Research: Forensic Medicine and Science

Forensic Pathology

The major research interests of the Section have developed primarily from, and in conjunction with, the service work.

There is a strong background of research into deaths resulting from drug abuse, utilising the on site expertise of the pathologists and toxicologists within the Section. Previous publications have investigated deaths in particular sections of the community, including recently released prisoners, and have reported on the incidence of drugs involved. Papers on the pathology associated with drug abuse have included deaths resulting from swallowing drug packages and the investigation of, and features identified in, deaths occurring following contamination of drugs with Clostridium Novyi.

The Section has established links with local neuropathologists to develop research in both natural neurological deaths and trauma. There is a particular interest in deaths in epilepsy.

The investigation of war crimes has involved a number of the pathologists, with one consultant having spent several years as the Chief Pathologist with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia. (ICTY) working in Bosnia and Croatia.

The workload of the Section includes a substantial number of deaths associated with alcohol abuse, and there is continuing interest in their investigation and the associated pathology.

Visit our Forensic Pathology page for further details of our work

Forensic Toxicology

Research in Forensic Toxicology is primarily within the theme of “Alcohol and Drugs in the Community”. Within the theme, the group investigates the potential diagnostic use of different biological matrices in cases involving drugs. This involves the use of oral fluids, hair, nails, meconium and vitreous humor. The group actively investigates drug related deaths by studying trends and monitoring the effects of legislative changes and the effectiveness of intervention measures. The findings are fed into local Drug Action Teams and published in the Scientific Literature.

In the field of drug facilitated sexual assaults, research is aimed at improving the effectiveness of methods for detecting drugs in the victim. Consequently “early evidence” kits have been designed and distributed to Police Forces. To bridge the time gap between incident and complaint, a protocol for the collection of alternative biological samples to blood and urine has been developed, specifically targeting hair samples. Kits have been designed for hair samples and distributed for use by the Forensic Medical Examiner.

With respect to drugs and driving, the unit has a longstanding interest in traffic safety issues, including the recently introduced Preliminary Impairment Test and the nature and extent of drug use (including medicines) by drivers.

In each of these areas, research is constantly in progress in the development of advanced methods, displaying increased sensitivity and accuracy, based on state-of-the-art instrumentation and employing new chemical techniques such as molecularly imprinted polymers.

Each toxicologist maintains a research profile and supervises research students up to PhD level.

Visit our Forensic Toxicology page for further details of our work