Welcome Message

Conference Founder, Tom Gluodenis:

Welcome to the 3^rd Annual Online Forensic Symposium. It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the first event in this year’s “Online Forensic Symposium – Current Trends in Forensic Toxicology.” The demand for information, continuing education and international cooperation has continued to increase, fueling the growth of this Symposium from a 3-day event in 2018 to a series of week-long events covering forensic toxicology, seized drugs, and trace analysis.

As the event has expanded, I have required more assistance in ensuring the exceptional quality of technical content that you have come to expect from the Symposium.  Consequently, I am thrilled to have two outstanding Program Chairs – Prof. Simon Elliott & Prof. Nikolas Lemos,  who have voluntarily dedicated their time and talents in developing this year’s program.  I can’t thank them enough for all that they have done.  Similarly, my heartfelt thanks go out to all of this year’s speakers who are volunteering their time and sharing their knowledge and expertise for the benefit of the broader community.

Another change this year is the Symposium’s new home: The Center for Forensic Science, Research & Education (CFSRE).  I am deeply grateful to the CFSRE team, who has worked tirelessly to create a special place for the Symposium to reside.  The alignment of our mission and vision with regard to education, professional development and international outreach in the areas of Forensic Chemistry/Toxicology and Forensic Biology has resulted in a wonderfully synergistic partnership.

Finally, I want to thank all of this year’s sponsors for allowing this week to happen.  As you know, there is no registration fee – the entire event is free of charge to anyone who wishes to attend.  For those unable to join live, the Symposium will be recorded and made available in an on-demand format.  Despite the many volunteer hours that go into producing this event by myself, the speakers, the Program Chairs, and the CFSRE, there are still costs that need to be covered.  If it were not for the generosity of our friends at Agilent Technologies, GERSTEL, Shimadzu, Wiley and NMS Labs, this event would not be possible.  Please do take the time to listen to their presentations, honestly complete the registration questionnaire which provides them with valuable feedback and support these businesses whenever possible just as they are supporting you this week.

Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this opportunity to Learn without Leaving the Lab!

Warm Regards,

Tom Gluodenis, MBA, PMFS, Ph.D.,
Adjunct Professor, Lincoln University
Organizer & Vendor Liaison
Online Forensic Symposium: Forensic Toxicology
info@ForensicSymposium.org
linkedin.com/in/tgluodenis

Scientific Program Chairs

Prof. Simon Elliott, FRSC, MCSFS, Ph.D.

Prof Simon Elliott has over 20 years’ experience in forensic toxicology and is a Consultant Forensic Toxicologist, independent Business Consultant and Director of Elliott Forensic Consulting Ltd. He was previously the Director of Global Forensics at Alere Inc (now part of Abbott) (2017-2018) having also been the founder and Managing Director of Forensics Ltd (ROAR Forensics, subsequently Alere Forensics) in Malvern, Worcestershire, UK (2008-2017).

Prof Elliott previously worked as a Clinical Scientist in the NHS at Birmingham City Hospital for over 10 years specifically involved in clinical and forensic toxicology as Section Head of Forensic Toxicology. He is a Visiting Professor in Forensic Toxicology at King’s College London and holds a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Bath and a PhD in Biochemical Toxicology (studying GHB) from the University of Birmingham.

He is a Chartered Scientist and European Registered Toxicologist as well as being a member of a number of professional organisations including The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT, Board Member), the LTG, Chartered Society for Forensic Science, Association of Clinical Biochemistry and Royal Society of Chemistry in addition to being a founder and Chair of the UK & Ireland Association of Forensic Toxicologists (UKIAFT). An author of over 70 scientific publications, articles and book chapters, he is on the Editorial Board of Drug Testing & Analysis and Forensic Science International journals as well as being an Associate Editor of the Journal of Analytical Toxicology and an Editor of Wiley’s WIREs Forensic Science (Toxicology) and Clarke’s Analysis of Drugs and Poisons. Prof Elliott has presented at many national and international meetings (including invited speaker) as well as presenting expert evidence for many years in Coronial, Civil and Criminal Court. A member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, he also advises the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), especially regarding new psychoactive substances.

Prof. Nikolas P. Lemos, FRSC, F-ABFT, MCSFS, Ph.D.

Dr. Lemos is a board-certified forensic toxicologist, academic and researcher who started his career researching alcohol and drug detection analysis in alternative biological specimens.

After getting awarded his doctorate in Forensic Medicine and Science (Analytical and Forensic Toxicology) from the University of Glasgow in Scotland, he worked as Senior Lecturer at London South Bank University where he helped develop a new undergraduate course in forensic science. He later moved to St George’s Hospital Medical School of the University of London to assume the position of Head of the Forensic Toxicology Service of its Analytical Unit where he supervised or co-supervised the research of numerous medical and graduate students who trained in the Analytical Unit.

In 2003, he became Chief Forensic Toxicologist and in 2005 Director of the Forensic Laboratory Division at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the City and County of San Francisco where he spearheaded that office’s ABFT accreditation.

He is actively engaged in various international professional organizations and is a Member of the Chartered Society of Forensic Scientists, Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Fellow of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology, and Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Dr. Lemos has consulted and testified in over 335 civil and criminal trials around the world. He has co-authored over 85 peer-reviewed papers, abstracts, and book chapters including the first ever study of Cannabinoids in Fingernails (JAT, May 1999) and the first ever study of Cannabinoids in Post-mortem Toxicology (JAT, September 2011). He has organized and hosted numerous professional scientific meetings in the USA and abroad including the 2011 Joint SOFT-TIAFT Meeting held in San Francisco with over 1,500 participants from 60 countries in attendance.

He has previously served as Science Editor of “Medicine, Science and the Law,” the Official Journal of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences, and he is the holder of many scholarships, research and equipment grants and awards.  In 2005, he was honoured with a Proclamation of Achievement by the 109^th Congress of the United States of America “for dedicating his life and career to community safety and social awareness.”

Course Details

Current Trends in Forensic Toxicology Online Symposium features live access to leaders in their field speaking on compelling topics related to forensic science and forensic toxicology. There is NO REGISTRATION FEE AND NO TRAVEL COSTS. This is possible through the generous support of commercial sponsors and through individual donors and leaders within the forensic science industry who support open-source learning opportunities, regardless of financial means.

Given the high quality content of this event, the organizers have had the privilege of offering attendees continuing education credit for various different accrediting bodies. In addition to the presentations, this event features a week long scientific poster session and an expert panel discussion at the conclusion of each day. A symposium proceedings is published after the event containing all the slides, posters, and links to the recorded presentations.

• June 8th, 2020 – Day 1: Postmortem changes
• June 9th, 2020 – Day 2: Inter-individual variations and toxicology interpretation
• June 10th, 2020 – Day 3: Innovations in analysis
• June 11th, 2020 – Day 4: Challenges of cannabis and cannabinoids
• June 12th, 2020 – Day 5: Court testimony

Appreciation Page

We, the organizers, and those who benefit from this annual event express our gratitude to all those who have chosen to financially support the Online Forensic Symposium through personal donations.  This event is truly unique in that it is educational, non-commercial and volunteer driven. Speakers receive no honorarium. The Program Chairs and organizers give of their  time.  The Symposium has been able to consistently offer continuing education credits to forensic practitioners.  There is no registration fee or travel costs.  And the CFSRE hosts the event below cost volunteering a significant portion of their time and resources in support of the forensic community.  Despite all these efforts, there are times when commercial sponsorships are not readily available as in these difficult economic times or when they fail to cover all the costs of the platform and technical assistance necessary to produce a complex event such as this.  And so we dedicate this page to all those who have voluntarily contributed to maintain this annual event.  Thank-you for giving us all the opportunity to “learn without leaving the lab”.

Event Sponsors: