Catherine Morffy Smith Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

As a scientific consultant, I worked with researchers interested in obtaining non-dilutive funding and advised on strategies for securing non-dilutive funds. I collaborated with small businesses developing novel technologies to prepare grant proposals to support their early-stage, high-risk R&D objectives, including NIH, NSF, and USDA SBIR/STTR grants and NIH research grants.To support projects focused on drug/medical device development or the development of other technologies for human/medical use, I developed expertise in the Human Subjects and Clinical Trial documentation required to support early-stage human testing.

St Louis, Missouri, United States

My postdoctoral research focused on the adaptive immune response to repeated pulmonary infection with the bacterial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. Specifically, my work focused on the nature of the T cell response to both primary and secondary infection with K. pneumoniae (doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.974175). This work was performed using a novel mouse model for non-lethal pulmonary infection with K. pneumoniae developed by the Rosen Lab (doi: 10.1242/dmm.043240). I also contributed to an ongoing research project seeking to dissect the genetic regulation of K. pneumoniae virulence factors.I provided training and mentorship to incoming lab members, including undergraduate researchers and research technicians. I regularly presented my work and discussed my findings with other scientists in a number of forums, including on-campus seminars. In support of my postdoctoral research and training, I was awarded a postdoctoral trainee position on an NIH Training Grant through the Washington University in St. Louis Pediatric Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research Training Program in 2018 and 2019.

Athens, Ga

My graduate research explored the impact of malaria infection during pregnancy on birth outcomes and placental health. I demonstrated that the composition of the gut microbiota in pregnant mice influenced susceptibility to malaria infection (doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.05.052) using a novel mouse model I developed for malaria infection throughout pregnancy (doi:10.1038/s41598-019-55588-8). Other projects focused on understanding the molecular stress response of the placenta to malaria infection using primary human placental tissue culture. I worked extensively with undergraduate researchers (1-2 each year) and other graduate students, providing training, mentorship, and experimental support. I was particularly involved in training undergraduate students to perform the experiments required for their senior theses. My accomplishments as a PhD candidate were recognized in 2016 and 2017 when I was awarded a trainee position on an NIH Training Grant through the University of Georgia Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases.

Philadelphia, Pa

Assisted with the development of an assay to determine the prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia based on epigenetic patterns (DNA methylation). I am a co-author on four manuscripts describing this novel assay (doi: 10.1002/ajh.24597; doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.87323; doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2014.229781; doi: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2013.10.010).

Haverford, Pa

Contributed to two ongoing studies of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in West Africa. The first project sought to categorize strains of E. coli isolated from ill and healthy children in Accra, Ghana to determine the relationship between colonization with enteroaggregative E. coli and disease. The second project was focused on monitoring the spread of a specific antibiotic resistance gene cassette in the region. Project preparation and training were performed at Haverford College, and sample analysis was performed onsite at the University of Ghana Medical School (Accra, Ghana).

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Infectious Diseases

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Biology, General