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The business
Name: David Russell -
Intelligent Fingerprinting
Location: Norwich
Sector: Bioscience
Turnover: Start-up
Staff: 3
Website:
www.intelligentfingerprinting.
com
Intelligent Fingerprinting
Location: Norwich
Sector: Bioscience
Turnover: Start-up
Staff: 3
Website:
www.intelligentfingerprinting.
com
David Russell - Intelligent Fingerprinting
A future in which police could carry out roadside tests for drugs through a simple fingerprint test is now nearly in sight, thanks to science at the University of East Anglia.
The firm’s technique uses the sweat left in fingerprints to identify a number of illegal drugs, prescription drugs and drug metabolites.
It is developing hand-held drug drive testing devices which would give police the opportunity to test people on the spot at the roadside. And that is just one of the potential commercial applications of the technology Prof Russell, professor of chemistry at the UEA, has developed with first products due to be launched later this year.
“The ability to detect the crime while simultaneously determining the perpetrator has enormous potential within the forensic science sector – aiding police and forensic scene of crimes officers with their investigations,” said Prof Russell. “However, Intelligent Fingerprinting is also working on the development of the technology for screening of athletes and for the detection of biomarkers for medical diagnostics.”
The science had not been developed for a particular purpose, but its emergence is timely as it comes at a time when the government is looking at tightening laws on drug-driving.
However, through work with I Teams, a Cambridge-based programme aimed at helping businesses find uses and commercial outlets for research, Intelligent Fingerprinting has founded other commercial opportunities including pilot testing to testing US military personnel. The firm has had ICENI seedcorn funding to develop its products and recently received a further £100,000 from the fund.
“The funding has put us in a great position to develop an increasing range of products that have the potential to address a number of law enforcement and medical challenges,” said Prof Russell.
“The new techniques are generating significant interest in the sectors we are targeting and we are in a great position to target potential investors who can help the company grow.”
A future in which police could carry out roadside tests for drugs through a simple fingerprint test is now nearly in sight, thanks to science at the University of East Anglia.
The funding has
put us in a strong
position to develop
A team led by scientist Prof David Russell
has launched a spin-out company, Intelligent
Fingerprinting, hoping to turn their research into a
marketable product which could revolutionise the
way police detect illegal drugs.The firm’s technique uses the sweat left in fingerprints to identify a number of illegal drugs, prescription drugs and drug metabolites.
It is developing hand-held drug drive testing devices which would give police the opportunity to test people on the spot at the roadside. And that is just one of the potential commercial applications of the technology Prof Russell, professor of chemistry at the UEA, has developed with first products due to be launched later this year.
“The ability to detect the crime while simultaneously determining the perpetrator has enormous potential within the forensic science sector – aiding police and forensic scene of crimes officers with their investigations,” said Prof Russell. “However, Intelligent Fingerprinting is also working on the development of the technology for screening of athletes and for the detection of biomarkers for medical diagnostics.”
The science had not been developed for a particular purpose, but its emergence is timely as it comes at a time when the government is looking at tightening laws on drug-driving.
However, through work with I Teams, a Cambridge-based programme aimed at helping businesses find uses and commercial outlets for research, Intelligent Fingerprinting has founded other commercial opportunities including pilot testing to testing US military personnel. The firm has had ICENI seedcorn funding to develop its products and recently received a further £100,000 from the fund.
“The funding has put us in a great position to develop an increasing range of products that have the potential to address a number of law enforcement and medical challenges,” said Prof Russell.
“The new techniques are generating significant interest in the sectors we are targeting and we are in a great position to target potential investors who can help the company grow.”