U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 Statistical Analysis and Forensics Determination of Designer Drugs via Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS)
Award Information
Awardee
              The Research Foundation for The SUNY, University at Albany
Award #
              2013-DN-BX-K041
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Albany, NY
Awardee County
              Albany
Congressional District
              20
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2013
Total funding (to date)
              $284,562
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 13 Applied Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2013, $284,562)
This proposal describes the development of Direct Analysis in Real-time (DART) mass spectrometric methods to analyze and characterize designer drugs, and in particular, emerging novel variants of synthetic cannabinoids and cathinone bath salts. The methods developed in this proposal will enable more comprehensive, rapid, and sensitive analysis for use in crime labs than is currently available, and will provide a pathway to deal with (1) sample testing backlogs; (2) determination of unknowns; (3) characterization of complex mixtures and unknowns; and (4) multivariate statistical characterization of analogs and mixtures. The past decade has witnessed the emergence of numerous designer drugs commonly known as Spice, K2 and bath salts, leading to significant new challenges for crime labs. The active ingredients in these products are synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists and cathinone derivatives. Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists are small molecules that bind to the same receptors as the active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, even though they are often structurally dissimilar. Cathinone bath salts and their derivatives are alkaloids chemically similar to ephedrine and amphetamine stimulants. These designer drug compounds have been tied to large spikes in emergency room visits, numerous overdoses, and even fatalities. A small number of these substances are controlled by the DEA in response to increased instances of abuse. However, new variants continue to emerge, with differing names, various active ingredients, and a wide range of base components. Currently, detection of these compounds by law enforcement resembles a whack-a-mole effort, where once a substance is identified and regulated, multiple others that circumvent detection and regulations, and evade analog drug laws, come to light. Given that the manufacturers have demonstrated ability to rapidly modify the components and formulations, instrumentation and methodologies that can readily identify the presence of synthetic drug analogs is highly desirable. Presently, detection and characterization of the entire range of related substances by conventional methods is not practical, and the details of how to best determine their presence have not been systematically established. Crime labs are experiencing large influxes of these substances and are having difficulty identifying the myriad of closely related analogs efficiently because most of these substances are not included in any spectral library and new variants regularly are found.
To address these challenges, we propose to conduct studies employing DART-MS to drastically streamline sample analysis, minimize sample preparations, and develop a series of straightforward methods to statistically characterize emerging structural analogs. The speed and efficiency of DART-MS testing of such highly unpredictable samples demonstrate that the technique can be an attractive alternative for GC- and LC-MS. Our published work on the use of this technique has demonstrated its capacity to serve as a rapid screening (preliminary) testing method, as well as a means to more comprehensively characterize the active components of designer drugs (confirmatory testing). In this proposal, we detail how a single DART-MS instrument in a forensics lab can be used for rapid and versatile analyses that would yield definitive results, while at the same time yielding substantial time-savings, lowered reagents use, cost reductions, and potentially more rapid time to prosecutions. We will develop novel methods to provide support relevant to problems currently plaguing crime labs, such as testing backlogs, mixture component determinations, and identification of illicit drug analogs.
ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Identification and Classification of Cathinone Unknowns by Statistical Analysis Processing of Direct Analysis in Real Time-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry-Derived "Neutral Loss" Spectra
                  Statistical Analysis and Forensics Determination of Designer Drugs via Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS)
                  DART-MS In-Source Collision Induced Dissociation and High Mass Accuracy for New Psychoactive Substance Determinations

  
Date Created: September 8, 2013
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Accuracy, Efficacy, and Reproducibility of Muzzle-to-Target Distance Determination using Gunshot Residue
                  Analytical Challenges with Proliferating THC Analogues
                  Evaluation of the Luxon Ion Source for Rapid Screening in Forensic Laboratories
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov