James Smyth

James Smyth, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, with appointments in the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, and the Department of Basic Science Education, School of Medicine, Virginia Tech. He leads the Smyth Lab, which is affiliated with the Center for Vascular and Heart Research and the Cancer Research Center, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of intercellular communication in cardiac and cancer biology.

His research centers on gap junctions, particularly connexin 43 (Cx43), and how their dysfunction contributes to heart disease, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. The lab investigates how viral infections like adenovirus disrupt cardiac communication prior to inflammation, how stress and aging affect translation of connexin proteins, and the role of ion imbalances in ischemia. Using live-cell imaging and super-resolution microscopy, the team studies protein dynamics in real time to identify novel therapeutic targets.

His recent publications reveal trends in cardiac electrophysiology, viral pathogenesis, alternative translation, and connexin regulation. Key themes include the impact of adenovirus on gap junctions, ion homeostasis during ischemia, mitochondrial dynamics in cancer, and nanoparticle-based therapies for glioblastoma.

• Travel Award and Highly Commended Poster Presentation, Gordon Research Conference on Cardiac Arrhythmia Mechanisms, 2013
• Trainee Oral Presentation Award, Second Prize, International Gap Junction Conference, 2013

Smyth has mentored students and postdoctoral researchers including Rachel Padget, Patrick Calhoun, Ellen Shrontz, and Chelsea Phillips. He has secured significant grant funding, including a $2.7 million NIH grant to study viral myocarditis. His lab actively participates in training programs and collaborates across disciplines. The Smyth Lab is based in R-2116, Riverside 2, and is a key contributor to cardiovascular and cancer research at Virginia Tech.