Chemical analysis of organophosphate exposed patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Chemical and biological analysis of biological fluids from organophosphate exposed casualties involved in the Salisbury Incident
IRAS ID
247424
Contact name
Steve Emmett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Defence Science and Technology Laboratories
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
On the 4th March 2018 a suspected nerve agent assassination attempt was undertaken in Salisbury. During this event the Defence Science and Technology Laboratories based at Porton Down identified a persistent, non-traditional nerve agent. Little is known of these non-traditional nerve agent cholinesterase inhibitors in terms of human clinical symptomatology post-exposure, the impact on systemic biochemistry and haematology, and the most appropriate methods of medical management.
This study aims to understand how non-traditional organophosphate nerve agents, such as those used in the Salisbury Incident of March 2018, affect (i) clinical biochemistry (ii) biological enzyme function and (iii) the clinical symptoms and signs. The objective of the current study is to analyse the temporal and spatial development of symptoms and signs, the correlation of this with chemical and biochemical data and how we may improve analytical methods of biological sample detection for such agents. By understanding the mechanism of enzyme inhibition and biochemical alterations seen with these nerve agents we may be able to (i) identify novel potential medical countermeasure antidotes and (ii) inform and improve the wider medical management approaches for such cases.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0353
Date of REC Opinion
11 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion