The shortlisted candidates for the Times Higher Education Awards 2010, unveiled today, include the CHE spin-off Intelligent Fingerprinting, headed by Professor David Russell.

Founded in 2009, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a developer of high sensitivity reagents, specialising in the simultaneous determination of personal identity and illicit drug use from fingerprints.Founded by Prof. David Russell of the University of East Anglia (UEA) and in collaboration with researchers at Kings College, London, Intelligent Fingerprinting is developing world leading detection reagent technologies which will assist in the identification of suspects in serious crimes and illicit drug users. Proprietary magnetic resins and highly selective antibodies form the basis of the company’s technology detecting specific metabolites secreted in sweat.The company is based in premises at UEA and is closely associated with the UEA’s School of Chemistry. The company has published a number of important papers in high impact journals describing its technology. The technology offers the ability to simultaneously detect both an individual’s identity and their chemical information, for example from smoking, drug taking or substance handling, simply by taking a fingerprint. It is shortlisted in the Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and Technology category.In a milestone agreement phased in 2 tranches Intelligent Fingerprinting has secured investment of £220,000 from the ICENI seedcorn fund for the development of its simultaneous detection technology for personal identity and illicit substance abuse. Times Higher Education awards website.