Geoffrey L. Smith
Encyclopedia
Professor Geoffrey Lilley Smith (born 1955) FRS FMedSci
FIBiol is a British virologist and medical research authority in the area of Vaccinia
virus and the family of Poxviruses. He is Head of the Department of Virology at Imperial College London
and a Principal Research Fellow of the Wellcome Trust
.
Smith completed his bachelors degree at the University of Leeds
in 1977 and in 1981 gained a PhD in Virology whilst in London. Between 1981–1984, while he was working in the United States under the National Institutes of Health
, Smith developed and pioneered the use of genetically engineered live vaccine
s. Between 1985–1989 he lectured at the University of Cambridge
.
Prior to 2002, he was based at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
at the University of Oxford
. Between 1988–1992 his work was funded by the Jenner Fellowship from The Lister Institute; he became a governor of the Institute in 2003. In 1992 the Society for General Microbiology
awarded Smith their Fleming Award for outstanding work by a young microbiologist. In 2002, Smith was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
. In 2003, he was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society
and in 2005 was awarded the Feldburg
Foundation Prize for his work on poxviruses.
Smith was editor-in-chief of the Journal of General Virology
up until 2008 and chairs the WHO's Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research. he remains the Head of the Department of Virology at Imperial College London
and is president-elect
of the International Union of Microbiological Societies
.
His maternal grandfather was Ralph Lilley Turner
, an Indian languages philologist.
Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell....
FIBiol is a British virologist and medical research authority in the area of Vaccinia
Vaccinia
Vaccinia virus is a large, complex, enveloped virus belonging to the poxvirus family. It has a linear, double-stranded DNA genome approximately 190 kbp in length, and which encodes for approximately 250 genes. The dimensions of the virion are roughly 360 × 270 × 250 nm, with a mass of...
virus and the family of Poxviruses. He is Head of the Department of Virology at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
and a Principal Research Fellow of the Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
.
Smith completed his bachelors degree at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
in 1977 and in 1981 gained a PhD in Virology whilst in London. Between 1981–1984, while he was working in the United States under the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
, Smith developed and pioneered the use of genetically engineered live vaccine
Vaccine
A vaccine is a biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins...
s. Between 1985–1989 he lectured at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
Prior to 2002, he was based at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology is a Department within the University of Oxford . Its research programme includes the cellular and molecular biology of pathogens, the immune response, cancer and cardiovascular disease...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. Between 1988–1992 his work was funded by the Jenner Fellowship from The Lister Institute; he became a governor of the Institute in 2003. In 1992 the Society for General Microbiology
Society for General Microbiology
The Society for General Microbiology is a learned society based in the United Kingdom but with members in more than 60 countries. With approximately 5000 members, it is the largest microbiological society in Europe...
awarded Smith their Fleming Award for outstanding work by a young microbiologist. In 2002, Smith was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences
Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell....
. In 2003, he was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
and in 2005 was awarded the Feldburg
Wilhelm Feldberg
Wilhelm Siegmund Feldberg CBE FRS was a German-British-Jewish physiologist and biologist.- Biography :...
Foundation Prize for his work on poxviruses.
Smith was editor-in-chief of the Journal of General Virology
Journal of General Virology
The Journal of General Virology is a peer-reviewed academic journal that covers research into viruses affecting animals, plants, insects, bacteria and fungi, including their molecular biology, immunology and interactions with the host. Antiviral compounds are also covered. Established in 1967, it...
up until 2008 and chairs the WHO's Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research. he remains the Head of the Department of Virology at Imperial College London
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
and is president-elect
President-elect
An -elect is a political candidate who has been elected to an office but who has not yet been sworn in or officially taken office. These may include an incoming president, senator, representative, governor and mayor.Analogously, the term "designate" An -elect is a political candidate who has been...
of the International Union of Microbiological Societies
International Union of Microbiological Societies
The Internation Union of Microbiological Societies or IUMS, founded in 1927 as the International Society of Microbiology, is now one of 27 Scientific Unions of the International Council of Science ....
.
His maternal grandfather was Ralph Lilley Turner
Ralph Lilley Turner
Sir Ralph Lilley Turner MC was an English Indian languages philologist and university administrator. He is also the author of some publications concerning the Romani language....
, an Indian languages philologist.
External links
- Profile at Imperial College London