Partner projects

Portable devices offer the potential for a rapid detection of substandard and falsified medicinal products in the ‘field’. Currently both the number of such devices and of the scientific literature describing them, is growing. However, identifying, accessing and comparing key publications and information remains a challenge for stakeholders, such as Medicine Regulatory Authorities in low- and middle-income countries, wishing to implement screening devices in their supply chains. Therefore, the aim of the 'Dashboard on portable devices for medicine quality screening project' is to provide an interactive digital tool making the available evidence accessible, understandable and meaningful.

There have been multiple outbreaks of poisoning due to diethylene glycol (DEG) and ethylene glycol (EG) in paediatric medicine syrups. They have killed many hundreds of children worldwide. Reference tests to detect these are expensive, complicated and only available in sophisticated laboratories. We are evaluating innovative techniques to screen for DEG & EG in raw ingredients and syrups in supply chains to explore methods for medicine inspectors to be empowered to screen and select samples for reference assays.

Substandard (usually due to degradation) and falsified (aka counterfeit) vaccines are neglected public health problems with minimal research to innovate to allow their detection in supply chains. The multidisciplinary Vaccine Identity Evaluation (VIE) Collaboration began early in the pandemic to bring together diverse scientists with medicine regulatory authorities, international organisations and device and vaccine manufacturers to evaluate and develop novel techniques to protect the global vaccine supply. The results have been very promising and we are expanding to evaluate the different techniques in near-to-real life situations.

FORESFA is a multicountry collaborative project. It aims to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of substandard and falsified (SF) antimicrobials and their impact on global public health, by adapting and evaluating forensic tools to identify sources and trade routes of SF antimicrobials. We are also investigating the public health impact of SF medicines to inform global policy and improve our global medicine supply.