Developing a Sensitive and Quantitative Opioid Detector for Use in a Clinical Setting

The opioid epidemic is a serious health crisis in Canada, North America, and globally and has worsened during the COVID pandemic. Opioid treatment strategies are at the forefront of efforts to tackle this crisis. To improve the replacement therapy currently used, an estimate of tolerance is required. This proposal takes an existing proof-of-concept opioid detection device and adapts it for use in the clinical setting to address this challenge. Results from a parallel separately funded pharmacokinetic study to understand the relationship between the opioid level and the patient’s tolerance level. This information will be needed for sensor design and defining performance metrics which will improve the current standard of care.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dan Bizzotto;Glenn Sammis

Student:

Partner:

Vancouver General Hospital

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: