Claire Smith

Claire Smith is an Associate Professor at the GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London, specializing in respiratory virus infection models and immune responses. She established the Living Airway Biobank and co-directs the MRes Child Health program.

• Education:
  • BSc (Hons) in Medical Microbiology
  • PhD in vaccine strategies against Streptococcus pneumoniae

Her research focuses on epithelial-neutrophil interactions during respiratory infections and animal-free human challenge models for SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza. Funded by UKRI, Wellcome Trust, and industry partners, her work bridges basic science and translational medicine.

Recent publications highlight age-specific nasal epithelial responses, T-cell receptor diversity in MIS-C, and antiviral synergy assays. She advocates for EDI in science and has taken three career breaks post-PhD.