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Dr Oliver Sutcliffe graduated from the University of Liverpool with a BSc (Hons) in Chemical Sciences (1996) and subsequently obtained a PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry working on "New Extended Dipolar Systems" under Drs Richard Storr and Thomas Gilchrist from the same institution. In 1999, he joined Professor Martin Bryce's group at the University of Durham as a Postdoctoral Fellow investigating the application of enantiopure ferrocene ligands in asymmetric synthesis, before moving to industry and working as a Medicinal Chemist on the design, development and optimisation of drug molecules for a broad-range of biological targets, including cancer. He moved to the University of Strathclyde in 2006, obtained an MSc in Pharmaceutical Analysis and after a period at the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare (EDQM) in Strasbourg was appointed as a lecturer in the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS). In January 2012, Dr Sutcliffe joined the staff at Manchester Metropolitan University as a Senior Lecturer in Psychopharmaceutical Chemistry.
In addition to his academic role, Dr Sutcliffe leads the MANchester DRug Analysis and Knowledge Exchange (MANDRAKE) partnership, as part of the Greater Manchester Drugs Early Warning System. Based at Manchester Metropolitan University, MANDRAKE is the first and only permanent, publically funded and licenced city-centre testing facility in England. Since 2016, the team has collaborated with local stakeholders (police, custodial, festival/NTE and policy makers) to facilitate robust, legally compliant, cost-effective drug analysis for both harm reduction and intelligence, across the Greater Manchester Region.
Dr Oliver Sutcliffe has over twenty years research experience in pharmaceutical chemistry in both an academic and industrial environment. He is the author of over 70 research articles, 16 international patents and has contributed to risk assessment/specialist reports for the ACMD, EMCDDA, UNODC and WHO. Dr Sutcliffe’s research interests lie principally in the synthesis, detection and quantification of new/emerging psychoactive substances used regularly on recreational drug markets. His recent work, with both national and international law enforcement, has focused on the synthesis and development of new field-deployable methods/technologies for the detection of psychoactive drugs including synthetic cannabinoids (or Spice).
In addition to his academic role, Dr Sutcliffe leads the MANchester DRug Analysis and Knowledge Exchange (MANDRAKE) partnership, as part of the Greater Manchester Drugs Early Warning System. Based at Manchester Metropolitan University, MANDRAKE is the first and only permanent, publically funded and licenced city-centre testing facility in England. Since 2016, the team has collaborated with local stakeholders (police, custodial, festival/NTE and policy makers) to facilitate robust, legally compliant, cost-effective drug analysis for both harm reduction and intelligence, across the Greater Manchester Region.
J. Spencer, OB. Sutcliffe (2014). Microwaves in Drug Discovery and Development: Recent Advances. Future Medicine Ltd.
AM. Brandon, SR. Baginski, C. Peet, P. Dugard, H. Green, et al. OB. Sutcliffe, NN. Daéid, LA. Nisbet, KD. Read, C. McKenzie. (2023). Log D7.4 and plasma protein binding of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists and a comparison of experimental and predicted lipophilicity. Drug Testing and Analysis. pp.1-14.
DI. Dixon, MF. Millea, ATM. Wilcock, A. Costello, JR. Ellison, et al. S. Lord, KA. O'Brian, RE. Mewis, OB. Sutcliffe. (2023). Synthesis, characterisation and quantification of the new psychoactive substance 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(propylamino)butan-1-one (bk-PBDB, putylone). Forensic Chemistry. 35, pp.100523-100523.
GE. Cozier, RC. Andrews, A. Frinculescu, R. Kumar, B. May, et al. T. Tooth, P. Collins, A. Costello, TSF. Haines, TP. Freeman, IS. Blagbrough, J. Scott, T. Shine, OB. Sutcliffe, SM. Husbands, J. Leach, RW. Bowman, CR. Pudney. (2023). Instant detection of synthetic cannabinoids on physical matrices, implemented on a low-cost, ultraportable device. Analytical Chemistry. 95(37), pp.13829-13837.
OB. Sutcliffe, RE. Mewis, EK. Kemsley, DC. Williamson (2022). 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine quantification via benchtop 1H qNMR spectroscopy: method validation and its application to ecstasy tablets collected at music festivals. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 221, pp.115042-115042.
G. Naredo-Gonzalez, R. Upreti, MA. Jansen, S. Semple, OB. Sutcliffe, et al. I. Marshall, BR. Walker, R. Andrew. (2022). Non-invasive in vivo assessment of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity by 19F-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Scientific Reports. 12(1), pp.16268-16268.
N. Gilbert, A. Costello, JR. Ellison, U. Khan, M. Knight, et al. MJ. Linnell, R. Ralphs, RE. Mewis, OB. Sutcliffe. (2021). Synthesis, characterisation, detection and quantification of a novel hexyl-substituted synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist: (S)-N-(1-amino-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-hexyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (ADB-HINACA). Forensic Chemistry. 26, pp.100354-100354.
L. McNeill, D. Megson, PE. Linton, J. Norrey, L. Bradley, et al. OB. Sutcliffe, KJ. Shaw. (2021). Lab-on-a-Chip approaches for the detection of controlled drugs, including new psychoactive substances: A systematic review. Forensic Chemistry. 26, pp.100370-100370.
TBR. Robertson, N. Gilbert, OB. Sutcliffe, RE. Mewis (2021). Hyperpolarisation of Mirfentanil by SABRE in the Presence of Heroin. ChemPhysChem. 22(11), pp.1059-1064.
N. Gilbert, RE. Mewis, OB. Sutcliffe (2021). Fast & Fluorinated – Development and validation of a rapid benchtop NMR approach and other routine screening methods for the detection and quantification of synthesised fluorofentanyl derivatives. Forensic Chemistry. 23, pp.100321-100321.
MC. Hulme, A. Hayatbakhsh, RM. Brignall, N. Gilbert, A. Costello, et al. CJ. Schofield, DC. Williamson, EK. Kemsley, OB. Sutcliffe, RE. Mewis. (2021). Detection, discrimination and quantification of amphetamine, cathinone and nor-ephedrine regioisomers using benchtop 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy. Magnetic Resonance in Chemistry (MRC). 61(2), pp.73-82.
LH. Antonides, A. Cannaert, C. Norman, N. Nic Daeid, OB. Sutcliffe, et al. CP. Stove, C. McKenzie. (2021). Shape Matters: The Application of Activity‐Based In Vitro Bioassays and Chiral Profiling to the Pharmacological Evaluation of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists in Drug‐Infused Papers Seized in Prisons. Drug Testing and Analysis. 13(3), pp.628-643.
L. McNeill, C. Pearson, D. Megson, J. Norrey, D. Watson, et al. D. Ashworth, PE. Linton, OB. Sutcliffe, KJ. Shaw. (2021). Origami Chips: development and validation of a paper-based Lab-on-a-Chip device for the rapid and cost-effective detection of 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) and its metabolite, 4-methylephedrine in urine. Forensic Chemistry. 22, pp.100293-100293.
C. Norman, G. Walker, B. McKirdy, C. McDonald, D. Fletcher, et al. LH. Antonides, OB. Sutcliffe, N. Nic Daéid, C. McKenzie. (2020). Detection and quantitation of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in infused papers from prisons in a constantly evolving illicit market. Drug Testing and Analysis. 12(4), pp.538-554.
HM. Elbardisy, CW. Foster, J. Marron, RE. Mewis, OB. Sutcliffe, et al. TS. Belal, W. Talaat, HG. Daabees, CE. Banks. (2019). Quick Test for Determination of N-Bombs (Phenethylamine Derivatives, NBOMe) Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography: A Comparison between Photodiode Array and Amperometric Detection. ACS Omega. 4(11), pp.14439-14450.
H. Muhamadali, A. Watt, Y. Xu, M. Chisanga, A. Subaihi, et al. C. Jones, DI. Ellis, OB. Sutcliffe, R. Goodacre. (2019). Rapid Detection and Quantification of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) Using Raman Spectroscopy and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering. Frontiers in Chemistry. 7,
HM. Elbardisy, CW. Foster, L. Cumba, LH. Antonides, N. Gilbert, et al. CJ. Schofield, TS. Belal, W. Talaat, OB. Sutcliffe, HG. Daabees, CE. Banks. (2019). Analytical determination of heroin, fentanyl and fentalogues using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array and amperometric detection. Analytical Methods. 11(8), pp.1053-1063.
HM. Elbardisy, A. Garcia-Miranda Ferrari, CW. Foster, OB. Sutcliffe, DAC. Brownson, et al. TS. Belal, W. Talaat, HG. Daabees, CE. Banks. (2019). Forensic Electrochemistry: The Electroanalytical Sensing of Mephedrone Metabolites. ACS Omega. 4(1), pp.1947-1954.
BO. Boateng, M. Fever, D. Edwards, P. Petersson, MR. Euerby, et al. OB. Sutcliffe. (2018). Chromatographic retention behaviour, modelling and optimization of a UHPLC-UV separation of the regioisomers of the Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS) methoxphenidine (MXP). Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 153, pp.238-247.
JW. Lowdon, SMO. Alkirkit, RE. Mewis, D. Fulton, CE. Banks, et al. OB. Sutcliffe, M. Peeters. (2018). Engineering molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the selective extraction and quantification of the novel psychoactive substance (NPS) methoxphenidine and its regioisomers. Analyst. 143, pp.2002-2007.
C. McKenzie, OB. Sutcliffe, KD. Read, P. Scullion, O. Epemolu, et al. D. Fletcher, A. Helander, O. Beck, A. Rylski, LH. Antonides, J. Riley, SA. Smith, N. Nic Daeid. (2018). Chemical synthesis, characterisation and in vitro and in vivo metabolism of the synthetic opioid MT-45 and its newly identified fluorinated analogue 2F-MT-45 with metabolite confirmation in urine samples from known drug users. Forensic Toxicology. 36(2), pp.359-374.
NG. Anthony, J. Baiget, G. Berretta, M. Boyd, D. Breen, et al. J. Edwards, C. Gamble, AI. Gray, AL. Harvey, S. Hatziieremia, KH. Ho, JK. Huggan, S. Lang, S. Llona-Minguez, JL. Luo, K. McIntosh, A. Paul, RJ. Plevin, MN. Robertson, R. Scott, CJ. Suckling, OB. Sutcliffe, LC. Young, SP. Mackay. (2017). Inhibitory Kappa B Kinase α (IKKα) Inhibitors That Recapitulate Their Selectivity in Cells against Isoform-Related Biomarkers. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 60(16), pp.7043-7066.
R. Solà, OB. Sutcliffe, CE. Banks, B. Maciá (2017). Ball mill and microwave assisted synthetic routes to Fluoxetine. Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 5, pp.14-21.
OIG. Khreit, HM. Grant, C. Henderson, DG. Watson, OB. Sutcliffe (2016). Identification of Novel Metabolic Pathways of Sitagliptin (STG) by LC/MS and LC/MS2 after Incubations with Rat Hepatocytes. Journal of Drug Metabolism & Toxicology. 7(4),
PM. Geyer, MC. Hulme, JPB. Irving, PD. Thompson, RN. Ashton, et al. RJ. Lee, L. Johnson, J. Marron, CE. Banks, OB. Sutcliffe. (2016). Guilty by dissociation—development of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and other rapid screening methods for the analysis of 13 diphenidine-derived new psychoactive substances (NPSs). Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 408(29), pp.8467-8481.
JO. Igoli, G. Blackburn, AI. Gray, OB. Sutcliffe, DG. Watson, et al. MR. Euerby, GG. Skellern. (2015). Chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis of the components present in the phenanthridinium trypanocidal agent isometamidium. Anal Bioanal Chem. 407(4), pp.1171-1180.
LE. Connor, A. Delori, IB. Hutchison, N. Nic Daeid, OB. Sutcliffe, et al. IDH. Oswald. (2015). The ecstasy and the agony; compression studies of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Acta Crystallogr B Struct Sci Cryst Eng Mater. 71(Pt 1), pp.3-9.
OB. Sutcliffe, GG. Skellern, F. Araya, A. Cannavan, JJ. Sasanya, et al. B. Dungu, F. van Gool, S. Münstermann, RC. Mattioli. (2014). Animal trypanosomosis: making quality control of trypanocidal drugs possible. Rev Sci Tech. 33(3), pp.813-830.
JP. Smith, CW. Foster, JP. Metters, OB. Sutcliffe, CE. Banks (2014). Metallic Impurities in Graphene Screen‐Printed Electrodes Can Influence Their Electrochemical Properties. Electroanalysis. 26(11), pp.2429-2433.
JP. Smith, JP. Metters, OIG. Khreit, OB. Sutcliffe, CE. Banks (2014). Forensic electrochemistry applied to the sensing of new psychoactive substances: electroanalytical sensing of synthetic cathinones and analytical validation in the quantification of seized street samples. Anal Chem. 86(19), pp.9985-9992.
EY. Santali, D. Edwards, OB. Sutcliffe, S. Bailes, MR. Euerby, et al. DG. Watson. (2014). A Comparison of Silica C and Silica Gel in HILIC Mode: The Effect of Stationary Phase Surface Area. Chromatographia. 77(13-14), pp.873-881.
MG. Apps, BW. Johnson, OB. Sutcliffe, SD. Brown, NJ. Wheate (2014). Amide coupling reaction for the synthesis of bispyridine-based ligands and their complexation to platinum as dinuclear anticancer agents. J Vis Exp.
N. Nic Daeid, KA. Savage, D. Ramsay, C. Holland, OB. Sutcliffe (2014). Development of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and other rapid screening methods for the analysis of 16 'legal high' cathinone derivatives. Science and Justice. 54(1), pp.22-31.
JP. Smith, JP. Metters, C. Irving, OB. Sutcliffe, CE. Banks (2014). Forensic electrochemistry: the electroanalytical sensing of synthetic cathinone-derivatives and their accompanying adulterants in "legal high" products. Analyst. 139(2), pp.389-400.
. Satthaphut, . Sutcliffe, . Oswaldiain (2014). Putting the squeeze on mephedrone hydrogen sulfate. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie – Crystalline Materials. 229(2), pp.101-111.
A. Delori, P. Maclure, RM. Bhardwaj, A. Johnston, AJ. Florence, et al. OB. Sutcliffe, IDH. Oswald. (2014). Drug solid solutions – a method for tuning phase transformations. CrystEngComm. 16(26), pp.5827-5831.
JP. Smith, JP. Metters, DK. Kampouris, C. Lledo-Fernandez, OB. Sutcliffe, et al. CE. Banks. (2013). Forensic electrochemistry: the electroanalytical sensing of Rohypnol® (flunitrazepam) using screen-printed graphite electrodes without recourse for electrode or sample pre-treatment. Analyst. 138(20), pp.6185-6191.
G. Naredo-Gonzalez, M. Jansen, R. Upreti, S. Semple, G. Merrifield, et al. O. Sutcliffe, M. Hansen, I. Marshall, R. Andrew, B. Walker. (2013). 19F-magnetic resonance spectroscopy as a tool to quantify 11[beta]-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in vivo. Endocrine Abstracts. pp.1-1.
OIG. Khreit, MH. Grant, T. Zhang, C. Henderson, DG. Watson, et al. OB. Sutcliffe. (2013). Elucidation of the Phase I and Phase II metabolic pathways of (±)-4'-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) and (±)-4'-(trifluoromethyl)methcathinone (4-TFMMC) in rat liver hepatocytes using LC-MS and LC-MS². J Pharm Biomed Anal. 72, pp.177-185.
N. Nic Daeid, KA. Savage, D. Ramsay, C. Holland, OB. Sutcliffe (2013). Development of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and other rapid screening methods for the analysis of 16 'legal high' cathinone derivatives. Science and Justice.
MN. Abualhasan, N. Batrawi, OB. Sutcliffe, AN. Zaid (2012). A validated stability-indicating HPLC method for routine analysis of an injectable lincomycin and spectinomycin formulation. Scientia Pharmaceutica. 80(4), pp.977-986.
S. Bawazeer, OB. Sutcliffe, MR. Euerby, S. Bawazeer, DG. Watson (2012). A comparison of the chromatographic properties of silica gel and silicon hydride modified silica gels. J Chromatogr A. 1263, pp.61-67.
N. NicDaéid, W. Meier-Augenstein, HF. Kemp, OB. Sutcliffe (2012). Using isotopic fractionation to link precursor to product in the synthesis of (±)-mephedrone: a new tool for combating "legal high" drugs. Anal Chem. 84(20), pp.8691-8696.
SD. Brown, KD. Trotter, OB. Sutcliffe, JA. Plumb, B. Waddell, et al. NEB. Briggs, NJ. Wheate. (2012). Combining aspects of the platinum anticancer drugs picoplatin and BBR3464 to synthesize a new family of sterically hindered dinuclear complexes; their synthesis, binding kinetics and cytotoxicity. Dalton Trans. 41(37), pp.11330-11339.
MN. Abualhasan, JAD. Good, K. Wittayanarakul, NG. Anthony, G. Berretta, et al. O. Rath, F. Kozielski, OB. Sutcliffe, SP. Mackay. (2012). Doing the methylene shuffle--further insights into the inhibition of mitotic kinesin Eg5 with S-trityl L-cysteine. Eur J Med Chem. 54, pp.483-498.
OIG. Khreit, C. Irving, E. Schmidt, JA. Parkinson, N. Nic Daeid, et al. OB. Sutcliffe. (2012). Synthesis, full chemical characterisation and development of validated methods for the quantification of the components found in the evolved "legal high" NRG-2. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 61, pp.122-135.
F. Wang, JAD. Good, O. Rath, HYK. Kaan, OB. Sutcliffe, et al. SP. Mackay, F. Kozielski. (2012). Triphenylbutanamines: kinesin spindle protein inhibitors with in vivo antitumor activity. J Med Chem. 55(4), pp.1511-1525.
LWL. Woo, D. Ganeshapillai, MP. Thomas, OB. Sutcliffe, B. Malini, et al. MF. Mahon, A. Purohit, BVL. Potter. (2011). Structure-activity relationship for the first-in-class clinical steroid sulfatase inhibitor Irosustat (STX64, BN83495). ChemMedChem. 6(11), pp.2019-2034.
EY. Santali, A-K. Cadogan, NN. Daeid, KA. Savage, OB. Sutcliffe (2011). Synthesis, full chemical characterisation and development of validated methods for the quantification of (±)-4'-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone): a new "legal high". J Pharm Biomed Anal. 56(2), pp.246-255.
GJ. Kirkpatrick, JA. Plumb, OB. Sutcliffe, DJ. Flint, NJ. Wheate (2011). Evaluation of anionic half generation 3.5-6.5 poly(amidoamine) dendrimers as delivery vehicles for the active component of the anticancer drug cisplatin. J Inorg Biochem. 105(9), pp.1115-1122.
RL. Clark, BF. Johnston, SP. Mackay, CJ. Breslin, MN. Robertson, et al. OB. Sutcliffe, MJ. Dufton, AL. Harvey. (2010). The drug discovery portal: a computational platform for identifying drug leads from academia. Curr Pharm Des. 16(15), pp.1697-1702.
NJ. Wheate, N. Patel, OB. Sutcliffe (2010). Microwave synthesis of cucurbit[n]urils. Future Med Chem. 2(2), pp.231-236.
C. Bubert, LWL. Woo, OB. Sutcliffe, MF. Mahon, SK. Chander, et al. A. Purohit, MJ. Reed, BVL. Potter. (2008). Synthesis of aromatase inhibitors and dual aromatase steroid sulfatase inhibitors by linking an arylsulfamate motif to 4-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ylamino)benzonitrile: SAR, crystal structures, in vitro and in vivo activities. ChemMedChem. 3(11), pp.1708-1730.
PA. Foster, SK. Chander, SP. Newman, LWL. Woo, OB. Sutcliffe, et al. C. Bubert, D. Zhou, S. Chen, BVL. Potter, MJ. Reed, A. Purohit. (2008). A new therapeutic strategy against hormone-dependent breast cancer: the preclinical development of a dual aromatase and sulfatase inhibitor. Clin Cancer Res. 14(20), pp.6469-6477.
LWL. Woo, C. Bubert, OB. Sutcliffe, A. Smith, SK. Chander, et al. MF. Mahon, A. Purohit, MJ. Reed, BVL. Potter. (2007). Dual aromatase-steroid sulfatase inhibitors. J Med Chem. 50(15), pp.3540-3560.
MD. Lloyd, N. Thiyagarajan, YT. Ho, LWL. Woo, OB. Sutcliffe, et al. A. Purohit, MJ. Reed, KR. Acharya, BVL. Potter. (2005). First crystal structures of human carbonic anhydrase II in complex with dual aromatase-steroid sulfatase inhibitors. Biochemistry. 44(18), pp.6858-6866.
OB. Sutcliffe, MR. Bryce (2003). Planar chiral 2-ferrocenyloxazolines and 1,1′-bis(oxazolinyl)ferrocenes—syntheses and applications in asymmetric catalysis. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry. 14(16), pp.2297-2325.
LWL. Woo, OB. Sutcliffe, C. Bubert, A. Grasso, SK. Chander, et al. A. Purohit, MJ. Reed, BVL. Potter. (2003). First dual aromatase-steroid sulfatase inhibitors. J Med Chem. 46(15), pp.3193-3196.
OB. Sutcliffe, MR. Bryce, AS. Batsanov (2002). Synthesis of novel chiral bis(ferrocenyl) ligands and their use as voltammetric metal cation sensors. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 656(1-2), pp.211-216.
OB. Sutcliffe, A. Chesney, MR. Bryce (2001). Voltammetric metal cation sensors based on ferrocene derivatives with oxazoline and imine substituents. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry. 637-639, pp.134-138.
OB. Sutcliffe, RC. Storr, TL. Gilchrist, P. Rafferty (2001). Azafulvenium methides: new extended dipolar systems. Journal of the Chemical Society, Perkin Transactions 1. 15(15), pp.1795-1806.
OB. Sutcliffe, RC. Storr, TL. Gilchrist, P. Rafferty (2000). Cycloadditions to Pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazoles and Pyrazolo[1,5-c]thiazoles. Tetrahedron. 56(51), pp.10011-10021.
OB. Sutcliffe, RC. Storr, TL. Gilchrist, P. Rafferty, APA. Crew (2000). Azafulvenium methides: new extended dipolar systems. Chemical Communications. pp.675-676.