Tamar Smith-Norowitz, PhD
Research Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Dr. Smith-Norowitz graduated from the State University of New York Health Science Center of Brooklyn and completed her postdoctoral studies in Neuroimmunology at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn. After completion of her post-doctoral studies she returned to SUNY Downstate as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics.
She has a certificate of qualification and laboratory director from the NY Department of Health for Flow Cytometry/ Cellular Immunology. The focus of her research includes studying the mechanisms regulating the production of Immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody produced after exposure to allergens and which is responsible for the symptoms associated with asthma and allergy. Allergic asthma and food allergies are diseases of altered IgE regulation, and are major increasing health problems in the United States, especially in Brooklyn, which is an inner city area served by SUNY Downstate. Other research interests include epidemiology and pathophysiology of chlamydial infections in asthma and non-asthma. Current projects: Cellular immune responses to infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae.
Education
- Undergraduate: Adelphi University, B.S. (Biology)
- Advanced Degree: Adelphi University, M.S. (Biology)
- Advanced Degree: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, PhD (Microbiology & Immunology)
- Fellowship: Maimonides Medical Center (Neuroimmunology)
Research Interests
- Immunoglobulin E, CD8+CD60+ T cells, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Asthma