Merette, Sandrine
PhD
Academic Rank(s): Clinical Assistant Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC | Provincial Toxicology Center (PHSA), Mass Spectrometry Scientist
Affiliation(s): BCCDC
Research and Scholarly Interests: Infectious Diseases and Immunology Microbiology
Clinical Interests:
I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Applied Chemistry and PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Hertfordshire (UK). I worked for the Thrombosis Research Institute and Trigen Ltd. (London, UK) as an organic chemist, designing and synthesising boron-based peptidomimetics for the treatment of thrombosis and haemophilia. I left organic chemistry to focus on analytical chemistry using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry laboratory at the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Department of St. Thomas’s hospital in London, UK to develop assays for the analysis of anticoagulants in neonates. I moved to Vancouver, Canada to work for a bioanalytical services department (Cantest) developing and validating assays under Good Laboratory Practices for several years before joining Maxxam Analytics’ Forensic Equine Drug Testing department as their manager. After working for a decade in the fascinating field of forensic chemistry in the horse racing world, I decided to join the Provincial Toxicology Centre to learn more about forensic toxicology in humans.
Academic Background
- University of Hertfordshire PhD Medicinal Chemistry. 1999
- University of Hertfordshire BSc Applied Chemistry. 1993
- Institut Universitaire de Technologie DUT Applied Chemistry. 1992
Awards and Recognition
Publications
Sandrine Merette PUBMED
Selected Publications
Research Interest
In my current role as Mass Spectrometry Scientist, I am in charge of developing, validating, implementing and monitoring different assays in clinical and forensic toxicology. I collaborate with different groups at the BCCDC who may require mass spectrometry expertise. I work closely with the harm reduction department and support their projects when possible with analysis of samples (street drugs, emergency medicine).
Current research activities include:
- Surveillance of drug trends in clinical and post-mortem samples in collaboration with the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia.
- Novel Psychoactive Substances trending with the Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence (CNPHI) Toxicovigilance Group and Health Canada Drug Analysis Service
Additional interests:
- Surveillance of illicit drugs in wastewater
- Metabolomics
Clinical Service
Current Projects In My Lab Include
- Standard method addition validations for designer benzodiazepines in post-mortem toxicology
- Identification of emerging novel psychoactive substances by retrospective analysis of population-scale mass spectrometry datasets (in collaboration with Michael Smith Lab, UBC and St Paul’s hospital)
Teaching Interest
Toxicology, analytical chemistry, quality assurance