UGent - Universiteit Gent
Belgium
The section toxicology of the department of clinical biology, microbiology and immunology of Ghent University has more than 10 years of experience in the analytical toxicology and international scientific research on driving under the influence of drugs and categorisation of medicines.
UGent (Prof. Alain Verstraete, MD, PhD) was co-ordinator for the laboratories in the Belgian Toxicology and Trauma Study (BTTS), scientific consultant of State Secretary Jan Peeters for the elaboration of the law concerning driving under the influence of drugs and co-ordinator of the 4FP European project ROSITA (Roadside drug testing assessment).
Currently, UGent (Prof. Alain Verstraete, MD, PhD) is president of the Working group on alcohol, drugs, medicines and driving of DG Transport and Energy of the European Commission and co-ordinator of the European project Rosita 2, in association with the United States (NIDA, NHTSA, ONDCP).
UGent has contributed several book chapters and scientific articles on this subject and has also significantly contributed to the categorisation of medicines. UGent participated in the pioneering classification effort organised by the Belgian Road Safety Institute and the Toxicological Society of Belgium and Luxembourg, which resulted in a scientific book, a brochure for pharmacists and physicians and a brochure for the general public. UGent is a member of the working group on prescribing and dispensing guidelines for medicinal drugs affecting driving performance of the International Council on Alcohol, drugs and traffic Safety (ICADTS).
UGent is also part of the working group "Drug recognition program (DRP)", that develops a training program for police officers.
Finally, UGent is associate editor for pharmacology and toxicology for the Journal Traffic Injury Prevention and member of the expert committee for the determination of alcohol in blood in Belgium.