Professor Richard Paul - Bournemouth University Staff Profile Pages

Biography
Research

Biography

My research is focused on the application of bioanalytical chemistry to address questions of importance in forensic and medical fields. I am particularly interested in biomarker discovery and detection as employed in toxicology, pathology, and related disciplines. Projects are inherently interdisciplinary, and have provided scope for diverse collaborations including government agencies, healthcare providers, and the private sector.

Research

Our research in the Analytical Science Research Group is problem-driven, which raises the need to invent new methodology. Our work is currently funded by Skin Cancer Research Fund, Sir Samuel Scott of Yews Trust, The Valentine Charitable Trust, and Border Force, Home Office.

Our technical focus and capabilities include a focus on volatile biomarker detection using headspace techniques, a range of mass spectrometry techniques, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and chemometric techniques for data handling and optimization.

I am currently Chief Investigator on a multidisciplinary research project on cancer metabolomics. In collaboration with University Hospitals Dorset the project aims to show proof of concept in a novel study for the early identification of skin cancer.

Recent projects:

We were commissioned by the Prison Officers Association to investigate the issue of NPS abuse in UK prisons. NPS are new narcotic or psychotropic drugs (not controlled by the UN drug conventions) many of which pose serious health risks. We designed new analytical approaches to assess the prevalence of NPS abuse in UK prisons and assessed the extent to which prison staff are exposed to secondary drug fumes during their employment.

Working with colleagues in our forensic team we are investigating volatile compounds associated with bank currencies, using headspace analysis. The project, funded by Border Force, Home Office, aims to inform future strategy for currency detection dogs.

Our team has employed wastewater monitoring using high resolution mass spectrometry to understand population level trends in drug consumption... This work, a collaboration between Synlab UK and our research group has focused on new psychoactive substances in surface waters and prison settings.

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Journal Articles

Davies, B., Paul, R., Osselton, D. and Woolley, T., 2024. Analysis of crude wastewater from two treatment plants in South Wales for 35 new psychoactive substances and cocaine, and cannabis. Scientific Reports, 14 (1).
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Mahanty, S., Majumder, S., Paul, R., Boroujerdi, R., Valsami-Jones, E. and Laforsch, C., 2024. A review on nanomaterial-based SERS substrates for sustainable agriculture. Science of the Total Environment, 950.
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Boroujerdi, R., Butt, A., Paul, R. and Majumder, S., 2024. Unveiling Morphine: A Rapid and Selective Fluorescence Sensor for Forensic and Medical Analysis. Sensors, 24 (6).
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Davies, B., Paul, R., Osselton, D., Evers, R. and Woolley, T., 2024. Absence of new psychoactive substances in wastewater from South Wales, UK, revealed by optimised liquid chromatography-time-of-flight analysis. Drug Testing and Analysis.
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Davies, B., Paul, R., Osselton, D. and Woolley, T., 2024. Stability of new psychoactive substances in crude wastewater. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology.
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Davies, B., Paul, R. and Osselton, D., 2023. Wastewater analysis for new psychoactive substances and cocaine and cannabis in a Northern Ireland Prison. Scientific Reports, 13 (1).
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Boroujerdi, R., Paul, R. and Abdelkader, A., 2022. Rapid Detection of Amitriptyline in Dried Blood and Dried Saliva Samples with Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy. Sensors, 22 (21).
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Boroujerdi, R., Abdelkader, A. and Paul, R., 2022. Highly Sensitive and Selective Detection of the Antidepressant Amitriptyline Using a Functionalised Graphene-Based Sensor. ChemNanoMat, 8 (10).
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Boroujerdi, R. and Paul, R., 2022. Graphene-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Psychoactive Drugs. Nanomaterials, 12 (13).
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Boroujerdi, R., Abdelkader, A. and Paul, R., 2022. Highly selective detection of ethanol in biological fluids and alcoholic drinks using indium ethylenediamine functionalized graphene. Sensors and Diagnostics, 1 (3), 566-578.
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Boroujerdi, R. and Paul, R., 2022. Introducing Graphene–Indium Oxide Electrochemical Sensor for Detecting Ethanol in Aqueous Samples with CCD-RSM Optimization. Chemosensors, 10 (2).
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Paul, R., Smith, S., Gent, L. and Sutherill, R., 2021. Air monitoring for synthetic cannabinoids in a UK prison: Application of personal air sampling and fixed sequential sampling with thermal desorption two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Drug Testing and Analysis, 13 (9), 1678-1685.
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Gent, L. and Paul, R., 2021. The detection of new psychoactive substances in wastewater. A comprehensive review of analytical approaches and global trends. Science of the Total Environment, 776.
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Gent, L. and Paul, R., 2021. Air monitoring for illegal drugs including new psychoactive substances: A review of trends, techniques and thermal degradation products. Drug Testing and Analysis, 13 (6), 1078-1094.
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Lanfear, J.H., Voegel, C.D., Binz, T.M. and Paul, R.A., 2020. Hair cortisol measurement in older adults: Influence of demographic and physiological factors and correlation with perceived stress. Steroids, 163.
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Boroujerdi, R., Abdelkader, A. and Paul, R., 2020. State of the Art in Alcohol Sensing with 2D Materials. Nano-Micro Letters, 12 (1).
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Paul, R., Williams, R., Hodson, V. and Peake, C., 2019. Detection of cannabinoids in hair after cosmetic application of hemp oil. Scientific Reports, 9 (1).
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Paul, R., Tsanaclis, L., Murray, C., Boroujerdi, R., Facer, L. and Corbin, A., 2019. Ethyl Glucuronide as a Long-term Alcohol Biomarker in Fingernail and Hair. Matrix Comparison and Evaluation of Gender Bias. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 54 (4), 402-407.
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Paul, R., 2019. Alcohol markers in hair: an issue of interpretation. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 15 (2), 281-283.
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Szafnauer, R., McGregor, L., Paul, R., Edwards, M. and Smith, S., 2019. Structural elucidation of new psychoactive substances in herbal incense using GC×GC-TOF MS with tandem electron ionization. Forensic Chemistry.
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Paul, R. and Tsanaclis, L., 2018. Data on ethyl glucuronide and cocaethylene concentrations in the hair of cocaine users. Data in Brief, 20, 2036-2039.
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Dumitrascu, C., Paul, R., Kingston, R. and Williams, R., 2018. Influence of alcohol containing and alcohol free cosmetics on FAEE concentrations in hair. A performance evaluation of ethyl palmitate as sole marker, versus the sum of four FAEEs. Forensic Science International, 283, 29-34.
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Bossers, L.C.A.M. and Paul, R., 2014. Application of Bayesian Theory to the reporting of results in alcohol hair testing. Forensic Science International., 242, 56-58.
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Bossers, L., Paul, R., Berry, A.J., Kingston, R., Middendorp, C. and Guwy, A.J., 2014. An evaluation of decontamination and extraction techniques in the analysis of ethyl glucuronide and fatty acid ethyl esters from hair samples. Journal of Chromatography B, 953-954, 115-119.
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Paul, R., Kingston, R., Tsanaclis, L., Berry, A.J. and Guwy, A.J., 2011. Simultaneous determination of EtG and GHB in hair by GCMS/MS. Drug Testing and Analysis, 3, 201-205.
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Paul, R., 2008. Hair of the dog: alcohol hair analysis. Advances Journal, 56 (12).
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Paul, R., Kingston, R., Tsanaclis, L., Berry, A.J. and Guwy, A.J., 2008. Do drug users use less alcohol than non-drug users? Forensic Science International, 176, 82-86.
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Paul, R., Tsanaclis, L., Kingston, R., Berry, A.J. and Guwy, A.J., 2006. GC-MS-MS Determination of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate in blood and urine. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 6, 375-379.
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Reports

Sikalas, M., Rennie, S. and Paul, R., 2024. Current and future strategies for Currency Detection Dogs and their implications to international policy. Home Office (UK).
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Paul, R. and Gent, L., 2020. Analysis of indoor prison air for the presence of psychoactive substances using active sampling and Thermal Desorption GCxGC-TOF MS.. POA & HMPPS.
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Internet Publications

Paul, R., 2018. The secret information hidden in your hair. The Conversation. Available from: https://theconversation.com/the-secret-information-hidden-in-your-hair-98121.
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PhD Students

Bethan Davies. Determination of NPS in surface water across South Wales
Ramin Boroujerdi. Printable graphene sensors for drug and alcohol detection

Profile of Teaching UG

Case studies in forensic science - unit leader
Forensic science - unit contributor
Advanced Forensic Science - unit contributor
Forensic Toxicology - unit leader

Invited Lectures

15 Jan 2021 more

University of the West of England. 'Novel psychoactive substances in prison: An assessment of second-hand exposure risk using a combination of analytical strategies'
09 Dec 2020 more

University of South Wales. 'Air monitoring for psychoactive substances in a UK prison. '
07 Jun 2018 more

Kings College London. 'Hair analysis in clinical and forensic toxicology'

Grants

Grants

Headspace profiling of synthetic opioids (Home Office, 13 Oct 2024). Awarded
Advances in skin cancer diagnostics (Skin Cancer Research Fund, 20 Jun 2024). Awarded
Volatile organic compounds as diagnostic biomarkers of skin cancer (Charitable foundation, 17 Apr 2024). Awarded
Evaluation of a portable device for skin cancer detection (HEIF6, 12 Apr 2024). Awarded
Rapid On-Site Detection Of Skin Cancer In Primary Care (The Valentine Charitable Trust, 06 Feb 2024). Awarded
Rapid On-Site Detection Of Skin Cancer In Primary Care (Sir Samuel Scott of Yews Trust, 30 Jan 2024). Awarded
Current and future strategies for Currency Detection Dogs and implications for international policy (Border Force, Home Office, 31 Mar 2023). Awarded
Stability of drugs of abuse on commercially available test kits (DSTL, 04 Jan 2022). Awarded
Follow on funding. Cancer Sensing: Metabolomics and data driven predictive modelling for non-invasive early detection of skin cancer (HEIF6, 12 Apr 2021). Awarded
Cancer Sensing: Metabolomics and data driven predictive modelling for non-invasive early detection of skin cancer (AboutFace, 02 Jan 2020). Awarded
Novel Psychoactive Substances in Prison: An Assessment of Prevalence and Prison Staff Exposure Risk. (Prison Officers Association, 02 Oct 2019). Awarded
Printable graphene sensing systems for drug and alcohol detection (SureScreen Diagnostics LtD, 01 Sep 2018). Awarded
Detection of Ethyl Glucuronide in fingernail samples: Application to abstinence monitoring. (Royal Society of Chemistry Research Grant, 07 Dec 2017). Awarded
Determination of NPS in surface water across South Wales (SYNLAB, 15 Nov 2017). Awarded
Influence of BMI on EtG and FAEE levels in head hair. (Bournemouth University, 22 Feb 2017). Awarded
TD-GC-TOF: A new approach for the analysis of drugs of abuse in hair (Business-led research collaboration investment, USW, 08 Jan 2016). Awarded
Evaluation of new extraction techniques to enhance laboratory performance (Strategic Insight Programme, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, 10 Apr 2013). Awarded
Alcohol markers in hair: New detection techniques and evidence interpretation (University of Glamorgan, 10 Jan 2010). Awarded
New developments in analytical toxicology for the investigation of drug facilitated assault (TrichoTech Ltd, 05 Sep 2004). Awarded

External Responsibilities

Scientific Reports, Editor
HMPPS Psychoactive Substances Expert and Working Group, Member
National QAA Subject Benchmark for Forensic Science 2021. Critical evaluation group., Member
Kings College London, External Examiner - MSc Analytical Toxicology

Internal Responsibilities

Analytical Science Research Group., (Lead). http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/asrg
Faculty Lead, Christchurch House redevelopment project
Member. Responsible for Premises, Facilities and Equipment., Human Tissue Authority working group
Programme Leader., BSc Forensic Science
Accreditation lead., Chartered Society of Forensic Science

Public Engagement & Outreach Activities

The secret information hidden in our hair. Cafe Scientifique (03 Dec 2019)
Bioanalytical hair analysis: Case reviews and research. Presented at the Bournemouth Natural Science Society (05 Nov 2019)
'Stress, drugs and rock and roll' Festival of Learning (05 Jun 2018)
'Hair of the Dog' Pint of Science - international science festival (01 May 2017)

Consultancy Activities

Oil company training programme consultant, Consultancy. Sirte Oil Company
Chemical analysis, Consultancy. Clariant
Forensic science workshops, Consultancy. Welsh Government

Qualifications
Memberships

Qualifications

PhD in Analytical Toxicology (University of Glamorgan, 2007)

Memberships

Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, Member,
Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Fellow, Fellow,
LTG (London Toxicology Group), Member,
Royal Society of Chemistry (C.Chem), Chartered Chemist, Fellow,
Royal Society of Chemistry, Fellow,
Society of Hair Testing, Member,