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Professor Sangeeta Tanna

Job: Professor of Pharmaceutical Analysis

Faculty: Health and Life Sciences

School/department: Leicester School of Pharmacy

Address: De Montfort, University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH.

T: +44 (0)116 207 8274

E: stanna@dmu.ac.uk

W: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/hls

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Personal profile

Prof. Sangeeta Tanna's main research interests and expertise are in the following areas:

  • Detection of substandard and falsified/counterfeit medicines
  • Spectroscopy techniques (ATR-FTIR, Raman, NIR) for the rapid detection of substandard and falsified/counterfeit medicines
  • Mass spectrometry techniques for the rapid detection of substandard and falsified/counterfeit medicines
  • Quality assurance of medicines
  • Dried blood spot (DBS) analysis
  • Quantitative bioanalysis
  • Microsampling
  • Clinical mass spectrometry
  • Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)
  • Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS)
  • Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
  • Ambient ionisation techniques
  • Medication adherence/compliance
  • Therapeutic drug monitoring
  • Clinical pharmacy practice
  • Paediatric pharmacokinetics
  • Paediatric biomarkers
  • Detection of food adulterants

 

She is particularly interested in the application of analytical techniques to the determination of low levels of target analytes, principally involving improvements to healthcare of patients. There include:

  • Dried blood spot (DBS) analysis for paediatric pharmacokinetic studies and patient care
  • Assessment of adherence to cardiovascular medications using DBS analysis
  • Investigation, detection and analysis of counterfeit, substandard and medicines
  • Development of in vitro characterisation and analytical methods for a novel glucose-responsive, self-regulated insulin delivery system.

 

Prof. Tanna has co-authored a book with Dr Graham Lawson entitled:

“Analytical Chemistry for Assessing Medication Adherence”

This book is published by Elsevier  (http://store.elsevier.com/product.jsp?isbn=9780128054635). 

 

As Chair of the School of Pharmacy Athena SWAN self-assessment team (SAT), Prof. Tanna led De Montfort University's first departmental Athena SWAN submission which was awarded Bronze in April 2019.

 

Research group affiliations

Pharmacy Practice Research Group

Publications and outputs

  • Utilizing quantitative dried blood spot analysis to objectively assess adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy among patients at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
    Utilizing quantitative dried blood spot analysis to objectively assess adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy among patients at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya Wata, David; Ogwu, John; Dunford, Louise; Lawson, Graham; Tanna, Sangeeta The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rising in Kenya and non-adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy is a growing global public health issue that leads to treatment failure, an increased risk of cardiac events and poor clinical outcomes. This study assessed adherence to selected cardiovascular therapy medications among CVD patients attending outpatient clinics at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya by determining drug concentration(s) in patient dried blood spot (DBS) samples. Patients who had been taking one or more of the five commonly prescribed CVD medications (amlodipine, atenolol, atorvastatin, losartan, and valsartan) for at least six months were enrolled. Each patient completed a short questionnaire about their medication history and then provided a finger-prick blood spot sample from which drug concentrations were determined by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry analysis. Two hundred and thirty-nine patients (62.3% female) participated in the study. The median number of medications used by patients was 2 (IQR 75%-25% is 3-1). Less than half (117; 49.0%) of patients were adherent to their prescribed CVD pharmacotherapy. Binary regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between non-adherence and the number of medications in the treatment regimen (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.583; 95%CI: 0.949-2.639; P-value = 0.039) and that gender was not an independent predictor of medication adherence (OR 1.233; 95%CI: 0.730-2.083; P-value = 0.216). Valuable information about adherence to each medication in the patient’s treatment regimen was obtained using quantitative DBS analysis showing that adherence to CVD medications was not uniform. DBS sampling, due its minimally invasive nature, convenience and ease of transport is a useful alternative matrix to monitor adherence to pharmacotherapies objectively, when combined with hyphenated mass spectrometry analytical techniques. This information can provide physicians with an evidence-based novel approach towards personalization and optimization of CVD pharmacotherapy and implementing interventions in the Kenyan population, thereby improving clinical outcomes. Wata, D, Ogwu, J., Dunford, L., Lawson, G. and Tanna S (2023) Utilizing quantitative dried blood spot analysis to objectively assess adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy among patients at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. PLoS ONE 18 (1), e0280137
  • Poor-quality medicines are everyone's problem
    Poor-quality medicines are everyone's problem Tanna, Sangeeta; Armitage, R. This is an open-access article published under Creative Commons Licence 4.0. Tanna, S. and Armitage R. (2022) Poor-quality medicines are everyone's problem. 360info; Special Report on Substandard Medicines, 27/07/2022
  • Patients access to medicines – A critical review of the healthcare system in Kenya
    Patients access to medicines – A critical review of the healthcare system in Kenya Toroitich, Anthony Martin; Dunford, Louise; Armitage, Rachel; Tanna, Sangeeta Access to affordable, safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines by a patient is important for good health outcomes. Unfortunately, there is sparse literature published on the pharmaceutical enablers that may increase the sale of a substandard and falsified (SF) medicine to a patient in Kenya. The review highlights some of the factors that may facilitate the entry of SF medicines into the legitimate pharmaceutical supply chain and discusses their impact on patient access to medicines. Lack of essential medicines in public health facilities is an important factor that may contribute to increased demand for medicine-related out-of-pocket expense from private health facilities thus a likelihood for a patient purchasing SF medicine from unlicensed and illegal medicine outlets or unregulated websites. The need to increase medicine availability in the public sector by the Ministry of Health (MOH) is emphasized in addition to the strengthening of public procurement to cushion it from corruption and mismanagement. In addition, the MOH should promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing and implement a medicine pricing containment policy to avoid abuse and prevent overexploitation of patients, increase medicine price transparency, and reduce pharmaceutical supply chain distortion. Recommended regulatory reviews include accreditation of unlicensed illegal medicine outlets to facilitate accountability, regulatory oversight, and active surveillance. The national post-market surveillance regulatory capacity should be strengthened to improve rational medicine use. A three-year diploma course should be replaced with a shorter one- or two-year pharmaceutical support staff training not eligible to superintend a pharmacy. The recommended legislative review includes a mandatory clause to enforce generic prescribing and the implementation of generic substitution by health workers. Unethical manipulative pharmaceutical marketing practices should carry stiffer penalties to deter malpractice. Future research areas include investigation of medicine prescribing and dispensing practices, medicine consumption studies, medicine price differences within different health sub-sectors, and between licensed pharmacies and unlicensed illegal medicine outlets. open access article Toroitich, A.M., Dunford, L., Armitage, R., Tanna, S. (2022) Patients Access to Medicines – A Critical Review of the Healthcare System in Kenya. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 15, pp.361-374.
  • Adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy by patients in Iraq: a mixed methods assessment using quantitative dried blood spot analysis and the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale
    Adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy by patients in Iraq: a mixed methods assessment using quantitative dried blood spot analysis and the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale Alalaqi, Ahmed; Lawson, Graham; Obaid, Yaseen; Tanna, Sangeeta This study evaluated the adherence to prescribed cardiovascular therapy medications among cardiovascular disease patients attending clinics in Misan, Amara, Iraq. Mixed methods were used to assess medication adherence comprising the Arabic version of the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and determination of drug concentrations in patient dried blood spot (DBS) samples by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Three hundred and three Iraqi patients (median age 53 years, 50.5% female) who had been taking one or more of the nine commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications (amlodipine, atenolol, atorvastatin, bisoprolol, diltiazem, lisinopril, losartan, simvastatin and valsartan) for at least six months were enrolled. For each patient MMAS-8 scores were determined alongside drug concentrations in their dried blood spot samples. Results from the standardized questionnaire showed that adherence was 81.8% in comparison with 50.8% obtained using the laboratory-based microsample analysis. The agreement between the indirect (MMAS-8) and direct (DBS analysis) assessment approaches to assessing medication adherence showed significantly poor agreement (kappa = 0.28, P=0.001). The indirect and direct assessment approaches showed no significant correlation between nonadherence to prescribed cardiovascular pharmacotherapy and age and gender, but were significantly associated with the number of medications in the patient’s treatment regimen (MMAS-8: Odds Ratio (OR) 1.947, 95% CI, P=0.001; DBS analysis: OR 2.164, 95% CI, P=0.001). The MMAS-8 results highlighted reasons for nonadherence to prescribed cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in this patient population whilst the objective DBS analysis approach gave valuable information about nonadherence to each medication in the patient’s treatment regimen. DBS sampling, due its minimally invasive nature, convenience and ease of transport is a useful alternative matrix to monitor adherence objectively in Iraq to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy. This information combined with MMAS-8 can provide clinicians with an evidence-based novel approach to implement intervention strategies to optimise and personalise cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in the Iraqi population and thereby improve patient health outcomes. open access article Alalaqi, A., Lawson, G., Obaid, Y., Tanna, S. (2021) Adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy by patients in Iraq: A mixed methods assessment using quantitative dried blood spot analysis and the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. PLoS ONE 16 (5): e0251115
  • Hyphenated mass spectrometry techniques for assessing medication adherence: advantages, challenges, clinical applications and future perspectives
    Hyphenated mass spectrometry techniques for assessing medication adherence: advantages, challenges, clinical applications and future perspectives Tanna, Sangeeta; Ogwu, John; Lawson, Graham Nonadherence to prescribed pharmacotherapy is an understated public health problem globally and is costing many patients their chance to return to good health and healthcare systems billions. Clinicians need an accurate assessment of adherence to medications to aid the clinical decision-making process in the event of poor patient progress and to maximize the patient health outcomes from the drug therapies prescribed. An overview of indirect and direct methods used to measure medication adherence is presented, highlighting the potential for accurate measuring of drugs in biological samples using hyphenated mass spectrometry techniques to provide healthcare professionals with a reliable evidence base for clinical decision making. In this review we summarise published applications of hyphenated mass spectrometry techniques for a diverse range of clinical areas demonstrating the rise in the use of such direct methods for assessing medication adherence. Although liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry methods using plasma, serum and urine samples are the most popular, in recent years increased attention has been given to liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry methods and alternative biosample matrices including hair, saliva and blood microsamples. The advantages and challenges of using hyphenated mass spectrometry techniques to address this healthcare problem are also discussed alongside future perspectives. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link. Tanna, S., Ogwu, J. and Lawson, G. (2020) Hyphenated mass spectrometry techniques for assessing medication adherence: advantages, challenges, clinical applications and future perspectives. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine,
  • A review of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy used in food adulteration and authenticity investigations
    A review of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy used in food adulteration and authenticity investigations Valand, Reema; Tanna, Sangeeta; Lawson, Graham; Bengtstrom, Linda The increasing demand for food and the globalisation of the supply chain, have resulted in a rise in food fraud, and recent high profile cases, such as the Chinese milk scandal in 2008 and the EU horsemeat scandal in 2013 have emphasised the vulnerability of the food supply system to adulteration and authenticity frauds. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is routinely used in cases of suspected food fraud as it offers a rapid, easy and reliable detection method for these investigations. In this review we first present a brief summary of the concepts of food adulteration and authenticity as well as a discussion of the current legislation regarding these crimes. Thereafter, we give an extensive overview of FTIR as an analytical technique and the different foods where FTIR analysis has been employed for food fraud investigations as well as the subsequent multivariate data analysis have been applied successfully to investigate case of adulteration or authenticity. Finally, we give a critical discussion of the applications and limitations of FTIR, either as a standalone technique or incorporated in a test battery, in the fight against food fraud. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link. Valand, R., Tanna, S., Lawson, G., and Bengtström, L. (2019) A review of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy used in food adulteration and authenticity investigations, Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A,
  • Non-adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in Iraq assessed using 8-items Morisky questionnaire and analysis of dried blood spot samples
    Non-adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in Iraq assessed using 8-items Morisky questionnaire and analysis of dried blood spot samples Alalaqi, Ahmed; Lawson, Graham; Obaid, Yaseen; Tanna, Sangeeta The study evaluated the non-adherence to selected cardiovascular medications, atenolol, atorvastatin, bisoprolol, diltiazem, lisinopril, simvastatin and valsartan in Iraqi patients by applying a standardized Morisky questionnaire (8-MMAS) and by measuring therapeutic drug concentrations in dried blood spots (DBS) analyzed by liquid chromatography - high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Sixty-nine patients, on continued use of one or more of the selected drugs, were evaluated. The questionnaire showed that 21.7% of participants were non-adherent whereas DBS analysis showed that 49.3% were non-adherent to their medications. No significant correlation between medication non-adherence and gender was detected, but adherence was negatively correlated with the number of medications in the regimen. The 8-items questionnaire was unable to differentiate non-adherence to multiple medications in the prescribed pharmacotherapy regimens. DBS is an alternative to conventional methods to monitor non-adherence objectively. Agreement between the two approaches was weak (Kappa =0.269, p-value 0.05). open access journal Alalaqi A. D. , Lawson G. , Obaid Y. and Tanna S. (2019) Non-adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in Iraq assessed using 8-items Morisky questionnaire and analysis of dried blood spot samples. British Journal of Pharmacy, 4(1),
  • Attitudes to weight management in the South Asian population
    Attitudes to weight management in the South Asian population Robinson-Burke, Tamara; Tanna, Sangeeta; Hind, James; Fretwell, Laurice; Williams, Robert; Sutton, Christopher; Dunford, L. J. Robinson-Burke, T., Tanna, S., Hind, J., Fretwell, L., Williams, R., Sutton, C. and Dunford, L. (2019) Attitudes to weight management in the South Asian population. OBESITY SURGERY, 29, pp. S27-S28
  • Quantitative screening of the pharmaceutical ingredient for the rapid identification of substandard and falsified medicines using reflectance infrared spectroscopy
    Quantitative screening of the pharmaceutical ingredient for the rapid identification of substandard and falsified medicines using reflectance infrared spectroscopy Lawson, Graham; Ogwu, John; Tanna, Sangeeta The World Health Organization suggests that approximately 10% of medicines worldwide are either falsified or substandard with higher figures in low and middle income countries. Such poor quality medicines can seriously harm patients and pose a threat to the economy worldwide. This study investigates attenuated total reflectance-fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy as a simple and rapid method for determination of drug content in tablet dosage forms. Paracetamol was used as the model pharmaceutical ingredient. Spectra of standard mixtures of paracetamol with different excipients formed the basis for multivariate PLS based quantitative analysis of simulated tablet content using different selected infrared absorbance bands. Calibration methods using ATR-FTIR were compared with the ATR-FTIR and conventional ultraviolet spectroscopic analyses of real tablet samples and showed that the paracetamol/microcrystalline cellulose mixtures gave optimum results for all spectral bands tested. The quantitative data for band 1524-1493cm-1 was linear (R2 ˃ 0.98; LOQ ≥ 10%w/w tablet). Global examples of paracetamol tablets were tested using this protocol and 12% of the tablet samples examined was identified as substandard. Each sample analysis was completed in just a few minutes. ATR-FTIR can therefore be used in the rapid screening of tablet formulations. The simplicity of the proposed method makes it appropriate for use in low and middle income countries where analytical facilities are not available. open access journal Lawson G, Ogwu J, Tanna S (2018) Quantitative screening of the pharmaceutical ingredient for the rapid identification of substandard and falsified medicines using reflectance infrared spectroscopy. PLoS ONE, 13 (8): e0202059
  • Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) coupled with high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) mass spectrometry as a simplified alternative to dried blood spot (DBS) analysis for therapeutic drug monitoring of cardiovascular drugs
    Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) coupled with high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) mass spectrometry as a simplified alternative to dried blood spot (DBS) analysis for therapeutic drug monitoring of cardiovascular drugs Tanna, Sangeeta; Alalaqi, Ahmed; Bernieh, Dennis; Lawson, Graham Here, volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS), used for the measurement of cardiovascular drugs, is compared against conventional dried blood spot (DBS) card sampling to evaluate adherence to prescribed medication. Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) is an attractive alternative to plasma sampling for routine drug monitoring and potentially overcomes haematocrit issues associated with quantitative bioanalysis of conventional dried blood spots. A quantitative VAMS-based LC-HRAM MS assay for atenolol, lisinopril, simvastatin and valsartan was developed and validated. The assay demonstrated acceptable linearity, selectivity, accuracy, precision, recovery and insignificant matrix effects with no impact of haematocrit on assay accuracy. Volunteers provided both VAMS and DBS 903 card samples (the current standard) to allow comparison of the two methods and demonstrate the potential utility of VAMS. Analysis of VAMS samples correctly identified drugs in volunteers known to be adherent, and found no false positives from volunteers known to be taking no medication. There was a strong correlation between the two sampling systems confirming the utility of VAMS. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) can assist clinicians in deciding how to proceed with treatment in the event of poor improvement in patient health. VAMS could offer a potentially more efficient method of sample collection, with fewer rejected samples than the DBS approach. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link. Tanna, S., Alalaqi, A., Bernieh, D., Lawson, G. (2018) Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) coupled with high-resolution, accurate-mass (HRAM) mass spectrometry as a simplified alternative to dried blood spot (DBS) analysis for therapeutic drug monitoring of cardiovascular drugs . Clinical Mass Spectrometry, 10, pp.1-8.

Click here for a full listing of Sangeeta Tanna's publications and outputs.

Areas of teaching

  • Pharmaceutics
  • Biopharmaceutics
  • Novel drug delivery systems
  • Paediatric formulations and drug delivery
  • Geriatric pharmacotherapy
  • Substandard/falsified medicines
  • Detection of counterfeit cosmetic products
  • Therapeutic drug monitoring
  • Assessment of medication adherence using analytical science
  • Bioanalysis for personalised drug dosing

Courses taught

  • MPharm Pharmacy
  • BSc Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Science
  • BSc Forensic Science

Honours and awards

APS PharmSci Geoffrey Phillips Analytical Science Commendation Prize 2016
Counterfeit medicines: Rapid quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredients in tablet formulations.
Ogwu J, Lawson G, Tanna S
APS 7th International PharmSci Conference. Glasgow, UK. 5-7 September 2016 

Nominated for Times Higher Education (THE) Research Project of the Year 2012
Blood Spot Analysis.
Tanna S and Lawson G
November 2012

Royal Society of Chemistry – Analytical Methods Prize 2010
Analysis of dried blood spots – the potential for paediatric pharmacokinetic studies of captopril.
Tanna S, Pandya H, Mulla H, Titman C, and Lawson G.
RSC Analytical Research Forum. Loughborough University. 26-28 July 2010 

British Pharmaceutical Conference 2009 – Science Poster Prize
The use of blood spot analysis in paediatric care - From laboratory to bedside and back again.
Lawson G, Mulla H, Pandya H, Tanna S.
Science @ BPC2009 Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Manchester Central. Sept 7-9 2009. 

Runner-up for the 2003 Westminster Medal & Prize for best research poster
The design of a self-regulated insulin delivery system
Tanna S, Sahota T, Taylor MJ.
SET for Britain - The House of Commons Reception for Britain’s Top Younger Scientists, Engineers and Technologists, The House of Commons, Westminster. 17 March 2003

Membership of professional associations and societies

  • Royal Society of Chemistry - Fellow
  • British Mass Spectrometry Society
  • Midlands Mass Spectrometry Group
  • Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Conference attendance

Invited Lectures

Lawson G and Tanna S. Identifying medication nonadherence could save £billions. CPSA Europe 2019. Cambridge, UK. 5-8 February 2019.

Tanna S, Alalaqi A, Lawson G. Monitoring of cardiovascular drug levels by quantitative LC-HRMS analysis of patient collected micro-volume blood samples. World Conference on Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Barcelona, Spain. 23-24 July 2018.

Lawson G, Ogwu J, Armitage R, Tanna S. Counterfeit tablet investigations: are Raman and ATR FT/IR techniques for the real world? World Conference on Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Barcelona, Spain. 23-24 July 2018.

Tanna S. Assessment of medication nonadherence – A UK perspective. ‘Internationalization@Home’ Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. 2nd May 2018.

Bernieh D, Lawson G, Tanna S. Development of an evidence based assessment of medication adherence for heart disease patients. APS 7th International PharmSci Conference. Glasgow, UK. 5-7 September 2016

Ogwu J, Lawson G, Tanna S. Counterfeit medicines: Rapid quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredients in tablet formulations. APS 7th International PharmSci Conference. Glasgow, UK. 5-7 September 2016

Bernieh D, Lawson G, Tanna S. Quantitative LC-ToF MS analyses of dried blood spots: Developing an assessment of medication adherence for heart disease patients. The Reid Bioanalytical Forum. Surrey, UK. September 2015

Tanna S and Lawson G. Adherence to medication assessed using dried blood spot analysis. Invited lecture at the 5th International Conference and Exhibition on Analytical & Bioanalytical Techniques. Beijing, China 18-20 August 2014

Lawson G and Tanna S. Counterfeit tablet investigations: Is ATR FT/IR A technique for the real world. Invited lecture at the 5th International Conference and Exhibition on Analytical & Bioanalytical Techniques. Beijing, China 18-20 August 2014 

Tanna S and Lawson G. Cardiovascular drug medication compliance assessed by dried blood spot sampling techniques.  Invited lecture at the 4th International Conference and Exhibition on Analytical Techniques. Las Vegas, USA 15-17 October 2013

Lawson G, Armitage R, Alhedethe A and Tanna S. Rapid identification of counterfeit pills by ATR FT/IR analysis of crushed samples. Invited lecture at the 4th International Conference and Exhibition on Analytical Techniques. Las Vegas, USA 15-17 

Tanna S and Lawson G.  Blood Spot Analysis – Paediatrics to Pensioners. Invited public lecture at the Festival of Ideas, De Montfort University, Leicester UK, 23 April 2013

Lawson G, Armitage R, Tanna S.  Identification of Counterfeit Drugs. Invited public lecture at the Cafe Scientifique event, Nanjing, China, November 2012 

Tanna S and Lawson G.  Dried Blood Spot (DBS) Analysis for Healthcare Applications. Invited public lecture at the Cafe Scientific event, Nanjing, China, November 2012

Lawson G, Armitage R, Tanna S. Identification of counterfeit medicines. 7th Annual Pharmaceutical Anti-Counterfeiting Meeting. 2012, Visiongain Conference Centre, Barbican, London, UK. 26-27 June 2012.

Lawson G, Armitage R, Tanna S.  Identification of counterfeit medicines. Conference on International Biology and Medicine Innovative Industrialization (IBMII). Chongqing Convention Centre, Chongqing, China, April 2012.

Tanna S. and Lawson G. Dried blood spot (DBS) analysis for healthcare applicationsConference of International Biology and Medicine Innovative Industrialization (IBMII). Chongqing Convention Centre, Chongqing, China, April 2012

Lawson G, Ross G, Sage A, Mulla H, Pandya H and Tanna S.  Potential of the QToF in Paediatric Biomarking. Invited Lecture. 1st International Pediatric Biomarker Symposium. Congress Park, Igls Austria. 4-6 Feb 2010

Invited Poster Presentations

Tanna S, Patel P, Mulla H and Lawson G. Dried blood spot analysis – a comparison of SIM, MSMS and accurate mass TOF analyses for selected drugs. 27th LC-MS Montreux Symposium, Montreux, Switzerland, 10-12 November 2010

Tanna S, Pandya H, Mulla H, Titman C, and Lawson G. Analysis of dried blood spots – the potential for paediatric pharmacokinetic studies of captopril. RSC Analytical Research Forum. Loughborough University. 26-28 July 2010

Lawson G, Mulla H, Ross G, Sage A and Tanna S. Accurate mass versus tandem mass measurement of paediatric biomarkers. RSC Analytical Research Forum. Loughborough University. 26-28 July 2010

Tanna S, Pandya H, Mulla H, Titman C, and Lawson G.  Analysis of dried blood spots – the potential for paediatric pharmacokinetic studies of captopril. 1st International Pediatric Biomarker Symposium. Congresspark. Igls, Austria. 4-6 Feb 2010.

Poster Presentations

Alalaqi A, Lawson G, Obaid Y, Tanna S. Assessment on non-adherence to cardiovascular medications and understanding patients' perspective: A quantitative and qualitative study. The JPAG Pharmaceutical Analysis Research Awards 2021. Virtual meeting. 17th November 2021.

Alalaqi A, Lawson G, Obaid Y, Tanna S. Assessment on non-adherence to cardiovascular medications in Iraq by 8-items Morisky questionnaire and dried blood spot samples analysis. APS@FIP Conference, Glasgow, UK. 7th September 2018.

Tanna S, Alalaqi A, Bernieh D, Obaid Y, Lawson G. Blood spot micro-samples analysed by LC-HRMS to monitor cardiovascular drug levels in patient samples from Iraq. 10th Medical Conference of Misan Health Directorate, Misan, Iraq. 5-7 December 2017.

Tanna S, Bernieh D, Alalaqi A, Lawson G. Cardiovascular drug monitoring using quantitative LC-HRMS analysis of self-collected micro-volume blood samples. 15th International Congress of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring & Clinical Toxicology 2017, Kyoto, Japan. 24-27 September 2017.

Bernieh D, Lawson G, Tanna S. Comparison of VAMS and card based microsampling with LC-HRMS analysis to assess cardiovascular drug levels. Mass Spectrometry: Applications to the Clinical Lab (MSACL) EU 2017. Salzburg, Austria. 10-14 September 2017.

Armitage R, Lawson G, Tanna S. Counterfeit or just poor quality control? APS 8th International PharmSci Conference. Hatfield, UK. 5-8 September 2017.

Bernieh D, Lawson G, Tanna S. Performance of two different microsamplers for the LC-HRMS analysis of 11 cardiovascular drugs. The Reid Bioanalytical Forum. Cambridge, UK. 5-7 September 2017.

Tanna S, Alalaqi A, Bernieh D, Lawson G. LC-HRMS analysis of 133 patient micro-volume blood samples to allow clinical assessment of medication adherence. Mass Spectrometry: Applications to the Clinical Lab (MSACL) 2017. Palm Springs, USA. 22-26 January 2017.

Lawson G, Bernieh D, Tanna S. Quantitative LC-HRMS analysis of dried blood spots to assess adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy. Mass Spectrometry: Applications to the Clinical Lab (MSACL) 2017. Palm Springs, USA. 22-26 January 2017.

Tanna S, Bernieh D, Lawson G. Adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy assessed by quantitative LC-HRMS analysis of dried blood spots. Advances in Clinical Analysis 2016, London, UK. 30 November 2016.

Tanna S, Bernieh D, Lawson G. Adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy assessed by quantitative LC-HRMS analysis of dried blood spots. 21st International Mass Spectrometry Conference. Toronto, Canada. 20-26 August 2016.

Lawson G, Ogwu J, Armitage R, Alcroft C, Tanna S. Fast identification of counterfeit medicines – a comparison of two MS methods. 21st International Mass Spectrometry Conference. Toronto, Canada. 20-26 August 2016.

Tanna S, Bernieh D, Lawson G. Assessment of adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy using quantitative dried blood spot analysis. Mass Spectrometry: Applications to the Clinical Lab (MSACL) 2015. Salzburg, Austria. 8-11 September 2015.

Lawson G and Tanna S. Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry used for the analysis of dried blood spot samples in therapeutic drug monitoring. Mass Spectrometry: Applications to the Clinical Lab (MSACL) 2015. Salzburg, Austria. 8-11 September 2015.

Bernieh D, Lawson G, Tanna S. Development of an evidence based assessment of medication adherence for heart disease patients. APS 7th International PharmSci Conference. Glasgow, UK. 5-7 September 2016.

Ogwu J, Lawson G, Tanna S. Counterfeit medicines: Rapid quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredients in tablet formulations. APS 7th International PharmSci Conference. Glasgow, UK. 5-7 September 2016.

Bernieh D, Lawson G, Tanna S. It’s in a drop of blood – or is it? SET for BRITAIN Poster Presentations by Britain’s Top Younger Scientists, Engineers and Technologists at the House of Commons, Westminster, London, UK. 7 March 2016.

Tanna S, Bernieh D, Lawson G.  Assessment of adherence to cardiovascular pharmacotherapy using quantitative dried blood spot analysis. Mass Spectrometry: Applications to the Clinical Lab (MSACL) 2015. Salzburg, Austria. 8-11 September 2015.

Lawson G and Tanna S. Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry used for the analysis of dried blood spot samples in therapeutic drug monitoring. Mass Spectrometry: Applications to the Clinical Lab (MSACL) EU 2015. Salzburg, Austria. 8-11 September 2015.

Bernieh D, Lawson G, Tanna S. Quantitative LC-ToF MS analyses of dried blood spots: Developing an assessment of medication adherence for heart disease patients. The Reid Bioanalytical Forum. Surrey, UK. September 2015.

Bernieh D, Lawson G, Tanna S. Quantitative dried blood spot analyses: An aid to medicine optimization for heart disease patients? The 6th International Conference and Exhibition on Analytical & Bioanalytical Techniques. Valencia, Spain. August 2015.

Ogwu J, Lawson G, Armitage R, Tanna S. Rapid instrumental detection and quantification of counterfeit pharmaceutical tablet formulations: is ATR-FTIR an option? The 6th International Conference and Exhibition on Analytical & Bioanalytical Techniques. Valencia, Spain. August 2015.

Bernieh D, Lawson G, Tanna S.Can quantitative dried blood spot analyses be an aid to medicine optimization in cardiovascular diseases? The Analytical Research Forum 2015. London, UK. 3rd July 2015.

Ogwu J, Lawson G, Armitage R, Tanna S.  ATR-FTIR for rapid detection and quantification of counterfeit medicines. The Analytical Research Forum 2015. London, UK.  3rd July 2015.

Ogwu J, Lawson G, Tanna S.  Rapid instrumental detection of counterfeit medicines – how feasible is it? The Forensic Institute Research Network (FIRN) conference. Derby, UK. April 24 2015.

Lawson G, Alcroft C, Baker A, Tanna S. Analysis of unknown powders and tablets using an atmospheric solids analysis probe and a compact mass spectrometer. The Forensic Institute Research Network (FIRN) conference. Derby, UK. April 24 2015.

Tanna S and Lawson G. Adherence to cardiovascular medications assessed using quantitative dried blood spot analysis. Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium on Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis and the 10th International Symposium on Drug Analysis. Liege, Belgium. June 22-25 2014.

Lawson G, Turay E, Armitage R, Tanna S. Rapid identification of counterfeit medicines by ATR FT/IR. Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium on Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis and the 10th International Symposium on Drug Analysis. Liege, Belgium. June 22-25 2014.

Tanna S, Armitage R, Lawson G. Identification of counterfeit pills - Is rapid instrumental analysis possible? Proceedings of The 24th International Symposium on Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Bologna, Italy. 30 June-3 July 2013.

Lawson G, Cocks E, Tanna S. Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry applied to therapeutic drug monitoring using DBS sampling. Proceedings of The 24th International Symposium on Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Bologna, Italy. 30 June-3 July 2013.

Tanna S, Cocks E, Lawson G. Is the patient taking their 'heart' pills? A dried blood spot sample - LC-HRMS assay. Proceedings of The 24th International Symposium on Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Bologna, Italy. 30 June-3 July 2013.

Tanna S, Patel P, Mulla H, Lawson G. Dried blood spot analysis to improve paediatric medication. Separation Science Asia. Singapore. 27-28 July 2011.

Lawson G, Cocks E. Tanna S.  High resolution mass spectrometry for quantitative analysis of dried blood spots. Separation Science Asia. Singapore, 27-28 July 2011.

Patel P, Pandya H, Spooner N, Della Pasque O, Gade S, Kairamknoda V, Lawson G, Tanna S, Mulla H. Dried blood spots and sparse sampling: A perfect combination for minimally invasive PK/PD studies in children. Population Approach Group Europe (PAGE) Meeting, Athens, Greece, June 2011.

Tanna S, Cocks E, Lawson G.  High resolution mass spectrometry for analysis of selected drugs in dried blood spots. 59th Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics ASMS Meeting, Denver, Colorado, USA 5 – 9 June 2011.

Lawson G, Mulla H, Patel P, Tanna S. Examples of dried blood spot sampling and analysis to improve paediatric medicine. 59th Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics. ASMS Meeting, Denver, Colorado, USA 5-9 June 2011.

Patel P, Lawson G, Tanna S, Mulla H. Facilitating paediatric PK studies: utility of the dried blood spot. Pharmacokinetics UK Conference, Birmingham UK, November 2009. 

Patel P, Lawson G, Mulla H, Tanna S. Applying dried blood spot analysis: the pathway to better paediatric care. Science @ BPC2009 Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Manchester Central, UK September 7-9 2009.

Lawson G, Pandya H, Mulla H, Tanna S. The use of blood spot analysis in paediatric care - From laboratory to bedside and back again. Science @ BPC2009 Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Manchester Central, UK. September 7-9 2009.

Lawson G, Coffey J, Titman C, Tanna S.  Dried blood spot analyses by Ion Trap – Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry, the potential for improved child care? 18th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, PWA 427, Bremen, Germany Aug 30 – Sept 4 2009.

Lawson G, Patel, P, Tanna S.  The use of dried blood spot analysis in paediatric care – how mass spectrometry can direct child medication. 18th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, PMM 468, Bremen, Germany Aug 30 – Sept 4 2009.

Tanna S, Lawson G Mulla H, Pandya H From laboratory to bedside and back again – The use of blood spot analysis in paediatric care. ACCP/ESCP International Congress on Clinical Pharmacy. Orange County Convention Centre, Orlando, Fl. USA. April 24 -28th.2009.

Tanna S, Sahota, TS, Sawicka K, Taylor MJ. UV polymerised dextran-concanavalin A acrylic derivatised gels for closed-loop insulin delivery. The 33rd International Annual Meeting & Exposition of the Controlled Release Society, Vienna, Austria, July 2006.

Sawicka K, Sahota TS, Taylor MJ, Tanna S. Development and application of a reversed-phase HPLC method for the analysis of components from a closed-loop insulin delivery system. The 33rd International Annual Meeting & Exposition of the Controlled Release Society, Vienna, Austria, July 2006.

Tanna S, Taylor MJ, Sahota TS. Novel glucose-sensitive gels for self-regulated insulin delivery. SET for BRITAIN Poster Presentations by Britain’s Top Younger Scientists, Engineers and Technologists at the House of Commons, Westminster, London, March 2003.

Tanna S, Sahota T, Clark J, Taylor MJ.   Rheological characterisation and insulin delivery of a novel glucose-sensitive gel with a carbomer carrier. Proceed. Intern. Symp. Control. Rel. Bioact. Mater. 28: 327-328. The 28th International Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials, San Diego, California, USA, June 2001.

Clark J, Taylor MJ, Sahota TS, Tanna S.  Development of an “in-vivo” model for demonstrating the action of a responsive gel membrane to changes in blood glucose concentrations. Proceed. Intern. Symp. Control. Rel. Bioact. Mater. 28: 307-308. The 28th International Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials, San Diego, California, USA, June 2001.

Tanna S and Taylor MJ.  Insulin delivery governed by lectin-glycogen gels sensitive to glucose. Proceed. Intern. Symp. Control. Rel. Bioact. Mater. 1998; 25: 737.

Tanna S and Taylor MJ.  Glucose-responsive gels based on dextran covalently coupled with lectin to control insulin delivery. J Pharm. Pharmac., 1997; 49 Suppl. 4: 76.

Taylor MJ Tanna S, Adams G. Insulin delivery using a novel glucose sensitive formulation. Proceed. Intern. Symp. Control. Rel. Bioact. Mater. 1995; 22.

Taylor MJ, Tanna S, Cockshot S,  Vaitha R. A novel self-regulated delivery system using unmodified solutes in glucose sensitive gel membranes. Proceed. Third European Symp. Control. Drug Delivery, The Netherlands. 1994; (240-5).

Current research students

Enquiries from prospective PhD students are welcomed.

Externally funded research grants information

 Rapid detection of counterfeit and substandard medicines for the India healthcare sector. Research studentship -self-funded from India. Apr 2021. Contract value: £24,000.

Rapid detection of poor quality medicines with documented quality complaints in Kenya. PhD studentship supported by Pharmacy and Poisons Board, Kenya. Oct 2019 - Sept 2025. Contract value £39,000.

Comparison of VAMS and card based microsampling with LC-HRMS analysis to assess cardiovascular drug levels. MSACL EU – Student Travel Bursary. Sept 2017.

Performance of two different microsamplers for the LC-HRMS analysis of 11 cardiovascular drugs. The Chromatographic Society – Student Bursary to attend Reid Bioanalytical Forum. Sept 2017.

Assessment of adherence to cardiovascular medications in Iraq by Morisky Questionnaire and dried blood spot analysis. Misan Health Directorate, Iraq Ministry of Health. Oct 2015- Sept 2019. Contract value £57,900.

Rapid detection of counterfeit medicines. Oct 2013 – Sept 2017. Self-funded PhD studentship form Nigeria.

Rapid detection of counterfeit medicines and their significance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Jan 2013 – Jan 2014. Saudi Arabia Embassy. Contract value £18,300.

Dried blood spot analysis. April 2012. British Council support on UK-Chongqing Collaboration on Technology Transfer and Research.

Assessment of compliance for cardiovascular medications using dried blood spot analysis. 2011 – 2012. The Gunn and Carter Fellowship
Collaborators UHL and University of Leicester. Contract  £28,000.

Pharmacokinetic investigation of caffeine in neonatal children during clinical care. 2008-2011.  Joint funding from GlaxoSmithKline/ UHL NHS Trust/DMU.  Collaborators GSK, UHL and University of Leicester.  Contract value £75,000.

Development of a model for monitoring therapeutic levels of dexamethasone in neonates via microanalysis. 2008 – 2011 UHL NHS Trust consumables funding .  Contract value £21,000.

Assessing the Bioequivalence of Unlicensed Liquid Captopril formulations used in the treatment of Children with Heart Failure. 2008-2010.  NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Funding.  Joint research with UHL NHS Trust.   Contract value £51,774.

Novel methods for paediatric drug monitoring using microanalysis. 2007 – 2008 NIHR NEAT Feasibility funding.  Contract value £68,296

The development of a totally implantable closed-loop insulin delivery device for the management of diabetes. 2004 –2006. National Institute for Health Research – New and Emerging Applications of Technology (NEAT) Programme. Contract value £187,000

Internally funded research project information

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Advanced Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) facility. QR/UKRI Capital Funding (£99k), Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Research Funding (£50k), School of Pharmacy Research Funding (£50k). November 2022. Total amount awarded £199,000.

Identifying non-adherence to cardiovascular medications in Nairobi, Kenya. REF Impact Case Study Support. Jan 2020-April 2020. £12,500.

Identifying non-adherence to cardiovascular medications in Kenya. DMU GCRF Funded Project. March 2019-July 2019. £25,000

Helping people in Africa stay clear of fake medicines. #DMUengage #DMUglobal award. Nov 2016-July 2017. £2000.

Tandem Mass Spectrometry Project. Contract value £30,000. DMU HEIF Funded £30,000.

Tandem Mass spectrometry analyses of dried blood spots. 2010-13 Contract value £300,000. Role CI DMU RIF funded.

Development of a model for monitoring therapeutic levels of dexamethasone in neonates via microanalysis. DMU PhD Student Bursary CI and 2nd supervisor. Collaborators UHL NHS Trust, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, GSK plc. 2008-2011. Contract value £40,500.

Tandem Mass Spectrometry Project. Contract value £30,000. Role CI (with Dr G Lawson PI) DMU HEIF Funded £30,000.

Tandem Mass spectrometry analyses of dried blood spots. 2010-13 Contract value £300,000. Role CI (with Dr G Lawson PI) DMU RIF funded.

Development of a model for monitoring therapeutic levels of dexamethasone in neonates via microanalysis. DMU PhD Student Bursary CI and 2nd supervisor. Collaborators UHL NHS Trust, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, GSK plc. 2008-2011. Contract value £40,500.

Case studies

1. REF2021 Impact Case Study: A single-drop blood test to identify non-adherence to cardiovascular medication, change care delivery and optimise treatment plans

Sangeeta Tanna's research group have developed the first non-invasive, single-drop blood test for assessing nonadherence to prescribed cardiovascular medicines. This has been used in clinical practice by hospitals in Kenya (Kenyatta National Hospital and Aga Khan University Hospital) and Iraq (Al Sader Teaching Hospital and Misan Cardiac Centre), resulting in the following impact:

  • Improved healthcare plans and optimised treatment for heart disease patients who were found to be non-adherent to their prescribed medication.
  • Improved clinical outcomes through better control of blood pressure, resulting in reductions in emergency hospital admissions and significantly lowered risks of cardiovascular events.
  • Enhanced adherence to prescribed medicines through positive changes in patients’ behaviour.
  • Changes to clinical practice by embedding pharmacists and hospital social workers within the clinical teams that plan and deliver patient care.
  • Identification of the high risk of poor-quality or counterfeit/substandard medicines circulating within the Kenyan healthcare system, prompting a submission to an ongoing national-level review of medicines safety. 

 

2. The blood spot analysis research and its potential impact on improving healthcare received extensive media coverage during a British Council sponsored visit to Chongqing, China in April 2012. It was widely covered by 20 national and local media, including CCTV, Chongqing TV, Xinhua News Agency, Guang Ming Daily People’s Daily, HongKong Wenhui Po, people.com.cn, CQ.QQ.com etc. The link below is Chongqing TV’s coverage of the event at its satellite news programme.

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMzg3Nzg2OTk2.html

 

3. In September 2011 the pioneering use of dried blood spot methods to monitor prescription compliance among patients taking cardiovascular medications was the subject of local and national media coverage. This included television coverage on BBC national and local news in addition to a live BBC Radio Leicester interview. It was featured on the BBC news website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-15002237

ORCiD

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5246-3603

Sangeeta Tanna New