Saint John’s University presents Alumni Achievement Award to Mayo Clinic’s Thomas F. Smith

09/29/2006

Thomas F. Smith, director of the virus laboratory and former division chair of clinical microbiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., has been given an Alumni Achievement Award in Science from Saint John’s University for his involvement in research that led to rapid anthrax testing and rapid smallpox testing in humans.

Saint John’s presented the award at a private event on campus Saturday, Sept. 30, during Homecoming festivities.

As director of the virus laboratory, Smith was on the team of Mayo researchers that developed a DNA-based rapid anthrax test announced in November 2001, and he headed up the Mayo team that developed a similar DNA-based rapid smallpox test announced in June 2002.

The rapid test procedures enable the identification of the anthrax bacterium or smallpox virus in a matter of one to two hours, rather than days. This means that treatment can begin much earlier after exposure. In the case of smallpox, which is highly infectious, early identification is also critical to preventing its spread.

“In the last five years, we have reached a whole new level in diagnostic virology – faster, more accurate and more sensitive laboratory tests,” Smith said.

This new technology has been subsequently used by federal government and academic centers to expand our preparedness against bioterrorism events.

Smith has been with the Mayo Clinic for 36 years. He is a 1961 graduate of Saint John’s University, and credits Saint John’s Professor the Rev. Bertram Niggeman with steering him toward a career in microbiology. He received his doctorate in microbiology from the University of South Dakota, Vermilion S.D., and did a fellowship in virology at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic.