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
 A mechanism-based forensic investigation into the postmortem redistribution of morphine
Note:
              This awardee has received supplemental funding. This award detail page includes information about both the original award and supplemental awards.
Award Information
Awardee
              Northeastern University
Award #
              2016-DN-BX-0002
Funding Category
              Continuation
Location
                    Boston, MA
Congressional District
              7
Status
              Open
Funding First Awarded
              2016
Total funding (to date)
              $146,483
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 16 Graduate Research Fellowship in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2016, $47,833)
As submitted by the proposer: Postmortem redistribution (PMR) of drugs and their metabolites refers to the changes that occur in drug concentrations after death. One complication in the interpretation of postmortem blood drug concentration is whether the measured drug concentration accurately reflects the concentration at death. Postmortem drug concentrations are also known to show variations depending on sampling site as well as characteristics of the drugs themselves. Similar to antemortem pharmacokinetics, PMR is affected by lipophilicity, degree of ionization (e.g. pka) and volume of distribution. While it was originally thought that the primary source of drug redistribution was diffusion from the cardiac tissues, recent research shows that the redistribution from solid organs such as the lungs, liver, and myocardium is a major contributor. It is important for the field of forensics to continue to research commonly used and/or abused drugs to provide further data into postmortem redistribution and establish significant reference values. These values are particularly valuable in solving the medicolegal issues since medical examiners and coroners use this information to determine a cause and manner of death. Morphine is often found in the postmortem blood samples of patients treated with or abusing the drug, its causation in death has to be considered. Postmortem distribution patterns of morphine have been established in blood, vitreous humor, brain and other samples from human autopsy material however, their relationship to antemortem values has not be extensively studied. I will address this questions by two testable aims: 1) to evaluate the in vivo postmortem redistribution of morphine in blood and tissues after intravenous administration and 2) to evaluate the influence of alcohol consumption on postmortem redistribution of morphine. Different doses of morphine (5, 10,20 mg/kg) will be administered to adult Sprague-Dawley rats, including both males and females, followed by euthanasia occurring 60 minutes to determine antemortem distribution and postmoretem redistribution of morphine and its metabolites using LC/MS/MS instrumental analysys and pharmacokinetic analysis/modeling. The proposed research will provide an extensive insight into the postmortem redistribution of morphine that can be used throughout the forensic toxicology and pathology field to aide in the interpretation of toxicological results.

Note:  This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law.
ca/ncf
Supplemental Award 1 (Fiscal Year 2017, $48,818)
As submitted by the proposer: Postmortem redistribution (PMR) of drugs and their metabolites refers to the changes that occur in drug concentrations after death. One complication in the interpretation of postmortem blood drug concentration is whether the measured drug concentration accurately reflects the concentration at death. 

Postmortem drug concentrations are also known to show variations depending on sampling site as well as characteristics of the drugs themselves. Similar to antemortem pharmacokinetics, PMR is affected by lipophilicity, degree of ionization (e.g. pka) and volume of distribution. While it was originally thought that the primary source of drug redistribution was diffusion from the cardiac tissues, recent research shows that the redistribution from solid organs such as the lungs, liver, and myocardium is a major contributor. 

It is important for the field of forensics to continue to research commonly used and/or abused drugs to provide further data into postmortem redistribution and establish significant reference values. These values are particularly valuable in solving the medicolegal issues since medical examiners and coroners use this information to determine a cause and manner of death. Morphine is often found in the postmortem blood samples of patients treated with or abusing the drug, its causation in death has to be considered. 

Postmortem distribution patterns of morphine have been established in blood, vitreous humor, brain and other samples from human autopsy material however, their relationship to antemortem values has not be extensively studied. 

The research will address this questions by two testable aims: 1) to evaluate the in vivo postmortem redistribution of morphine in blood and tissues after intravenous administration and 2) to evaluate the influence of alcohol consumption on postmortem redistribution of morphine. Different doses of morphine (5, 10,20 mg/kg) will be administered to adult Sprague-Dawley rats, including both males and females, followed by euthanasia occurring 60 minutes to determine antemortem distribution and postmoretem redistribution of morphine and its metabolites using LC/MS/MS instrumental analysys and pharmacokinetic analysis/modeling. 

The proposed research will provide an extensive insight into the postmortem redistribution of morphine that can be used throughout the forensic toxicology and pathology field to aide in the interpretation of toxicological results. 

This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in the applicable law, and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements  2 CFR 200.210(a)(14). nca/ncf
    Supplemental Award 2 (Fiscal Year 2018, $49,832)
The redistribution of drugs and their metabolites after death makes it difficult to accurately determine drug concentration at death. Determining concentration at death is vital to establishing whether an individual died as the result of an overdose.  The postmortem patterns of morphine have been well characterized.  The applicant proposes research that will establish how those patterns related to ante mortem values. "Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law," and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR  200.210(a)(14). NCA/NCF


  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Determination of Morphine, Fentanyl and Their Metabolites in Small Sample Volumes Using Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
                  A Mechanism-Based Forensic Investigation into the Postmortem Redistribution of Morphine.
                  A Mechanism Based Forensic Investigation into the Postmortem Redistribution of Morphine

  
Date Created: July 17, 2016
    
          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
        
                      A 28-year longitudinal study of victimization and perpetration of violence in high-risk youth: Advancing the development of preventive interventions in the community
                  Quantitative Assessment of Fracture Characteristics in Blunt Force Skeletal Trauma for Forensic Interpretations
                  Capturing nuclear DNA from hair shafts
 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