YS Committee

Chairman
Dr. Frank Theodor Peters, Homburg/Saar, Germany
(frank.peters@uks.eu)

Secretary
Denise Anne McKeown, London, UK
(dmckeown@sgul.ac.uk)

Web editor
Tine Dewaele, Ghent, Belgium
(tineh.dewaele@ugent.be)

Mailing list coordinator
Asma Djabri, Bath, UK
(a.djabri@bath.ac.uk)

Committee members

Catherine Wilkinson, Perth, Australia (wilkic01@student.uwa.edu.au)

Dr. Reinier Van Hest, Rotterdam, The Netherlands (r.vanhest@erasmusmc.nl)

Christoph Sauer, Homburg/Saar, Germany (christoph.Sauer@med.uni-jena.de)

Sarah Wille, Ghent, Belgium    (Sarah.Wille@UGent.be)

Jennifer Button, London, UK     (jbutton@sgul.ac.uk)

Susannah Kenyon, London, UK   (skenyon@sgul.ac.uk)

Get to know the YS committee

Dr. Frank Theodor Peters, Chairman

I was born in Germany’s oldest city, Trier, in 1971. After finishing my studies of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe University in Frankfurt/Main, Germany and a year of practical training I obtained the licence to practice as a pharmacist in 1998. Then I started working as a research assistant, PhD student, and clinical toxicologist at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology of Saarland University in Homburg, Germany. Since finishing my PhD in 2003, I have been working in the same department as a post-doc fellow and Deputy Head of Department.
My main research interests are biotechnological synthesis of drug metabolites using heterologously expressed human cytochrome P450 enzymes expressed in fission yeast, (enantioselective) analysis of amphetamines and new designer drugs in blood samples, analysis of sedating drugs in the context of declaration of brain death, evaluation and comparison of screening procedures for systematic toxicological analysis, metabolism of drugs and poisons, and, last but no least, experimental designs and statistical procedures for analytical method validation. I am author or co-author of quite a number of peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. My first IATDMCT meeting was in Basel in 2003 and I also attended the meetings Louisville 2005 and Nice 2007. In early 2005, I had the honour and pleasure to travel to Honkong to speak at the joint meeting of HKSCC and IATDMCT. During the meeting in Louisville I was appointed chairman of the newly established IATDMCT Young Scientist. Besides IATDMCT, I am a member of TIAFT (and secretary of its already well-established Young Scientist Committee), GTFCh, and DPhG.

My hobbies are travelling with my wife, good food and drink, fighting the effects of the previous by running and basketball, trying to keep at bay the wilderness around the house, reading, and just having a good time with friends.

Denise Anne McKeown, Secretary

I was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1978. I graduated in 2002, from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, with an MSci in Forensic and Analytical Chemistry. Since December 2002, I have worked in Prof David W. Holts group, at St George’s - University of London, pursing my interest in analytical chemistry.  

I specialise in the development and validation of hyphenated chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods for the qualitative and quantitative detection of drugs, their metabolites and endogenous compounds for application in the areas of clinical (e.g. TDM of immunosuppressives and antiretrovirals, clinical trials) and forensic toxicology. I have contributed to several peer-reviewed publications and a book chapter, and wrote a section for The Encyclopaedia of Mass Spectrometry - hyphenated methods.

My interest in the society stemmed from assisting Prof Holt in organising speakers and the programme for the Basel 2003 Pre-Congress Symposium. I attended the Kentucky 2005 Congress where I presented a poster and made friends. After the establishment of the IATDMCT Young Scientist group I soon took on the role as YS secretary. The Nice 2007 was a busy congress ranging from organising YS events, presenting, chairing poster sessions and participating in a panel for assessing best TDM oral and poster presentations. Since September 2007, I have taken on the role as the Associate Editor of the IATDMCT Compass. As well as being a member of the IATDMCT, I am also a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, TIAFT and the London Toxicology Group.

I enjoy living in London, such a vibrant city with lots of history, museums and architecture to appreciate, and socialising with friends. I like to travel to new places and experience different cultures. I enjoy keeping fit and especially enjoyed my first skiing trip to the Alps which I cant wait to do again.

I hold a Master degree in Biomedical Sciences from Ghent University and a Postgraduate degree in General Management from Solvay Business School Brussels (Belgium). I got the opportunity to join the group of Prof. Dr. Alain Verstraete (Laboratory of Toxicology, Ghent University Hospital) during my thesis work and I was so excited about my project that I decided to become a doctoral researcher. Since 2005, I do research on dosing of anticancer agents for children, a project which was started on urgent request of the pediatric oncologists at Ghent University Hospital. This way, I hope to contribute in a significant way to the optimization of cancer treatment. I also tend to participate actively in activities of scientific societies, especially as a young scientist committee member of IATDMCT.
On top of my professional activities, I am active as a dancer and as a choreographer. It gives me the opportunity to express my creativity in an exclusive and high quality performance.

I was born and raised in Algeria until I was 17. I undertook an international Baccalaureate exam in year 2000 where I was ranked one of the top 60 students over the country. I then pursuit a 4-year Master Degree in Pharmacy at Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University of Bath in the United Kingdom after which I enrolled in a PhD research programme. My research interest involves exploring the feasibility of using the transdermal interstitial fluid as an alternative matrix for therapeutic drug monitoring. Part of my PhD research resulted in an EU patent application which is pending approval. My first IATDMCT meeting was in Sept 2007 in Nice (France) and I enjoyed every second of it and I made many friends!!! Now, I have joined the YS committee hoping to make a difference to the young scientists down there!!
I enjoy walking, reading, and watching TV!!

Catherine Wilkinson, Committee member

I was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia (the most isolated capital city in the world).  In 2003, I completed a BSc (Hons) in Pharmacology at the University of Western Australia.  In 2004, I commenced a MBBS also at the UWA, and soon after, in 2005, began my PhD in Pharmacology.  My thesis is regarding transfer of methadone from plasma to saliva, and exploration of the possible creation of a saliva/plasma ratio.  My research interests are clinical toxicology, substance abuse, pharmacokinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring.  I find both the laboratory and clinical challenges of my research very interesting, and I aim to be able to integrate both clinical skills from my medical training and my research skills throughout my career.

I attended my first IATDMCT meeting in Nice in 2007, and really enjoyed presenting my work to colleagues, as well as interacting with the other IATDMCT members, especially the Young Scientists.  I look forward to attending more meetings in the future. When not occupied with my studies, I like to travel (student lifestyle permitting), spend a lot of time outdoors running, cycling, kayaking and hiking; practising karate and playing the trumpet!

Dr. Reinier Van Hest, Committee member

I was born on September 6th 1977 in the city of Leiden, the Netherlands. I studied Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Utrecht. After obtaining my PharmD degree in 2003, I started to work as a PhD-student on the individualization of mycophenolate mofetil therapy in renal transplant recipients at the department of Hospital Pharmacy & Clinical Pharmacology at the Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Part of this project was rewarded with an International Young Investigator Award at the American Transplant Congress 2005. I obtained my PhD degree in January 2007. Currently, I’m in training to become a hospital pharmacist at the department of Hospital Pharmacy & Clinical Pharmacology at the Erasmus University Medical Center. Besides, I’m the deputy coordinator of the Pharmacy & Pharmacotherapy education in the clinical phase of the study of Medicine at that same institution.

My main research fields are pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics of immunosuppressant drugs used in solid organ transplant recipients and in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. The main aim of my research is to identify tools that can guide drug dosing on an individual basis for optimal outcome of therapy, using population PK/PD modelling. Furthermore, I’m interested in how to rationally apply therapeutic drug monitoring of immunosuppressant drugs and I have a general interest in clinical toxicology.
My hobbies include running, philosophy and architecture, but the thing I like to do most is cycling, including reading and watching everything that is written or broadcasted about it.

Christoph Sauer, Committee member

I was born in Halberstadt belonging to Germany’s former eastern part, in 1979. After finishing my studies of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Technical University Carolo-Wilhelmina in Braunschweig, Germany and a year of practical training both in industry and pharmacy I obtained the licence to practice as a pharmacist in January 2003. I then started working as a research assistant, PhD student, and clinical toxicologist at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology of Saarland University in Homburg, Germany. Since January 2008, I have been working at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Clinical and Forensic Toxicology, of Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany. My main research interests are the metabolism of designer drugs, their cytochrome P450 enzyme pathway and their detection in urine by GC-MS and LC-MS. At the moment I am working on LC-DAD method development for neuroleptics and benzodiazepines. I am the author or co-author of papers published in JMS, JocA and TDM. My first IATDMCT meeting I attended was in Nice 2007, where I gave an oral presentation. I also attended the TIAFT meeting in Seoul 2005 (oral presentation), the MDO congress in Budapest 2006 (poster) and the GTFCH meeting in Mosbach (Germany) in 2004 and 2007 (both oral presentations). My hobbies are everything about music, playing the piano and the guitar, I also enjoy dancing. Being in Jena, I now have a lot of opportunities to enjoy the beautiful countryside in this area and the historical and cultural variety,...and of course many opportunities to attend parties as the university is celebrating its 450th birthday this year.

Sarah Wille, Committee member

I was born in Ghent, Belgium in 1979. My parents tried to keep me away from Ghent, by moving to various places in Belgium and even going to Indonesia for 6 years. However, it was al in vain and from 1997 to 2002, I studied Pharmacy at Ghent University. Thereafter, I started working as a research assistant at the Laboratory of Toxicology (Ghent University). In the Lab of Prof. Lambert, I am working on my Ph.D. project, concerning the monitoring of new generation antidepressants in biological fluids with GC-MS. In addition, I help with routine screening of post-mortem samples for drugs (of abuse). I have already published several peer-reviewed publications and presented my work on IATDMCT and TIAFT (The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists) meetings. My first IATDMCT meeting was in Nice in 2007, and I hope more meetings will follow. Besides IATDMCT, I am a member of TIAFT and BLT (Toxicologists of Belgium and Luxembourg).
My hobbies are back-packing around the world, playing the violin and having fun with my orchestra-fellows, knitting (yes, it is becoming popular again), and singing along with the radio while driving the car (if nobody is present: their ears!!).

Jennifer Button, Committee member 

I was born in London, England in 1979. After completing college in 1997 I joined the Analytical Unit, St George’s University of London, as a trainee technician. Since then I have progressed through the ranks and now head the busy Forensic Toxicology Section. Whilst this is now my main focus, I have also been actively involved in the measurement of immunosuppresive and anti-arrhythmic drugs and the management of GLP compliant clinical drug trials. I am also deputy quality assurance officer for the Unit. I studied part time for a Degree in Biomedical Sciences, for which I achieved 1st class (Hons) in 2003. I was also awarded the Presidents prize from the Institute of Biomedical Science for outstanding achievement in the subject. Following my degree I studied for a post graduate diploma in Forensic Medical Science, which I obtained in October 2007. My first IATDMCT meeting was in Louisville in 2005 and I was lucky enough to also attend the 2007 meeting in Nice. In addition to the IATDMCT I am a member of the Forensic Science Society and London Toxicology Group and have recently joined TIAFT. Outside of work I am a practicing Christian and member of a proactive and charismatic evangelical church. I am on the focus group for redevelopment of the church and its grounds into a Christian based community centre and assist in the organisation of church and community social events. Besides this I enjoy spending time with my 2 year old daughter, Calleigh, but also increasingly savour those child free evenings out with my husband.

Susannah Kenyon, Committee member

I am a bio analyst at the Analytical Unit at St Georges University of London, working with Prof David Holt. I have a BSc in Biomedical Science and MSc in Forensic Science and I am now specialising in clinical and forensic toxicology. Through additional work with John Ramsey, I have over three years experience in the analysis of illicit and general tablets, capsules and powders. I have published and presented on drug amnesty bins, as well other analyses conducted at the Analytical Unit. My main area of work at the Unit of forensic toxicology, clinical LC/MS/MS work and ensuring the laboratory is GLP compliant.