Liverpool Bioanalytical Facility (BAF)

The Liverpool Bioanalytical Facility (BAF) is a GCP compliant laboratory located within the University of Liverpool and together with the GCP Laboratory specialises in regulated bioanalysis.

What we do 

BAF specialises in the quantitative measurement of drugs and metabolites in various biological matrices, including blood and plasma, dried blood spots (DBS), tissues, secretions (breast milk, vaginal fluid, nasal secretions, tears), and cells (PBMCs) utilising highly sensitive liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques.  

With an extensive portfolio of over 100 analytical assays (pdf, 308KB), the facility supports a broad spectrum of research and clinical studies, ranging from small Phase I first-in-man studies to large multicentre randomized clinical trials (cTIMP).

These studies are funded by prominent organisations, including the UK Medical Research Council, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Wellcome Trust, the US National Institutes of Health, UNITAID, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the pharmaceutical industry. 

Optimising drug deployment and development

While high-precision and accurate measurement of drug concentrations is central to BAF’s work, its mission extends further.

BAF is dedicated to supporting research that optimises the deployment and development of therapies for infectious diseases, including HIV (treatment and PrEP), COVID-19 (through the AGILE platform), tuberculosis, and high-consequence infections such as Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever and Mpox.

BAF utilises population pharmacokinetic modelling to identify key factors influencing drug response variability and to simulate drug exposures across diverse scenarios, aiding in the prediction of therapeutic outcomes and the optimisation of dosing regimens. 

Quality and compliance 

The facility is equipped with a dedicated quality assurance team that oversees processes to maintain the highest standards of data integrity. Additionally, the facility has a bespoke Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) tailored to manage and streamline complex analytical workflows and ensure efficient and accurate handling of data outputs.  

Our collaborations 

We collaborate with leading research institutions globally, such as the Magee-Women’s Research Institute & Foundation in the USA, the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation in South Africa, the Infectious Diseases Institute in Uganda, and the Kirby Institute in Australia. 

For more information about the facility please contact us at therex@liverpool.ac.uk.