Latest News...
MRS Strengthened By Appointment Of New Project Manager
MRS Ltd are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr David Somerville to the role of Project Manager. David brings approaching 20 years of pharmaceutical clinical trial management experience, and knowledge of the regulatory (GCP & GMP) environment, to this new appointment. David will support the project management needs of the MRS and JHI research projects, and assist with the further development of particularly the companies analytical services.
Good Manufacturing Practice
In November 2011, Mylnefield Lipid Analysis were inspected by the UK MHRA. Following this inspection we were delighted to receive our certificate of GMP Compliance. We are very interested in meeting with companies requiring their products to be tested to GMP standards.
Stable isotope signatures help tracing designer drug manufacture
Professor Wolfram Meier-Augenstein, head of laboratory at Mylnefield Isotope Signatures, has recently been involved in a collaboration with scientists at the University of Strathclyde to develop innovative new methods of tracing designer drugs. These are drugs designed to give a ‘legal high’ by mimicking the effects of illegal drugs such as amphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy.
Although they are potentially dangerous, many of these materials have not yet been classified as illegal drugs. This new class of drugs are difficult to detect with drug tests currently in use. Stable isotope analysis is being investigated as a corroborative method for tracing the source of the raw materials used to make these designer drugs and for providing information about the synthetic route by which they are being made.
The project was presented at the recent 242nd National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), which was held in Denver from 28 August to 1 September 2011. A more detailed summary can be found here at the University of Strathclyde’s Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences.
Mylnefield Isotope Signatures in TSB Consortium
Mylnefield Isotope Signatures is pleased to announce our participation in a successful Technology Strategy Board (TSB) consortium.
Led by Protium MS Ltd, a leading supplier of equipment for stable isotope analysis and including Mylnefield Research Services and the STFC Space Science and Technology Department, the consortium was set up to develop state of the art portable equipment for stable isotope analysis.
Stable isotope ratio analysis is recognized as a standard technique for identifying adulterated foodstuffs. However applications of the technique in the food and drink industry are limited by the need to send samples back to a laboratory for analysis.
The development of laser based isotope systems has made it possible to perform isotope analysis in field situations. However current isotope laser technology cannot analyse peak shaped signals that arise in applications where gas chromatographic separation is required to investigate individual components with the same level of precision achievable with isotope ratio mass spectrometry based systems. The STFC Space Science & Technology Department has now developed and patented a laser isotope ratiometer with the ability to carry out isotope analysis over short time periods, typically in the millisecond range. This allows, for the first time, a laser system not based on CRDS technology to perform isotope analysis on CO2 peaks generated from chromatographically separated compounds.
As well as Professor Meier-Augenstein’s technical expertise in chromatographic systems for stable isotope analysis, Mylnefield Isotope Signatures will provide the consortium with commercial experience as an end-user of stable isotope equipment.
Mylnefield Isotope Signatures in the news.
Following up from our previous news article, we are delighted to announce that respected science magazine of the American Geological Institute, EARTH Magazine has published in its October issue of Vol. 56 (2011) a feature length article on stable isotope analysis and Mylnefield Isotope Signatures. Follow the link for the on-line version of the article that provides an excellent summary of what we do and why it matters to you!
Winning commercial ideas
Following a strong response to our recent call for commercial ideas, Mylnefield Research Services (MRS) are pleased to announce two winning proposals that will be funded. The quality and range of proposals were both very high this year and we were delighted to see applications from scientists across JHI.
The first winning proposal was submitted by Dr Nicola Holden and will investigate the use of plant defence elicitors to prevent pathogenic E.coli colonisation of fresh produce. The second was submitted by Dr Wolfram Meier-Augenstein and concerns the use of isotope ratio mass spectrometry to authenticate fish oils and single seed vegetable oils.
On behalf of the Innovation and Investment Committee, MRS would like to congratulate Drs Holden and Meier-Augenstein. We would also like to thank the remaining applicants for the time they spent in submitting their proposals and look forward to working with them to find alternative sources of funding for their proposals.
British Potato 2012
MRS will have a stand at British Potato 2012 in Harrogate on November 23rd and 24th and would be delighted to meet you there.
CSI: Crime Scene Isotopes
Mylnefield Isotope Signatures were delighted by an unusual request for information that Professor Meier-Augenstein received recently – namely a request from researcher Jon Wellner at the well known television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. The research team from CSI are responsible for making sure that the show keeps up to date with the latest developments in forensic science and for making sure that the science is realistically depicted on screen.
Mylnefield Isotope Signatures are proud to announce that Jon was referred to our Head of Laboratory, Professor Wolfram Meier-Augenstein, as a ‘world leader in forensic isotope research’ to help them with their research.
Stable isotope analysis is a cutting edge technique which has a range of applications in forensic science. For example it has been used to support a police investigation into an illegal people trafficking route used by a Vietnamese organised crime group.
Stable Isotopes help unravel the mysteries of coral
Prof Wolfram Meier-Augenstein and Dr Helen Kemp of Mylnefield Isotope Signatures, were recently involved in a major collaboration of internationally recognised marine biology institutes, including the Centre Scientifique de Monaco, the Marine Environment Research Centre in La Spezia, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique in France and the University of Plymouth Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre.
The aim of the collaboration was to study the complex food chains and symbioses associated with temperate coral species. By allowing researchers to trace the movement of carbon and nitrogen containing organic compounds through the marine environment, stable isotope profiles provide a uniquely effective tool for unravelling these complex food webs.
Corals are one of the principal marine calcifying organisms, converting dissolved mineral ions into solid calcium carbonate. They play a major role in regulating global carbon cycles and are a major carbon sink. As corals grow over thousands of years, their skeletons build up a record of their environmental conditions (temperature, salinity, CO2 concentration and nutrients). This ‘environmental archive’ provides important information for modelling the past, present and future of the global climate.
The paper was published by the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO). The abstract can be found here on the ASLO website.
Lipid Chemistry and Analysis Course
The next Lipid Chemistry and Analysis Couse will be held at the JHI Dundee on 1st and 2nd March 2012. For more information contact Jonathan Snape on jsnape@mrsltd.com.
Head of Mylnefield Isotope Signatures awarded position as Visiting Professor at RGU
Head of Mylnefield Isotope Signatures and JHI Principal Scientist, Dr Wolfram Meier-Augenstein takes up a position as Visiting Professor within the School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences at Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen) from 1st June 2011. Dr Meier-Augenstein joins a prestigious team of forensic practitioners and analytical scientists in the Environmental and Forensic Sciences Research group at the School of Pharmacy & Life Sciences and is already involved in the supervision of a joint MSc and a joint PhD project.
Dr Meier-Augenstein is well known for applying knowledge gained from his fundamental and basic research and his expertise in Stable Isotope Forensics to criminal and environmental case work.
Dr Jonathan Snape, MRS''s commercial director commented: "I am delighted by Dr Meier-Augenstein''s appointment, which is well deserved and clearly recognises the leading nature of our stable isotope research and its application to food authenticity and forensic science."
Dr Meier-Augenstein approved by FIRMS as a lead forensic practitioner.
Mylnefield Isotope Signatures are delighted to announce that our Head of Laboratory, Dr. Wolfram Meier-Augenstein has been awarded a Certificate of Approval as a Lead Practitioner in the field of isotope forensics by the Forensic Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (FIRMS) Network. As a result, Mylnefield Isotope Signatures are now formally recognised to meet the required standard of evidentiary reliability for the forensic examination of isotope ratios in human bones, teeth, hair and nails.
Dr Jonathan Snape, Commercial Director of Mylnefield Research Services commented, “On behalf of everyone at MRS, I would like to congratulate Dr Meier-Augenstein and his team. This certification is a well deserved tribute to their high standards and professionalism.”
The FIRMS network seeks to develop the scope of stable isotope techniques in forensic applications and raise awareness of the current potential of isotope ratio mass spectrometry in forensic science. FIRMS also aims to bring together scientists from as wide range of disciplines as possible who employ IRMS in their own fields, thereby focusing their knowledge and expertise on crime detection and reduction.
The quality management system underpinning the operation and management of the FIRMS network as well as its Approval Procedure for forensic practitioners in the field of isotope forensics is accredited to ISO 9001:2008 standards
JHI Principal Scientist and head of MIS to join Science Advisory Board of Oritain Global Ltd
Oritain Global Ltd is an internationally operating company based in New Zealand and provides a certification service for food provenance / food authenticity of regional speciality foods. Oritain have recently asked Dr Meier-Augenstein to join the Oriain Science Board (OSB) to advise Oritain on science matters relating to food provenancing, food authentication and other forensic applications.
The main function of the OSB is to critically assess the science offered to Oritain clients. In the food authentication branch Oritain offer "traceability control measures" and as such have a function as independent auditors of claims of authenticity and/or geographical origin. It is this scientific independence and excellence that we need the OSB to guarantee. The other main aspect is the ethical aspect. Although Oritain is a business, the shareholders believe that the company should profile itself as an ethical business and the integrity of the science and interests of both clients and general public should come before profit.
Dr Meier-Augenstein will join an advisory board whose membership already includes eminent scientists of renown such as (in alphabetical order): Prof. Jose Almirall (Florida International University, USA); A/Prof. Russell Frew (Otago University, NZ); Chairman A/Prof. Jurian Hoogewerff (Oritain Global Ltd.); Dr. Mark Woolfe (Ex-UK Food Standards Agency); Prof. Daniel Wunderlin (National University of Cordoba, Argentina).
Stable Isotopes at the European Geosciences Union
Mylnefield Isotope Signatures drew the eye of the blogosphere at the 2011 General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). Posters presented by Dr Wolfram Meier-Augenstein and Dr Helen Kemp on a wide range of forensic applications of stable isotope analysis, attracted great attention, especially from EARTH magazine. Read their blog article here.
Dr Stuart Wale joins MRS team
We are delighted to announce that Dr Stuart Wale, recently retired from SAC, has joined MRS as consultant to provide advice and training related to potato agronomy and pathology. Stuart has unrivalled experience, not only in the UK, but in many potato growing countries around the world. We look forward to working with Stuart in the coming years and we are confident that he will add significant value to the services we offer our customers.
James Hutton Institute
The merger between SCRI and the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute has been completed and the James Hutton Institute came into existance on the 1st April 2011. MRS is now 100% owned by the JHI. Following the merger, Ray Perman has been appointed Chairman of MRS and Prof Iain Gordon (CEO of JHI), Graham Neale and Julie Brown have also joined the Board of Directors.
Stable Isotopes in historical research
Thursday 6th May at 9.00pm sees the transmission of the first in a four part BBC2 documentary series “History Cold Case” filmed at the University of Dundee - Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification and at the Stable Isotope Forensic Laboratory based at SCRI.
The programmes, each dealing with an individual skeleton, follow the work of forensic scientists (including Drs Meier-Augenstein and Kemp from Mylnefield Isotope Signatures) as they apply cutting-edge techniques, including stable isotope profiling to investigate human remains in an attempt to shed light on their life histories.
From a mummified child found in a cellar to a medieval knight buried underneath a Scottish castle, the team apply their expertise in what promises to be a ground-breaking documentary series.
Further transmission dates, Thursday 13th, 20th and 27th May BBC2 at 9.00pm
Stable Isotopes in Environmental Forensics.
Dr S.M Mudge and Dr Wolfram Meier-Augenstein have co-authored a chapter for the recently published “Environmental Forensics – Proceedings of the 2009 Annual Conference” (R.D. Morrison & G. O’Sullivan [eds.], Royal Society of Chemistry (2010), ISBN 1-84755-258-7).
The chapter deals with stable isotope techniques for tracking and evaluating sewage wastes and includes compound specific isotope data made available by the Mylnefield Isotope Signatures hybrid GC-MS/IRMS system. Developed by Dr Meier-Augenstein, this equipment permits the simultaneous recording of GC-MS and compound specific IRMS data.
The science of environmental forensics aims to solve the problems associated with environmental contamination of all kinds. “Environmental Forensics – Proceedings of the 2009 Annual Conference” is the first in a series of publications that will which will archive key presentations from the annual conferences sponsored by the Society of Environmental Forensics.
http://www.rsc.org/Shop/books/2010/9781847552587.asp
