Richard Paul

Professor Richard Paul

  • Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry
  • Christchurch House C205, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
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Biography

My research is focused on the application of bioanalytical chemistry to provide solutions to complex issues 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 the U.K. 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 U.K. Home Office to investigate ultra potent synthetic opioids, including nitazenes. We delivered a comprehensive assessment using a variety of chemical profiling techniques to reveal new insights into these dangerous drugs.

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...

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Journal Articles

Reports

Internet Publications

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
  • 09 Dec 2020 more
  • 07 Jun 2018 more

Grants

  • Design and Characterization of Functional Simulants of Novel Synthetic Opioids (Home Office, 02 Jan 2026). Awarded
  • Translating science into practice: enhancing training strategies for currency detection dogs (Home Office, 14 Apr 2025). Awarded
  • 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

Consultancy Activities

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

Qualifications

  • PhD in Analytical Toxicology (University of Glamorgan, 2007)

Memberships

  • Royal Society of Chemistry, Fellow,
  • Royal Society of Chemistry (C.Chem), Chartered Chemist, Fellow,
  • Society of Hair Testing, Member,
  • Higher Education Academy (FHEA), Fellow, Fellow,
  • LTG (London Toxicology Group), Member,
  • Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, Member,
The data on this page was last updated at 09:41 on February 13, 2026.