U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 How it got there: associating individual DNA profiles with specific body fluids in mixtures using targeted digital gene expression and RNA-SNP identification
Award Information
Awardee
              University of Central Florida
Award #
              2014-DN-BX-K019
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Orlando, FL
Awardee County
              Orange
Congressional District
              7
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2014
Total funding (to date)
              $436,457
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 14 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2014, $436,457)
As submitted by the proposer: 
     The recovery of a DNA profile from biological evidence does not reveal the circumstances by which biological material was transferred. A determination of the tissue or body fluid origin of this material would provide some indication of the activity preceding the deposition of the DNA profile. Traditional biochemical methods do not exist for the identification of all forensically relevant biological fluids and tissues. Currently mRNA profiling is the only available fully validated molecular based method for comprehensive body fluid identification. Even with this approach, it is not possible to associate the component DNA profiles with specific body fluids, a requirement in order to obtain objective 'activity level' information in criminal investigations. Therefore, this project seeks to improve upon mRNA profiling-based body fluid identification by the development of a targeted multiplexed next generation RNA-sequencing system capable of providing a definitive link between a DNA profile and a particular fluid or tissue type, a novel piece of probative information that cannot be obtained using any other body fluid identification method (e.g. CE or qPCR analysis, epigenetics, proteomics).

     We will design a highly multiplexed 78-marker panel that will include the analysis of numerous gene targets for each fluid or tissue. The primer sets will be designed so that, in addition to digital gene expression data, genotype data from coding region SNPs (or RNA-SNPs) within each mRNA target will be obtained simultaneously. The inclusion of -70 polymorphic RNA-SNPs should result in a high probability of discrimination between two random individuals, thus establishing a direct and definitive link between a DNA profile and a particular fluid or tissue in admixed samples. After initial validation of the developed assay, it will be transferred to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) crime laboratory who will perform a full casework evaluation and validation, including blind testing, to further test the accuracy and reliability of the assay.

     The project team (UCF, AZDPS and lllumina Corporation) represents an ideal opportunity to support the forensic community through the collaborative effort of the forensic research, casework and industry sectors. We envision the possibility that the results of this study could form the basis of a commercial product that would facilitate the transfer of the body fluid identification methods to casework laboratories. The results of this study will be presented to the forensic community through comprehensive technical reports, peer-reviewed articles and presentations at domestic and international scientific conferences. 
ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Targeted S5 RNA sequencing assay for the identification and direct association of common body fluids with DNA donors in mixtures
                  Assigning forensic body fluids to donors in mixed body fluids by targeted RNA/DNA deep sequencing of coding region SNPs
                  mRNA MPS tissue identification assay to aid in the investigation of traumatic injuries
                  Assigning forensic body fluids to DNA donors in mixed samples by targeted RNA/DNA deep seqeuncing of coding region SNPs using ion torrent technology
                  How It Got There: Associating Individual DNA Profiles with Specific Body Fluids in Mixtures Using Targeted Digital Gene Expression and RNA-SNP Identification
                  Predicting the Origin of Stains From Next Generation Sequencing mRNA Data
                  Body Fluid Identification Using a Targeted mRNA Massively Parallel Sequencing Approach - Results of a EUROFORGEN/EDNAP Collaborative Exercise
                  Messenger RNA Biomarker Signatures for Forensic Body Fluid Identification Revealed by Targeted RNA Sequencing
                  Human Organ Tissue Identification by Targeted RNA Deep Sequencing to Aid the Investigation of Traumatic Injury
                  Targeted Multiplexed Next Generation RNA Sequencing Assay for Tissue Source Determination of Forensic Samples

  
Date Created: September 3, 2014
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      The Low-Down on Methamphetamine Isomers: Prevalence and Pharmacology in Humans
                  Evaluation of Target Enrichment for SNP Genotyping of Skeletal Remains
                  Optimizing Analytical Parameters for Detection of Chronic and Single Dose Drug Exposure in Forensic Hair Analysis
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov