David Smith

David Smith received his PhD from Salford University, UK, in 1980, with a thesis entitled “Ionophoric Benzimidazolones” covering the field of synthetic organic chemistry. He then carried out two years of postdoctoral work at Imperial College, London, UK, working with Professor Charles Rees, FRS, and becoming a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Chartered Chemist (MRSC, CChem) as well as gaining the qualification of Diploma of Imperial College (DIC). The bulk of his working life from 1984 onwards was spent in the pharmaceutical industry, including the Sanofi group of companies in Alnwick, Northumberland, UK, until retirement in 2013 at age 60. Following retirement, Dr. Smith continued to seek opportunities to remain valuable to society at large, and it was at this stage that the concept of the intestinal microbiome was beginning to be taken seriously. By 2015, Dr. Smith had developed a novel view on microbiome-related non-communicable disease, and his opportunities for collaboration were markedly increased upon joining NoRCEL, the Network of Researchers on the Chemical Emergence of Life. Alongside members of NoRCEL, across the period 2019 to 2023, Dr. Smith was able to coordinate a series of nine increasingly well-regarded articles, in turn culminating in the production of this book. Following retirement, Dr Smith continued to seek opportunities to remain valuable to society at large, and it was at this stage that the concept of the intestinal microbiome was beginning to be taken seriously. By 2015, Dr Smith had developed a novel view on microbiome-related non-communicable disease, and his opportunities for collaboration were markedly increased upon joining NoRCEL, the Network of Researchers on the Chemical Emergence of Life. Alongside members of NoRCEL, across the period 2019 to 2023, Dr Smith was able to coordinate a series of nine increasingly well-regarded articles, in turn culminating in the production of this book.