Adam de Smith

I am a genetic epidemiologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the City of Hope National Medical Center. During my PhD, my research was focused on genetic variation and its role in human disease, and I received training in genetic epidemiology. Keen to pursue a career in childhood cancer research, I obtained a postdoctoral position at UCSF studying the etiology of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer. I held a faculty position at the University of Southern California from 2018-2025 before joining City of Hope, where I lead epidemiology studies of ALL in high-risk populations, including Hispanic/Latinos and children with Down syndrome, and investigations into the early-life origins of childhood leukemia. My research has led to several novel discoveries, identifying new risk factors for ALL and shedding light on how Down syndrome increases leukemia risk. Understanding the causes of childhood ALL is my life’s work, with the hope that our discoveries will help to develop precision prevention strategies.