Liz (Stone) Smith, PhD

Served as the preclinical research lead for developing a novel gene therapy for peripheral neuropathies; developed and designed a preclinical strategy and all requisite animal studies, experiments, and biomarkers to fulfill the planned strategy; served as a subject matter expert on gene therapy preclinical development, equipment onboarding, and technique development; served as a study director, study monitor, and principal investigator for internal and external preclinical animal studies required for advancing drug development; fostered collaboration within and without our department by hosting and proposing meetings and representing the department in projects aimed to improve processes; and led a diverse team of scientists and research associates in a wide range of preclinical activities including biomarker development, advanced imaging acquisition and analysis, and biodistribution assessments

Served as a subject matter expert on gene therapy preclinical development, technique development, and onboarding; served as the preclinical research lead for a novel gene therapy designed for peripheral neuropathies; served as a study director for preclinical animal studies needed for advancing our gene therapies; conducted any applicable and necessary laboratory activities to support ongoing research; authored study protocols, study reports, manuscripts, standard operating procedures, and any other required documents; drove forward collaboration and process improvement efforts needed to facilitate the best and most efficient working environment for my team; and managed a team of research associates

Served as a subject matter expert on technique development and onboarding; conducted applicable and necessary laboratory activities to support ongoing research with focus on necropsy and imaging, served as a study director for preclinical animal studies needed for advancing our gene therapies for myopathies, and authored study protocols, study reports, standard operating procedures, as well as any other required documentation

Following the completion of my dissertation, I remained in the Brown lab for a few months to complete ongoing research projects.

Researcher in Tony Brown's Lab studying the changes in neurofilament polymerization and transport in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2E.

Research in Tony Brown's Lab studying the changes in neurofilament polymerization and transport in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2E.

On a contract basis I wrote original pieces and performed some editing/fact checking for the website of the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Research Foundation (CMTRF) website. These pieces are aimed at a general audience and function to provide more information about the various forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and point out their differences and similarities.

I studied the Lgr5 stem cell marker in the taste buds of adult mice in order to address questions of taste cell turnover.

Informed the public on current conservation efforts for specific shore-nesting birds. I was involved in some of the conservation efforts as well - this mostly consisted of patrolling the nesting sites and recording the numbers of nests, adult pairs, and chicks/eggs.

I was an Honors Student and active in the Student Honors College Council. I also spent a semester as a mentor of the incoming Freshman in the Honors College. I studied abroad for a semester in Santander, Cantabria, Spain.

I earned my Master of Science in Neuroscience as a part of my PhD program which was fulfilled at the completion of my candidacy examination requiring a written proposal and oral defense following requisite coursework.

I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation entitled "The Effect of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Mutations in Neurofilament Light on Neurofilaments".