Meet Edward Sisco

“Remember that behind every sample number is a human.” That reminder from one of Edward’s collaborators captures the purpose of his research: providing timely chemical information about the illicit drug supply to public health, public safety, and policy partners.

His team develops analytical technologies and data tools to determine which substances are circulating, at what concentrations, where they originated, and where they may appear next.

“The illicit drug landscape, especially in North America, is evolving so rapidly that it is difficult for forensic science laboratories and other traditional data-gathering organizations to keep up,” he says. By combining several analytical approaches, Edward’s team can now deliver information to partners within hours rather than weeks or months. That speed gives decision-makers an opportunity to act proactively while accounting for the complexity of today’s drug supply.

Point-of-need measurement and next-generation chemometrics will, Edward predicts, strongly influence analytical science over the coming decade. Miniaturized instruments could bring robust chemical measurements into healthcare, food safety, and environmental monitoring, while objective data analysis could extract much more than a compound’s identity. In forensic drug analysis, the same measurement might reveal how a substance was synthesized, whether samples share a batch or trafficking route, and their relative potential for harm.

“The never-ending push to do more with less” is the field’s most immediate obstacle, Edward says. Reduced staffing, tighter budgets, rising costs, and administrative demands consume what he considers research’s most valuable resource: time. “Finding the time to slow down and think through problems, iterate on possible solutions, and have deep and meaningful discussions with colleagues is regularly derailed by the need to answer emails, publish the next paper, or attend the pre-meeting for the meeting.”

Collaborating with public health and harm-reduction professionals has transformed Edward’s understanding of analytical science. His team’s measurements inform conversations about what an individual may be consuming, the associated risks, and ways to stay safe, while also helping emergency physicians respond to circulating substances.