formation of asset research centre - queen's university ...170542... · formation of asset...

Dr Mark MooneyLecturer in Proteomics

Institute of Agri-Food and Land UseSchool of Biological Sciences

Queen’s University Belfast

mark.mooney@qub.ac.uk

Formation of ASSET Research Centre

A food supply chain which is safe, transparent, rapidly traceable and sustainable

Innovative, state-of-the-art scientific techniques that will create a niche food forensic strength to develop a new

dimension in animal and human health, food safety monitoring and traceability

A major All-Island research centre that brings together key research groups on the Island

Vision for ASSET Research Centre

ASSET Research Centre

Department for Employment and Learning"Strengthening the all-Island Research Base" initiative

ASSET Research Activities

Spectroscopic and Isotopic

Fingerprinting

Supply ChainManagement

and Economics

Sensor Technology

Proteomics

Sub-strand 1: Sensor Technology ResearchDevelopment of innovative sensor-based systems to detect chemicalcontaminants within foods: drug residues, toxins, dyes, processingcontaminants

Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use recognised as world leader in theresearch and application of sensor technologies in the area of foodsafety monitoring

Collaboration with the National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR) atDublin City University

ASSET research activities led and directed by Dr Terry Fodey

Sensor Technology Research

Sensor-based, rapid detection systems

Easy-to-use, portable, economically viable devices

Multiplex contaminant detection formats

Point-of-use monitoring of food quality and safety

Assess and apply capabilities of prototype devices

Collaboration with Tyndall National Institute at UCC

Sub-strand 2: Proteomics ResearchDevelopment of innovative techniques based on “protein fingerprints”

Identify food producing animals exposed fraudulently/inadvertently with contaminating chemicals or infected by microbiological agents

Investigate the effects of exposure or infection on biological systems and assess the impact on animal welfare and food chain integrity

Apply developed techniques to improve food assurance and traceability as well as animal health

ASSET research activities led and directed by Dr Mark Mooney

Proteomic Research

Identification of blood-based biomarkers reflective of altered biological response in animals

Use these biomarkers as “fingerprints” to indirectly reveal exposure or infections

Bio-informatic profiling techniques to reveal distinctive biomarker profiles or patterns

Collaboration with The Conway Institute at UCD

ASSET Proteomic Research ProjectsExpense of dioxin testing using conventional techniques is prohibitive and limits the ability to routinely test for contaminated feed or animals

Proteomic biomarker study targeting dioxin exposure

Develop tests which indirectly reveal exposure to dioxins and other related chemical contaminants in animals linked to food supply chain

Cost effective, high-throughput screening analysis

Sub-strand 3: Spectroscopic and Isotopic Fingerprinting

Develop analytical approaches based on infrared spectroscopy (IR) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS)

Establish background data of components that may leave a distinct fingerprint within a food commodity

Types of fingerprinting - “Geographic”- “Production system”

ASSET research activities led and directed by Dr Luc Rock

Isotopic techniquesSPACE – Queen’s University

Swiss cheese(after Karoui et al. 2007)

Spectroscopic techniquesAshtown Food Research Centre - Teagasc

Primarily for the island of Ireland- Isotopic composition of precipitation- Isotope soil map

Identify the origin and assess the authenticity of a range of locally produced foods

Facilitate the ability to differentiate between conventional and organic production systems - Eggs

ASSET Spectroscopic and Isotopic Fingerprinting Projects

Sub-strand 4: Supply Chain Management and EconomicsIdentify which factors encourage and restrict food producers from implementing traceability and sustainability practices along the supply chain

Benchmark the supply chain traceability and sustainability practices currently being used within the food industry

Identify the impact of these practices on the performance of food producers and their supply chains

ASSET research activities led and directed by Dr Antony Potter

Professor Chris ElliottProfessor George HutchinsonDr Luc RockDr Antony Potter Dr Terry FodeyDr Mark Mooney Dr Olivier Chevallier Ms Josephine McIvorMr Anthony O’KaneMr Terry McGrathMr Jason Murray Ms Stephanie GrahamMs Caroline Frizzell Ms Agnieszka CzerwiecMs Joyce Watterson Ms Edel Casey

Dr Guiliano Elia

Prof Richard O’Kennedy

Dr Gerry Downey

Dr Jack Hamilton

Dr Andrew Cannavan

Dr Irene Grant Dr Danny Campbell

Dr Benn Lawson

ASSET Advisors

International Dimension of ASSET

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)

Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Nantes

University of Zurich

Informal discussion with ASSET members

Connected Programme – Lynn Connaughton

Invest NI – Sam Kinghan

Knowledge Exploitation Unit – John Thompson

Opportunities to engage with ASSET

Future of ASSET

Perform leading research of international importance with a high significance to local companies

Develop a Center of Excellence in the field of Food Safety, Traceability and Sustainability

MORE INFORMATION?

Director of ASSET Chris Elliott chris.elliott@qub.ac.uk

Spectroscopic Research Luc Rock l.rock@qub.ac.ukSensor Research Terry Fodey t.fodey@qub.ac.ukProteomic Research Mark Mooney mark.mooney@qub.ac.ukSupply Chain Research Antony Potter a.potter@qub.ac.uk