Kaitlan Smith

Dr. Kaitlan Smith is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at Campbell University's Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine, where her research focuses on the intersection of regulated cell death and neurodegeneration. Specifically, Dr. Smith investigates necroptosis, a form of programmed inflammatory cell death, and its contribution to the progression and severity of age-dependent neurodegenerative diseases.

Her work began during her doctoral training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, where she earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology. Her dissertation, "Genetic and Pharmacological Inhibitors of Necroptosis in STUB1-Dependent Ataxias," explored how modulating necroptotic signaling could alter the trajectory of neurodegeneration in disorders caused by STUB1 (CHIP) deficiency, such as SCAR16; a rare but devastating form of spinocerebellar ataxia. Using both genetic approaches and pharmacological inhibitors, Dr. Smith’s research demonstrated that inhibiting necroptosis may reduce inflammatory damage and neuronal loss, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases that currently lack effective treatments.

Now a member of the UNC-Duke Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC), Dr. Smith continues to expand her investigation of necroptosis in both in-vivo and in-vitro models of age-related cognitive decline and motor dysfunction. Her ongoing projects focus on understanding the molecular drivers of necroptosis in the aging brain, identifying key regulatory checkpoints, and exploring how modulating these pathways might lead to neuroprotection.
Dr. Smith’s research is driven by the belief that targeting fundamental mechanisms of cell death and inflammation can pave the way for meaningful therapeutic advances. By integrating molecular pharmacology with translational neuroscience, her work aims to bridge basic science with clinical relevance.

In addition to her research, Dr. Smith is deeply engaged in mentoring students and future physician-scientists, ensuring that emerging healthcare professionals are equipped with both scientific insight and a strong foundation in evidence-based medicine.