Research

Research Interests

Application of mass spectrometric techniques to analytical problems in Medical Toxicology. This involves the identification and quantitation of biomarkers of exposure and effect for environmental chemicals.

Current Work

This work is supported by grants from the Health Protection Agency and the Home Office.

Plasma, urine and cellular levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and isoprostanes as biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Plasma and urine levels of endo and xenobiotic chemicals.

Identification and quantification of specific protein/metabolite changes after exposure to xenobiotic chemicals.

Application of proteomic, metabolomic and lipidomic methodologies to monitor the effects of chemical exposure.

Identification and quantitation of DNA and protein adducts with xenobiotic chemicals.

Neurotoxicology biomarker identification and quantitation

Dermal absorption and metabolism of xenobiotics

Publications

• Hill SL, Dunn M, Cano C, Harnor SJ, Hardcastle IR, Grundlingh J, Dargan PI, Wood DM, Tucker S, Bartram T, Thomas SHL. Human Toxicity Caused by Indole and Indazole Carboxylate Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists: From Horizon Scanning to Notification. Clinical Chemistry 2018, 64(2), 346-354.
• Thomas S, Dunn M, Hill SL, Abouchedid R, Dargan P, Wood D, Acheampong P, Kamour A, Tucker S, Grundlingh J, Officer J, Eddleston M. Analytically confirmed exposure to novel psychoactive substances in patients presenting to hospital with severe clinical toxicity in the United Kingdom. Results from the Identification Of Novel psychoActive substances (IONA) study. In: North American Congress of Clinical Toxicology (NACCT) 2016. 2016, Boston, MA, USA: Taylor & Francis.
• Hill SL, Najafi J, Dunn M, Acheampong P, Kamour A, Grundlingh J, Blain PG, Thomas SHL. Clinical toxicity following analytically confirmed use of the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist MDMB-CHMICA. A report from the Identification Of Novel psychoActive substances (IONA) study. Clinical Toxicology 2016, 54(8), 638-643.
• Hill SL, Dunn M, Najafi J, Abouchedid R, Dargan PI, Wood DM, Thomas SHL. Identification of novel psychoactive substances in biological samples from patients with severe clinical toxicity in the UK: preliminary results from the Identification Of Novel psychoActive substances (IONA) study. In: 36th International Congress of the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT). 2016, Madrid, Spain: Taylor & Francis Inc.
• Elamin MEMO, Dunn M, Thomas SHL, Thanacoody HKR. Massive accidental caffeine overdose treated with continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). In: 36th International Congress of the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT). 2016, Madrid, Spain: Taylor & Francis.
• Najafi J, Dunn M, Hill SL, Thomas SHL. Severe clinical toxicity following analytically confirmed use of the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist MDMB-CHMICA: a report from the Identification Of Novel psychoActive substance study (IONA). In: 36th International Congress of the European Association of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT). 2016, Madrid, Spain: Taylor & Francis.
• Hill SL, Thomas SHL, Flecknell PA, Thomas AA, Morris CM, Henderson D, Dunn M, Blain PG. Rapid and equivalent systemic bioavailability of the antidotes HI-6 and dicobalt edetate via the intraosseous and intravenous routes. Emergency Medicine Journal 2015, 32(8), 626-631.
• Amer AO, Probert PM, Dunn M, Knight M, Vallance AE, Flecknell PA, Oakley F, Cameron I, White SA, Blain PG, Wright MC. Sustained Isoprostane E2 Elevation, Inflammation and Fibrosis after Acute Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury Are Reduced by Pregnane X Receptor Activation. PLoS ONE 2015, 10(8), e0136173.
• Skamarauskas JT, Oakley F, Smith FE, Bawn C, Dunn M, Vidler DS, Clemence M, Blain PG, Taylor R, Gamcsik MP, Thelwall PE. Non-invasive in vivo magnetic resonance measures of glutathione synthesis in human and rat liver as an oxidative stress biomarker. Hepatology 2014, 59(6), 2321-2330.
• Moore CA, Wilkinson SC, Blain PG, Dunn M, Aust GA, Williams FM. Percutaneous absorption and distribution of organophosphates (chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos) following dermal exposure and decontamination scenarios using in vitro human skin model. Toxicology Letters 2014, 229(1), 66-27.
• Hill SL, Doris T, Gurung S, Katebe S, Lomas A, Dunn M, Blain P, Thomas SHL. Severe clinical toxicity associated with analytically confirmed recreational use of 25I–NBOMe: case series. Clinical Toxicology 2013, 51(6), 487-492.
• Collerton J, Martin-Ruiz C, Davies K, Hilkens CM, Isaacs J, Kolenda C, Parker C, Dunn M, Catt M, Jagger C, von Zglinicki T, Kirkwood TB. Frailty and the role of inflammation, immunosenescence and cellular ageing in the very old: Cross-sectional findings from the Newcastle 85+ Study. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 2012, 133(6), 456-466.
• Murray DM, Eddleston M, Thomas S, Jefferson RD, Thompson A, Dunn M, Vidler DS, Clutton E, Blain PG. Rapid and complete bioavailability of antidotes for organophosphorus nerve agent and cyanide poisoning in minipigs after intraosseous administration. Annals of Emergency Medicine 2012, 60(4), 424-430.
• Martin Ruiz C, Jagger C, Kingston A, Collerton J, Catt M, Davies K, Dunn M, Hilkens C, Keavney B, Pearce S, den Elzen W, Talbot D, Wiley L, Bond J, Mathers J, Eccles M, Robinson L, James O, Kirkwood T, von Zglinicki T. Assessment of a large panel of candidate biomarkers of ageing in the Newcastle 85+ study. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 2011, 132(10), 496-502.