Since 1986 Chris has been active in research related to veterinary drug residue analysis and specialised in using immunochemical based screening technologies. The research has widened to include a wider range of toxic chemicals in foods and agricultural commodities such as mycotoxins, phycotoxins and plant toxins. The technologies platforms researched have also increased to include many forms of biosensor and lateral flow techniques. He has published more than 300 papers in the field of detection and control of chemical contaminants in agri-food commodities and co-ordinated one of the world's largest research project in this area (www.BioCop.org). Chris also co-ordinated another major EU research project QSAFFE  which is dealt with contaminant issues along the animal feed supply chain.

Chris led the UK government's independent review of food systems following the 2013 Horsemeat scandal.

He is currently funded on a range of grants from  BBSRC, ERSC, FP7, safefood and SFI-DEL

The ability to provide safer food for consumers by the use of state-of-the-art monitoring tools is a major research driver. The power of these tools has helped to increase food safety while reducing the need to use out of date animal based bioassays.

More recently the concept of effect based bioanalysis has emerged as an important research theme. The ability to measure effect based proteomic and metabolomic biomarkers indicating exposure (animals and humans) to toxic compounds  is a major research driver.  

Professor Elliott is also the Director of the ASSET Technology Centre. This centre of excellence was set up in 2009 with a £1.75M investment from The Department of Learning in Northern Ireland. ASSET has established multiple collaborations with technology providers across the world and recieved a furter £1M funding in 2013 along with becoming a Water's Corporation Centre of Innovation. The ability of these platforms to provide better, faster and lower cost means of early detection of contaminations across the entire food chain is one of the the driving forces of the centre. Another key research topic is that linked to the ability to detect food fraud using these emerging technologies. Many collaborations with agri-food companies have been established across the centre.

Chris is also co-ordinator of two Island of Ireland research networks (biotoxins and chemicals). The objective of the networks is to link researchers, regulators and industry to discuss the important topics pertaining to major food safety issues. Further details can be found here.

Professor Elliott is also one of the co-founding members of the International Drug Residue School (SARAF) based in Nante in France. From humble beginnings this initiative has flourished to become a recognised training centre for scientists all over the world.

Chris is currently the Director of the Institute for Global Food Safety.