Kimberly Schmitt Email and Phone Number

Preclinical Discovery and Development

Managed the design and execution of novel virological and immunological techniques for HIV latency detection, therapeutics, and curative studies; established new animal models for emerging infectious diseases. • Advanced the humanized mouse model as an ultrasensitive method to detect the latent HIV-1 viral reservoir from HIV-1 participant samples that yielded negative results in traditional models. • Identified nonsynonymous genetic mutations/amino acid substitutions necessary for the evolution/cross-species transmission of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in human immune cells.• Constructed a dual-purpose humanized mouse model for the simultaneous in vivo testing of new drugs/therapies against HIV, SHIV, and SIV to further HIV cure studies.• Created a neonatal mouse model for ZIKV that recapitulates immune dysfuntion and microcephaly. • Established a humanized mouse model to study ZIKV pathogenesis and immunity in human immune cells showcasing that ZIKV induces a reservoir in macrophages, B cells, and CD34+ cells of the bone marrow. • Subject Matter Expert that mentors students, postdoctoral fellows, and laboratory personel on project design/virological techniques, scientific writing, equipment/software, analysis, and biosafety.• Aided in the preparation and writing of funded R01 and R21 grants as well as annual grant progress reports for the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).• Collaborated extensively with top scientists on HIV, SHIV, SIV, and ZIKV research projects; interpreted and analyzed data to present findings at collaborator meetings and international conferences. • Served as an Independent grant reviewer for European Research Infrastructure on Highly pathogenic Agents (ERINHA) COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 research projects.• Exceedingly productive in authoring 11 first/co-first author publications (2 under review), 1 coauthor publication, and 1 book chapter.

Designed and optimized innovative novel techniques/protocols to demonstrate how easily HIV-1 can evade the human immune system. • Developed a novel HIV-1 library using soft randomization to identify mutations by which HIV-1 can escape from CD4-binding site antibodies using Illumina-based deep sequencing.• Identified possible tyrosine sulfated CCR5 CDR3 peptides that could be used as a therapeutic to suppress HIV-1 viremia using Illumina-based deep sequencing. • Helped establish the receptor (AXL) that Zika virus (ZIKV) uses to enter host cells leading to advancements in targeting ZIKA with small molecule inhibitors to block receptor binding.• Awarded the The Scripps Research Institute Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship award securing funding for 1 year. • Partnered with biostaticians and collaborators to design new ways of assessing Illumina-based deep sequencing.• Prioritized experiments and data to communicate scientific results resulting in the 1 co-first author and 1 coauthor publication; peer-reviewed and edited articles related to the HIV-1 field.• Worked in a BSL-3 containment facility and ensured laboratory operations are conducted in compliance with federal, DoD, state, and local regulations.• Increased laboratory productivity by training colleagues on biosafety in a BSL-3 facility, experimental design, and equipment software.• Prioritized experiments to effectively communicate scientific results resulting in the 1 co-first author and 1 coauthor publication; peer-reviewed and edited articles related to the HIV-1 field.

Led research projects to meet milestones and deliverables, while training staff on procedures/protocols. Managed the laboratory’s daily operations, which included financial budgeting and materials purchasing. • Isolated the A3 gene locus from the rhesus macaque in a collaborative study and provided the first evidence that a primate APOBEC3 protein could inhibit lentiviral replication with implications for HIV-1 vaccine development.• Mapped the rhA3A binding domains in the N-terminus of the SIV Vif (virion infectivity factor) protein to aid in the development of small molecule Vif inhibitors.• Assessed viral replication kinetics, immunology, and, pathogenicity of Vif-attenuated SHIVs as possible vaccine candidates using the SHIV/rhesus macaque model.• Teamed up with collaborators to conduct studies and publish 5 first authors and 9 coauthor publications in the HIV/SIV field. • Applied for and secured funding for a 2-year research project through the University of Kansas Medical Center Biomedical Training Grant.• Excelled at presenting data and findings from ongoing research to a broad network in the scientific community at multiple international conferences.• Introduced and optimized experimental protocols for screening hypermutation in vivo and in vitro, cloning, isolation of proteins from the virion, infectivity assays, co-immunoprecipitations and Confocal microscopy.