A. Ian Smith
veski ambassadorial fellow
veski chair 2015 – 2021
veski board director 2011 – 2015
Emeritus Professor A. Ian Smith was most recently the Vice-Provost (Research and Research Infrastructure) at Monash University, playing a University-wide leadership role. Professor Smith has more than 35 years as a career medical researcher.
Ian joined the veski board of directors in November 2011, and subsequently was appointed as veski chair in November 2015. Ian concluded his term at veski in December 2021.
Previously at Monash University, Emeritus Professor Smith was also a National Health and Medical Research Council-funded Professorial Fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Deputy Dean (Research) for the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
Ian’s research interests include:
- Central and peripheral peptide regulators of cardiovascular function
- Endothelial cell peptidases involved in regulating cerebrovascular function.
- Peptidases/processing enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of neuropeptides.
- Design, synthesis and functional analysis of specific metalloendopeptidase inhibitors.
- Biomedical and Translational Proteomics
He serves on several editorial boards including J Neurochemistry (handling editor), Mol & Cell Proteomics, Protein & Peptide Letters and Int. J. Peptide Res and Therap.
Ian has published more than 170 papers including peer reviewed research papers in major international journals such as Science, Lancet, J Clin Invest, J. Biol Chem and FASEB, book chapters and invited reviews.
He has collaborated with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and has filed seven patents. He is a co-founder of the proteomics-based, publicly listed, biotechnology company, Cryptome Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd., is a non-executive director of Auspep Pty Ltd., and a consultant to Mayne Pharma.
He has been a member and chairman of the NHMRC grant review panel for Biochemistry. In 2011, he convened and chaired the NHMRC program committee for a special Glucosamine Research study, and continued to sit on NHMRC project grants committee.
Over the years, he has been involved in a number of national and international societies and in the organisation of numerous scientific meetings.
He is currently a Member of the board and scientific advisory committee at Neurosciences Victoria (NSV), Board member and Chair of the Population Health Research Network (PHRN), Board member Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), Board member Microscopy Australia (MA), Board member and Chair Research Advisory Committee at the National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI), Board member Queensland Cyber Infrastructure Foundation (QCIF) and Scientific Advisory Board Member at Euro-BioImaging.
Most recently, Ian was appointed as chair of the Project Governance Group overseeing the Study Melbourne Research Partnerships program.
Ian grew up in the United Kingdom and was educated in Newcastle upon Tyne before moving to Australia.