Judith (Judy) Smith

Judy Smith is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Medical Microbiology & Immunology Department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health. Her research focuses on the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) in modulating immune responses during infectious and inflammatory diseases.

Her work explores how UPR activation in macrophages enhances the production of key inflammatory cytokines such as type I IFN, TNF-α, and IL-23 upon infectious stimuli, positioning the UPR as a potential "danger signal" amplifier in immunity. She investigates host-pathogen interactions, particularly how Brucella species disrupt ER structure and manipulate the UPR to promote infection. Her research bridges immunology, microbiology, and cellular stress pathways.

Judy Smith has secured significant external funding, including an NIAID R21, an R01 renewal subaward, and a grant from Merck, reflecting her active and impactful research program. She mentors undergraduate and graduate students through prestigious programs such as the Hilldale Fellowship and multiple doctoral training programs (CMP, CMB, MDTP).

• R21 Grant from NIAID
• R01 Renewal Subaward (Co-Investigator)
• Merck Grant ($203,983)
• Hilldale Faculty Fellowship (mentor)

She advises undergraduate and graduate researchers and is supported by institutional core facilities including the Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research (WIMR) and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (ICTR). Her lab contributes to understanding fundamental immune mechanisms with implications for viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and bacterial pathogenesis.