| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/C533437/1 |
| Title: |
Development of Novel High Sensitivity and Specific Methods to Provide Reliable Forensic Evidence of Drug Administration in Vulnerable Groups |
| Principal Investigator: |
Cowan, Professor D |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Life Sciences |
| Organisation: |
Kings College London |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
26 September 2005 |
Ends: |
25 September 2008 |
Value (£): |
300,297
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Analytical Science |
Chemical Biology |
| Medical science & disease |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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A major new forensic science research project has been designed to aid detection of drug facilitated sexual assaults (so-called 'date rape') and nonaccidental poisoning of children. These are two important and growing types of serious crime where vital forensic evidence may be difficult or impossible to obtain using current methods of detection. The proposal addresses an important gap in forensic science capabilities for drug detection by undertaking the development of new ultra-sensitive laboratory techniques to detect drugs and their breakdown products in the body at extremely low levels (less than 1 part in 10 billion - 100 pg/mL) in tiny samples of blood or urine. The tests will be user-friendly enabling the fully developed methods to be easily transferred to other forensic laboratories worldwide and assist in the fight against such crimes. Such tests will help to secure convictions where established analytical methodologies lack the analytical power for detection. At the same time they should improve the prevention of miscarriages of justice, particularly where non-accidental poisoning of children is suspected, if the much more sensitive tests developed show no evidence to support drug administration.Currently, there is very little forensic evidence of drug administration in many such cases, mainly because incidents are often reported later than 24 hours after the alleged assault has taken place, when very little of the drug will remain in the victim's body. Similarly, late samples are often collected from children where suspicion of non-accidental poisoning may only come to light after routine medical evaluation has been performed e.g. child abuse cases involving drug administration, including cases of so-called Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. In addition, blood and urine samples collected from babies and young children are usually very small, and analysis may only be performed on the little sample that remains after routine medical laboratory diagnostic investigations have been completed. Unfortunately, current forensic techniques are poorly established for the detection of some prescription only medicines (e.g antidepressants, hypnotics) and certain illicit drugs (e.g GHB, ketamine, funitrazepam etc), which are not generally included in routine forensic and clinical drug screening procedures.Large improvements in detection can be achieved using ultra efficient separation and detection systems (micro liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry); also investigation of the presence of drug specific breakdown products (metabolites) still present in the body many hours or days following an alleged incident. This novel approach could enhance sensitivity around 250-fold compared to conventional laboratory techniques.Unlike other drugs associated with drug facilitated sexual assault, gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) occurs naturally in the body, and an alternative exciting approach is proposed. Hence, part of the proposal is to detect and distinguish administered (exogenous) GHB from (endogenous) quantities produced by the body itself both in life and after death. A technique involving the determination of the relative carbon isotope content of GHB in blood and urine will be explored. Recent data, obtained by us, shows a much depleted carbon isotope content for exogenous GHB, a value that contrasts greatly with the carbon isotope content of molecules produced naturally within the body.Studies will also be conducted involving the administration of controlled doses of certain drugs to healthy volunteers under strict medical supervision. These will be able to confirm the expected improvement in drug detection times in blood and urine specimens using these new techniques. Thus, it is hoped that drug detection windows may be dramatically increased from 12-24 hours to several days following an incident.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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