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Accidental Discovery Led to Genetic Drug Insights
12 May
Summary
- His collapse during drug testing led to discovering genetic variations.
- He pioneered research into how genes affect drug responses in individuals.
- His work influenced drug regulation and horse racing dope-testing.
Professor Robert Smith, a distinguished pharmacologist from St Mary's medical school, passed away at 92. His career was significantly shaped by an accidental discovery in 1975 when he experienced adverse effects from the blood pressure drug debrisoquine, while other volunteers did not. This event highlighted "debrisoquine polymorphism," a genetic variation that impacts how efficiently individuals process certain medications.
This finding positioned Smith at the forefront of pharmacogenetics, a field exploring the influence of genes on drug responses. His contributions were recognized in 1998 with the inaugural Paton prize. Beyond human medicine, Smith applied these principles to horse racing, chairing scientific advisory committees and directing a forensic laboratory.
Born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, Smith pursued a career in pharmacy after early scientific fascination. He earned his pharmacy degree in 1956, followed by a PhD in 1960 focusing on drug metabolism. After a research fellowship in the US, he returned to St Mary's in 1962, becoming a professor of pharmacology in 1978.
Even after his official retirement in 1996, Professor Smith remained an active emeritus professor, publishing his final research paper in 2020. His scientific achievements are complemented by a legacy of kindness and generosity. He is survived by his wife, Mary, five children, and seven grandchildren.
