NEAFS has nominated Dr. Hall to receive an AAFS Regional Award for the upcoming AAFS Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC.

Congratulations Dr. Hall.

“The purpose of this project is to develop a method by which a DNA target that has already undergone the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be re-amplified. This will be accomplished by removal of the amplicons and PCR components allowing for sequestration of the original DNA template such that it is available for re-amplification with additional human identification chemistry. Using this technique would allow forensic DNA analysts to genotype limited or exhaustive samples multiple times with various kits/chemistries without the need for additional extraction or evidence processing. This approach would have substantial positive implications for forensic DNA identity testing because it would enable

1) the testing of both autosomal- and Y- STRs on limited sexual assault samples,

2) reamplification of evidentiary samples with mini-STRs or a modified amplification scheme (i.e. more Taq polymerase, more BSA, etc.) if it becomes apparent that the DNA was degraded/damaged or PCR inhibition occurred, and

3) the re-amplification of a limited sample after an amplification failure or for purposes of consensus profiling”

Unlike the grant received last year – which focuses on improving traditional interpretation schemes- this project aims to develop a new type of analysis method for DNA interpretation. 

“We will begin by building the procedures and a software prototype for forensic DNA applications.  If deemed useful, we can envision this analysis scheme expanding into the realms of forensic, analytical, physical and environmental chemistry.  This technique would be useful to any laboratory, technician or analyst responsible for determining the presence of an analyte within a complex, noisy matrix/background.”

The project is projected to start in Jan 2013.

Spotlight on Faculty:  Dr. Adam Hall

See Dr. Lun’s (Rutgers University) work featured in the article entitled “CSI N.J.:  Rutgers-Camden professor aims to solve one of biggest DNA evidence issues” for greater detail regarding the projects.

“One group of scientists has been looking at alternative strategies for analysing cocaine and its cutting agents. Adam Hall from Boston University School of Medicine, and colleagues Stephen Coy, Erkinjon Nazarov and Paul Vouros from Northeastern University, Boston and the University of Southern Florida, elected to try a differential mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry (DMS-MS) procedure, which they described in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.”

See the full article entitled “Mobility Differences:  Cocaine Cutting Agents Identified”

• Ms. Christina Padilla – Challenges in Evaluating Cause and Manner of Death in Palliative and End of Life Care Patients
  
• Ms. Corissa Rodgers – Further Studies Investigating Zeolites for the Recovery of Oxygenated Compounds from Fire Debris Samples
  
• Ms. Jessica Shea – Development of Streptavidin-Biotin Binding of DNA Amplicons: Methods for the Typing and Re-typing of Forensically Relevant Short Tandem Repeats
  
• Ms. Emily Kinnaman (presenting at the student forum) – Evaluating the Efficacy of Post-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Purification using Qiagen MinElute® on Low Template Samples

Check the AAFS program on www.aafs.org for dates and times.

Corissa Rodgers was the winner of the Peter DeForest Graduate Collegiate Competition Award at the 2011 NEAFS Meeting for her presentation entitled “Further Studies Investigating Zeolites for the Recovery of Oxygenated Compounds from Fire Debris Samples”