Rate My Professor Tracey Smith

Dr Tracey Smith is the Commercialisation Manager at Otago Innovation Limited, the University of Otago's dedicated commercialisation company. In this role, she has played a pivotal part in bringing innovative research outputs to market, most notably the TOXINZ clinical toxicology database. Developed over more than 50 years at the University of Otago's National Poisons Centre within the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, TOXINZ began as a paper-based system and evolved into a comprehensive digital resource containing over 190,000 documents on poisonous chemicals, pharmaceuticals, plants, and animals. Under Dr Smith's leadership, investigations into its commercial potential commenced in 2008, leading to initial uptake across all Australian states and subsequent global expansion.

Otago Innovation Limited, with Dr Smith instrumental in the process, received the prestigious BNZ Commercial Deal Award at the inaugural KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards in 2013 for the successful commercialisation of TOXINZ. This accolade highlighted the project's excellence in monetising undervalued assets and generating significant economic impact for New Zealand. Today, TOXINZ is utilised in more than 30 countries, with subscriptions purchased by over 70 hospitals and institutions worldwide, including government and ministry-level adoptions in nations such as Kazakhstan, the United Arab Emirates, and emerging markets in Asia like Malaysia and the Philippines. Dr Smith has emphasised the importance of strategic relationships formed at international toxicology meetings to navigate procurement processes effectively. Recent enhancements, optimised for iPads, tablets, and smartphones, ensure accessibility while maintaining the database's gold-standard, medically reviewed content. Features include phonetic searches, synonym recognition, and toxicovigilance monitoring for emerging risks. Free access is provided to developing countries via the WHO Hinari programme and Médecins Sans Frontières, underscoring a commitment to global health equity. Through her efforts, Dr Tracey Smith has significantly amplified the influence of University of Otago research on international clinical toxicology practices.