Cassandra L. Smith

clsmith@bu.edu

Cell Signaling and
Gene Regulation

Biochemistry

Cancer Biology

Developmental Biology

Genetics

Cell and Molecular
Neurobiology

Professor of Biology
Director, Molecular Biotechnology Research Laboratory
Deputy Director, Center for Advanced Biotechnology

Ph. D. Texas A&M Unviversity, 1974

Schizophrenia; breast cancer; molecular biotechnology and diagnosis; twin studies

Dr. Smith's research brings novel approaches developed at the interface of genomics/genetic and biotechnology to complex disease studies. A major focus is on preventing schizophrenia by understanding how a significant number of monozygotic (aka identical) twins can be discordant for disease. Other research takes a combinatorial chemistry approach to isolate aptamers (DNA mimics of antibodies) for use as cancer tumor targeting reagents. Here, the goal is to develop effective targeted therapies for cancer treatment and diagnositic modalities while minimizing damage to bystander cells. Another focus is on the development of new DNA technologies for detecting and diagnosis disease.

Cantor, C. R. and C. L. Smith. 1999. Genomics: The Science and Technology Behind the Human Genome Project. Wiley and Sons, Inc. NY, pp.1-596

Hatch, A., T. Sano, J. Misasi and C. L. Smith. 1999. Mutation Detection using Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) and Immobilized DNA probes. Genetic Analysis (Biomolecular Engineering), 15:35-40.

Sabayanayam, C., C. R. Cantor and C. L. Smith. 2000. Oligonucleotide Immobilization on Micropatterned Streptavidin Surfaces. Nucleic Acids Res., 28:e33.

Nguyen, G., J. Bouchard, C. Foulon, L. Keith, C Baldwin, and VH Herrera and C. L. Smith. 2003. Genomic Instability and Schizophrenia in Monozygotic Twins. Am. J. Human Genetics (Neuropsychiatric Genetics). 120B:1-10.

Abdolmaleky, H. M., C. L. Smith, Ph. D, S. V. Faraone, R. Shafa, W. Stone, S. Glatt and M. Tsuang, 2004. Methylomics in Psychiatry: Modulation of Gene-Environment Interaction by DNA Methylation. Am. J. Human Genetics (Neuropsychiatric Genetics). 127B: 51-59.

Abdolmaleky H, M., K.-H Cheng, A. Russo, C. L. Smith, S. V. Faraone, R. Shafa, M. Wilcox, S. Glatt, W. S. Stone, G. Nguyen, J. F. Ponte, S. Thiagalingam and M. Tsuang. 2005. Hypermethylation of the RELN Promoter in the Brain of Schizophrenic Patients: A Preliminary Report. Am. J. Human Genetics (Neuropsychiatric Genetics) 134: 60-66.

Nguyen, G., N. Bukanov, M. Oshimura and C. L. Smith 2005. Cloneless Genomic DNA Analysis: An Efficient and Simple Alternative to Clone Libraries for de novo Genomic Sequencing and Gap Filling. Biomolecular Engineering. 21: 135-144.

Nguyen, G, N. Nguyen, N. Storm, H. Gavras and C. L. Smith. 2005. Targeted cDNA Differential Display. Biomolecular Engineering, in press.

Abdolmaleky, H. M., K.-H. Cheng , S. V.Faraone, M. Wilcox, A. Russo, C. L. Smith, S. J. Glatt, R. Shafa,, J. Ponte, M. Tsuang and S. Thiagalingam. 2006. Hypomethylation of the COMT Gene Promoter in Brain Tissue is a Risk Factor for Schizophrenia. Human Molecular Genetics 15:3135-3145.

Nguyen, G, N. Nguyen, N. Storm, H. Gavras and C. L. Smith. 2006. Targeted cDNA Differential Display. Biomolecular Engineering 23: 41-54.

If you would like to find out more information regarding Cassandra Smith's research you an write to her at:

44 Cummington Street, Room 331, Boston, MA 02215; call (617) 353-8503; fax (confidential) 617-353-8506; fax (departmental) 617-353-6766; or e-mail her at clsmith@bu.edu.