image: Pictured are Professor George Fraser (University of Leicester); Professor Martin Gill (Director of Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International) and Dr. Nigel Bannister (University of Leicester). view more
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University of Leicester researchers have combined crime research and space-age technology in ways that could lead to the quick detection of counterfeit pharmaceuticals in a black market currently worth an estimated $40billion per year.
Professor George Fraser and Professor Martin Gill have combined their expertise of space physics and crime and security so that their Spectral ID project has been shortlisted for a Lord Stafford Award in the Innovation in Development category.
Borne out of collaboration between Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International (PRCI) - a spin out company of the University of Leicester- and the University's Space Research Centre, the project was initiated in 2005.
They identified the need for a system that could identify quickly a counterfeit drug product in the field. Existing solutions involve additional cost and detection can involve laboratory tests and other testing. The team at Spectral ID discovered a simple low cost solution that doesn't require special measures being taken by the manufacturer.
Professor Fraser, Director of the University's Space Research Centre, said: "Pharmaceutical manufacturers do not have a simple to use, speedy, non destructible method of detecting counterfeits and we have the potential to offer just that. Feedback results from the use of our device are obtained within seconds."
The use of counterfeit drugs can have serious implications for patients including loss of life. Manufacturers are also acutely aware of the negative impact a counterfeiter can have on its brand.
The technique relies on detecting the differences between the characteristics of light reflected from printed packaging. The unique light source incorporated within the system and the selection of the critical points on the packaging at which the tests are conducted provides a degree of randomness that is not known to the counterfeiter and restricts the ability to be replicated.
The technology has been developed from a spectrograph originally designed by the Space Research Centre for astronomical research and trials so far have resulted in a 100% success rate in identifying counterfeit products where the differences could not be detected by the untrained naked eye. Dr Nigel Bannister, of the University's Space Research Centre, was responsible for the Faulkes Telescope spectrometer, used to make the original tests on counterfeit goods.
Professor Gill, former Professor of Criminology at the University of Leicester and head of the University spin-out company PRCI, added: "The need to remove counterfeit drugs is greatest in the developing countries but there have been an increasing number of reports of them becoming available in the developed world. Other end users would include hospitals, pharmacies, ethical distributors, customs, police, security services and trading standards bodies.
"We have worked with two international companies who have provided us with counterfeit samples and a pharmaceutical association has agreed to work with us to further develop the product. We are receiving a very positive reaction to our approach, but we needn't stop at counterfeit drugs - the potential to redefine the business is truly enormous."
Lord Stafford, Patron of the Awards, concluded: "Counterfeit drugs are a major international problem and the need to be able to quickly detect and ultimately remove them from the supply chain, particularly in the developing world, will prevent catastrophic consequences."
Backed by the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), MAS East Midlands, the East Midlands Universities Association and Lincolnshire County Council, the Lord Stafford Awards are designed to celebrate and recognise innovative collaborations between business and universities.
The winners of the awards, which cover 'Innovation Achieved', 'Innovation in Development' and 'Innovation in Sustainability', will be announced at a high-profile finale on September 10th at the Epic Centre in Lincolnshire.
Other sponsors for the event include Ceramic Decals, CFE Ltd, Clever Cherry, Connect Midlands, Enterprise Europe Network and Swindell and Pearson.
For interviews contact: Professor George Fraser on 44-116-252-3542
University of Leicester - Times Higher Education University of the Year 2008/09
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ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER
- A member of the 1994 Group of universities that share a commitment to research excellence, high quality teaching and an outstanding student experience.
- Named University of the Year by Times Higher (2008) Shortlisted (2006, 2005) and by the Sunday Times (2007)
- Ranked top with Cambridge for student satisfaction amongst full time students taught at mainstream universities in England
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Founded in 1921, the University of Leicester has more than 20,000 students from 136 countries. Teaching in 18 subject areas has been graded Excellent by the Quality Assurance Agency- including 14 successive scores - a consistent run of success matched by just one other UK University. Leicester is world renowned for the invention of DNA Fingerprinting by Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys and houses Europe's biggest academic Space Research Centre. The latest Research Assessment Exercise adjudged Leicester to have world leading research in every subject panel and identified Museum Studies (at 65%) as having the highest proportion of world leading researchers compared with any other subject area at any university in the UK. Leicester also emerged as having one of the highest proportions of staff who are research active in the UK, with approximately 93% of staff submitted for the exercise. The University's research grant income places it among the top 20 UK research universities. The University employs over 3,000 people, has an annual turnover of over £200m, covers an estate of 94 hectares and is engaged in a £300m investment programme- among the biggest of any UK university.