M.J. Smit

• Professor Target and Systems Biochemistry in the division of Medicinal Chemistry 

Research

The research of prof Smit focuses on novel concepts of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) (e.g. constitutive activity, ligand-biased signaling, allosterism) and targeting/understanding of (oncogenic) signaling networks activated by human and viral chemokine receptors. These lines of research are closely linked to the design (modeling) and synthesis programs within the division of Medicinal Chemistry. This division has ample experience in drug discovery aspects of GPCRs and collaborate with leading pharmaceutical/biotech companies, resulting in several patents. In recent years Smit has identified several nanobodies (llama-derived antibodies) targeting and modulating GPCR function.

Personal and consortium grants

She has received a fellowship from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) (1999-2003), and obtained a NWO Vidi (2004) and Vici (2013) grant.  Smit was involved in 3 TI Pharma projects and coordinator of a STW program on nanobodies (2011-2015). Smit is co-PI of NWO TOPPUNT (7 ways to modulate 7TM receptors) and is project coordinator of the European Union's Horizon2020 MSCA Programme ITN project ONCORNET (Oncogenic GPCR Network of Excellence and Training).

Awards

Smit was awarded the Organon Award for Pharmacology (2007) and the Galenus Research Prize (2002).

Education

Prof. Martine J. Smit studied Pharmacochemistry (1986-1991) at the VU Universtiy in Amsterdam and obtained her PhD in Molecular Pharmacology/Medicinal Chemistry in 1995 on the regulation of histamine receptors at the VU University Amsterdam. She did a 3.5 year post-doc focusing on oncogenic signaling networks at the dept of Pharmacology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York (lab Prof. R. Iyengar).

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