Dr. Harold Smith, PhD

So what exactly happens inside your body when you consume Cannabis? Dr. Smith outlines the powerful role of the Endocannabinoid System in modulating human health, and discusses the future of Cannabis research and testing. Harold C. Smith, Ph.D. is a cell and molecular biologist and full professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry. He is a member of the Center for AIDS Research and RNA Biology Center. He obtained his MS and Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1980 and 1982. He conducted postdoctoral fellowships in RNA biology at Baylor College of Medicine before assuming a faculty position with the University of Rochester in 1986. He is a key opinion leader in RNA biology and directs a federally and foundation funded research laboratory from which over 141 peer-reviewed publications have emerged on biological control mechanisms affecting diseases such as cancer, elevated cholesterol, obesity-induced Type II diabetes and HIV/AIDS. In 2003, Dr. Smith founded OyaGen, Inc, an Upstate NY biotech company based on ground breaking research that revealed mechanisms within our innate ability overcome an infection by HIV-1 and also a first in class treatment of Ebola. To date, Dr. Smith has raised $15M in NIH and foundation funding for his academic and biotech research and $6.5M in Angel investment. In 2016 Dr. Smith founded Cannametrix, LLC for the development of methods to enhance cannabis testing with cell-based testing standards that better inform patients and physicians of potency and dose.