Liverpool-Oxford Tropical link (LOTLink) in Clinical Pharmacology RENEWAL. (360G-Wellcome-082112_Z_07_Z)

The principle goal of this proposal is to maintain and continue the development of the Liverpool Oxford Tropical Link (LOTLink) started in 2002. This initiative, shared between the Liverpool and Oxford major overseas programmes (MOPs), has established a state of the art bioanalytical facility in Liverpool based on LCMS analytical platforms. LOTLink provides training and support in bioanalysis which are central to the clinical trials activities of the MOPs. LOTLink offers validated assays for cur rently used antimalarials, Anti-TB and Antiretrovirals and has the capacity and potential to expand this list in line with MOP needs. The ability to accurately measure drugs, metabolites (and more recently identify specific proteins) in biological fluids is an important element of many of the field investigations underway and planned in the MOPs. The data from these studies is used to improve the delivery and deployment of effective chemotherapy and to better understand the issues which influenc e the outcome of therapeutic interventions. LOTLink is committed to the development of capacity in the MOPs which has been partially achieved in this first period of funding. We request the salary and consumable costs to ensure the viability of this initiative is maintained for a further three years.