A forensic chemist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was named one of the members of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) Task Force.
The TIAFT was created to evaluate the possible boon and bane of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into forensic toxicology.
Along with the other forensic toxicologists, PDEA chemist Nieves Manuela Barbo was included in the group’s roster as announced during the recent TIAFT General Assembly in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Barbo is a member of the PDEA Laboratory Service, the premier drug forensic center in the country which specializes in drug analysis and profiling.
“Her (Barbo) inclusion in an international pioneering scientific initiative proves that the Agency’s workforce has what it takes to be globally competent,” PDEA Director General Isagani R. Nerez said.
The TIAFT AI Task Force was commissioned to investigate the current AI applications in analyzing toxicological samples, and their potential benefits and drawbacks in terms of accuracy, efficiency, ethical concerns and skills gap.
A global organization, the TIAFT has around 1,800 members who are actively engaged in analytical toxicology from all over the world, which plays a crucial role in promoting cooperation, coordination of efforts and research in forensic toxicology.
Forensic toxicology is a multidisciplinary field that analyzes biological samples to identify and quantify drugs, alcohol, poisons and other toxic substances.