In 1950, physician Audrey Smith reported the use of glycerol cryoprotectant for red blood cells.

During her work here with Sir Alan Parkes and Christopher Polge, she discovered the first practical cryoprotectant molecule. In 1969, Smith was a joint winner with Polge and Parkes of the John Scott Award of the city of Philadelphia for their method of low temperature preservation of living cells and tissues. Audrey Smith was awarded the Kamerlingh Onnes medal in 1973.

From 1970 to 1981, she was on the staff of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore.