About
Dr. Richard Smith is the CentreBC candidate for Saanich North and the Islands. A research scientist and project manager specializing in immunology and microbiology, he earned a Ph.D. from UBC and held an NIH post-doctoral fellowship at Scripps Medical Research Laboratories in California. Early in his career he worked in biotechnology developing patented in-vitro diagnostic tests for human pathogens, with more than 20 peer-reviewed publications and a family of international patents. He later managed multi-national life-science projects for Defence Research and Development Canada and the Canadian Forces Health Services Group on vaccines and antiviral countermeasures, led a NATO study group, and headed a bio-chem risk assessment team ahead of the 2010 Olympics. He has worked with the BC Ministry of Health and other provinces on biologic-drug cost strategies, served as a contact tracer and case manager with Island Health during COVID-19, and volunteered with Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue in Sidney and on international medical and housing missions.