Dr Thomas Bassindale BSc, PhD, FHEA

I was appointed to Sheffield Hallam University having spent some time working in New Zealand and London as a forensic toxicologist. I completed my PhD at the UK's World Anti Doping Agency accredited laboratory at King's College London, where I also gained an MSc in Forensic Science. I completed my undergraduate degree in chemistry with European Studies at the University of Sussex. I teach analytical chemistry and forensic applications of this at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

I have published a number of peer reviewed articles in the area of forensic science and doping control, also co-writing two book chapters: "Encouraging Innovation" in "Forensic Science and Beyond: Authenticity, Provenance and Innovation" (the Second Annual Report of the Government Chief Scientific Advisor 2015) and "Illicit Drugs and Toxicology" in "Expert Evidence" by Ian Freckleton and Hugh Selby, published in 2010 by Thomson Reuters.

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences.

I teach analytical chemistry and forensic science. I am also Course Leader for MSc Analytical Chemistry and MSc Pharmaceutical Analysis.

Sports drug testing

Using mass spectrometry to investigate metabolism and excretion of doping compounds. New compounds used to help aid performance (legally or illicitly) are emerging all of the time. These substances have often not been fully tested or evaluated either for their safety or how they are processed by the body. Studies can help to determine the pharmacokinetics of these drugs and provide the athletes with knowledge of their profiles.

A large and continuing problem is that of failed drugs tests due to either mislabelled or contaminated supplements. Supplements can be analysed using novel methods to determine the presence of contaminants or compounds which may lead to a failed doping control test.

Forensic toxicology and hair testing

Developing new methods for the detection of drugs and poisons in biological specimens. Alternative matrices such as hair samples are being used more routinely for drugs analysis over blood samples and these are of great interest due to their non-invasive nature. Hair can provide additional information also, such as the drug use history of an individual stretching back for months.

Forensic cases from children in houses being used as methamphetamine laboratories through to potential drink spiking 'date rape' or pre-work place drug screening scenarios use hair testing for court evidential purposes.

Key Publications

Beasley, E., Francese, S., & Bassindale, T. (2016). Detection and mapping of Cannabinoids in single hair samples through rapid derivatization- Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry, 88 (20), 10328-10334. http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.6b03551

Journal articles

Hand, R.A., Piletska, E., Bassindale, T., Morgan, G., & Turner, N. (2020). Application of molecularly imprinted polymers in the anti-doping field: sample purification and compound analysis. Analyst, 145 (14), 4716-4736. http://doi.org/10.1039/d0an00682c

Flinders, B., Beasley, E., Verlaan, R.M., Cuypers, E., Francese, S., Bassindale, T., ... Heeren, R.M.A. (2017). Optimization of sample preparation and instrumental parameters for the rapid analysis of drugs of abuse in hair samples by MALDI-MS/MS imaging. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 28 (11), 2462-2468. http://doi.org/10.1007/s13361-017-1766-0

Bucknell, A., & Bassindale, T. (2017). An investigation into the effect of surveillance drones on textile evidence at crime scenes. Science & justice, 57 (5), 373-375. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.scijus.2017.05.004

Bucknall, V., Rehman, H., Bassindale, T., & Clement, R.G. (2014). The athlete biological passport : ticket to a fair commonwealth games. Scottish Medical Journal, 59 (3), 143-148. http://doi.org/10.1177/0036933014542062

Bassindale, T. (2012). Quantitative analysis of methamphetamine in hair of children removed from clandestine laboratories - evidence of passive exposure? Forensic Science International, 219 (1-3), 179-182. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.01.003

Bassindale, T., & Berezowski, R. (2011). Quantitative analysis of hair samples for 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP) using high-performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) detection. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 401 (6), 2013-2017. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5235-5

Bassindale, T. (2011). Benzylpiperazine: the New Zealand legal perspective. Drug Testing and Analysis, 3 (7-8), 428-429. http://doi.org/10.1002/dta.314

Bassindale, T., & Hosking, M. (2011). Deaths in Rotorua's geothermal hot pools: hydrogen sulphide poisoning. Forensic Science International, 207 (1-3), e28-e29. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.11.025

Guthery, B., Bassindale, T., Bassindale, A., Pillinger, C.T., & Morgan, G.H. (2010). Qualitative drug analysis of hair extracts by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographytime-of-flight mass spectrometry. Journal of Chromatography A, 1217 (26), 4402-4410. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2010.04.020

Lucas, N., Fitzmaurice, P.S., & Bassindale, T. (2008). Letting your hair down with party pills. Chemistry in New Zealand, 72 (4), pp 144-145. http://nzic.org.nz/CiNZ/articles/Bassindale_Oct08.pdf

Bassindale, T., Cowan, D.A., Dale, S., Hutt, A.J., Leeds, A.R., Wheeler, M.J., & Kicman, A.T. (2004). Effects of oral administration of androstenedione on plasma androgens in young women using hormonal contraception. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 89 (12), 6030-6038. http://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2004-0790

Kicman, A.T., Bassindale, T., Cowan, D.A., Dale, S., Hutt, A.J., & Leeds, A.R. (2003). Effect of androstenedione ingestion on plasma testosterone in young women; a dietary supplement with potential health risks. Clinical Chemistry, 49 (1), 167-169. http://doi.org/10.1373/49.1.167

Book chapters

Flinders, B., Bassindale, T., & Heeren, R.M.A. (2019). Recent technological developments in MALDI-MSI based hair analysis. In Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Security Applications. (pp. 133-149). http://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20542-3_9

Morgan, G., Bassindale, T., & Pearse, M. (2015). Encouraging innovation. In Forensic science and beyond: authenticity, provenance and assurance - evidence and case studies. (pp. 174-178). Government Office for Science: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/506462/gs-15-37b-forensic-science-beyond-evidence.pdf

Theses / Dissertations

Beasley, E. (2018). Detection and Mapping of Cannabis Use in Hair Samples Using Mass Spectrometry. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Bassindale, T. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00142

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Emma Beasley - Imaging mass spectrometry and two dimensional chromatography of hair samples to detect drug use (2015-2018)