Smith Lab

We have learned that Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells bind to endothelial protein C receptor on brain endothelial cells, triggering dysregulated thrombin signaling, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, and brain swelling.

We are leveraging new 3D human brain microvessel models to gain molecular insights into how pathogen and host inflammatory mediators activate brain endothelial cells and promote endothelial cell dysfunction.

We are studying drug repurposing of FDA-approved kinase inhibitors to counteract inflammatory damage to blood vessels. We are screening kinase inhibitors using an instrument that can measure changes in endothelial barrier integrity in real time.

We are studying drug-repurposing of clinically approved kinase inhibitors to dampen inflammation and stabilize blood vessels following inflammatory damage.