Analytical Methods and Devices for Drug Quality Assurance Testing
The World Health Organization estimates that, globally, nearly 225 million people were infected with malaria over the past year resulting in over 800,000 deaths, 85% of which comprise children under the age of five (WHO 2010 Malaria Report). This grim number actually illustrates hopeful progress that has been made over data reported in the previous year through aggressive education, intervention and therapy developments. Although the downward estimated trend in global malarial infections is encouraging, other disturbing trends are emerging. In the South-east Asian region, the disease is making a comeback largely due to the introduction of counterfeit or under-dose medications. Counterfeit anti-malarial “therapies” are giving the disease carrying mosquitoes the upper hand. In a RIT-RGH Alliance project, and in collaboration with a research team at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, we are developing sensitive and specific analytical chemical assays and methods to detect counterfeits medications for use at the point of care. Translating these assays to inexpensive, field-ready, devices are also being developed.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology: Analytical Chemistry Team
Dr. Dan Heglund, David Bowles, Neal Hodges and Andrew Olson 
Dr. Roberto Vargas
Director, Microbiology
Department of Laboratory Services
Hematin:Drug Interaction Studies
Kate Valentine and Avani Sudhakar are investigating the interaction effects of small molecule with iron protoporphyrin IX in order to learn more about the disease pathways that lead to malarial infection and resistance.
