors including Cum Laude and the Howard Douglass Moore Prize

She currently serves as Principal Investigator on two major NIH-funded research projects: 'RNA Polymerase II as a Therapeutic Target in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) with RAS Signaling Activation' (2022-2027, NIH/NCI R01CA266422-01A1) and previously led 'Investigating Resistance to FLT3 Inhibitors in AML' (2014-2018, NIH K08CA187577). These grants support her laboratory's work in identifying therapeutic resistance mechanisms and developing novel treatment strategies for AML.

Dr. Smith leads a research team focused on translational leukemia research, with particular emphasis on FLT3-mutant AML. Her laboratory employs genomic, molecular, and cellular approaches to investigate therapeutic resistance mechanisms and develop novel treatment strategies. The team collaborates extensively with clinical researchers through the Beat AML clinical trial consortium and other multicenter studies.