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Hannah L. Smith, PhD

Hannah L. Smith
Hannah L. Smith, PhD

Contact

hannahsmith@tamu.edu

Biography

Dr. Hannah L. Smith is an neuroimmunologist whose research explores how innate and adaptive immune activation intersects with circadian dysregulation to influence cognitive function and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Souza Lab in the Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics in the Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, where she leverages her immunology expertise to uncover mechanisms linking neuroinflammation to neurodegenerative decline. 

Dr. Smith earned her Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology with an emphasis in microbial systems and a minor in microbiology from Montana State University. As an undergraduate researcher at the Boise VA Medical Center, she investigated the metabolically active microbiome in chronic wounds in diabetic veterans and was introduced to immunology through the isolation and characterization of human CD14+ monocyte-derived macrophage phenotypes, an experience that sparked her long-standing passion for immune system research. 

She received her PhD in Medical Sciences from the Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine, where her dissertation focused on the role of GM-CSF in activating innate immune cells in hypertension. Across her scientific career, Dr. Smith has maintained one core belief: immunology is integral to every facet of biomedical research. She carries this perspective forward in her work as a neuroimmunologist, striving to advance our understanding of how immune processes shape Alzheimer’s disease and the effects of circadian disruption on the brain.  

Education and Training

  • Texas A&M University, PhD, Medical Sciences, 2025
  • Montana State University, B.S., Biotechnology (Microbial Systems), 2020

Research Interests

  • Immunology
  • Neuroscience
  • Medical Physiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Awards, Recognition and Service

  • IRACDA Scholar, IRACDA@TAMU 2025-2029
  • GAD Aggies Professional Development Advanced Certificate
  • Academic Leadership Training for Advancing Researchers Certificate
  • AHA Hypertension Scientific Sessions Poster Presentation
  • GAD Aggies Professional Development Beginner Certificate
  • AHA Hypertension Scientific Sessions Oral Presentation
  • Montana State University’s Presidents List
  • Order of Omega Greek Honors Society
  • ASBMB Capital Day on the Hill Member/Participant
  • Montana State University’s Dean’s List
  • INBRE Fellowship Student Choice Award for Scientific Poster Presentation
  • NBRE Undergraduate Fellow 2018-2020

Representative Publications

  1. Anders CB, Smith HL, Boyd J, Davis MC, Lawton TMW, Hwang C, Doucette MM, Ammons MCB. Integration of localized microbiome, metabolome, and clinical datasets predicts healing in chronic wounds among veterans. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Oct 18:2025.09.07.674782. doi: 10.1101/2025.09.07.674782. PMID: 40964348; PMCID: PMC12439902. In review at Science Advances.  
  2. Navaneethabalakrishnan S, Goodlett BL, Smith HL, Cardenas A, Montalvo RA, Peterson GC, Mitchell BM; Blood Pressure Reduction and Anti-inflammatory Macrophage Augmentation Attenuate Uterine Immune Dysregulation and Inflammation in Mice with Salt-Sensitive Hypertension. Clin Sci (Lond) 2025; CS20255879. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20255879 
  3. Smith HL, Goodlett BL, Peterson GC, Zamora EN, Gostomski AR, Mitchell BM. Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Inhibition Ameliorates Innate Immune Cell Activation, Inflammation, and Salt-Sensitive Hypertension. Cells. 2025; 14(15):1144. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14151144 
  4. Konatham S, Goodlett BL, Smith HL, Mitchell BM; Hypertension: a lymphatic disease?. Clin Sci (Lond) 26 June 2025; 139 (12): 597–603. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20245149 
  5. Smith HL, Goodlett BL, Navaneethabalakrishnan S, Mitchell BM. Elevated Salt or Angiotensin II Levels Induce CD38+ Innate Immune Cells in the Presence of Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor. Cells. 2024; 13(15):1302. doi.org/10.3390/cells13151302  
  6. Navaneethabalakrishnan S, Goodlett BL, Smith HL, Montalvo RA, Cardenas A, Mitchell BM*.  Differential changes in end organ immune cells and inflammation in salt-sensitive hypertension: Effects of increasing M2 macrophages. Clin Sci (London). 2024;138:921-940.  doi.org/10.1042/CS20240699 
  7. Navaneethabalakrishnan S, Goodlett BL, Smith HL, Cardenas A, Burns A, Mitchell BM; Differential changes in end organ immune cells and inflammation in salt-sensitive hypertension: effects of lowering blood pressure. Clin Sci (Lond) 17 July 2024; 138 (14): 901–920. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20240698 
  8. Navaneethabalakrishnan S*, Smith HL*, Arenaz CM, Goodlett BL, McDermott JG, Mitchell BM. Update on Immune Mechanisms in Hypertension. Am J Hypertension. 2022; 35:842-851.  doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpac077   *co-first authors  
  9. Anders CB, Lawton TMW, Smith HL, Garret, J, Ammons MCB. Use of integrated metabolomics, transcriptomics, and signal protein profile to characterize the effector function and associated metabotype of polarized macrophage phenotypes. J Leukoc Biol. 2021; 1– 27. https://doi.org/10.1002/JLB.6A1120-744R