Highlighting Significant NIJ Forensic Science Investments: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Site Visit

• NCJ Number: 308573
• Date Published: February 2024
• Grant Number(s): 15PNIJ-23-GG-04205-RESS; 15PNIJ-23-GG-04226-SLFO; 15PNIJ-23-GG-04224-RESS
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Award: Impact of Relic DNA on Forensic Microbiome Applications in Criminal Investigations; Evaluating the reliability and accuracy of multiple geophysical methods in the search for clandestine graves; Evaluation of Target Enrichment for SNP Genotyping of Skeletal Remains

Annotation

This brief article lays out background on research at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, funded by the National Institute of Justice; the University of Tennessee panel discussion and Forensic Anthropology Center tour; the FAC’s skeletal collection in the Department of Anthropology; and summarizes NIJ forensic research investment since 2006.

Abstract

This article describes a panel discussion at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, that featured a delegation from the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ); the panel discussed significant forensic science advances that have been supported by past NIJ funding and announced three new grants. Those grants were designed to do the following tasks: analyze possible DNA inhibitors to strengthen microbiome studies for more precise estimates of time since death; develop comprehensive geophysical methods to find hidden graves; and to evaluate methods that improve the genetic genotyping of bone material in unidentified human remains or missing persons cases. NIJ’s 2023, $17.9 investment in competitive grant funding to support forensic science research and development projects covers relevant disciplines, including forensic biology, forensic anthropology, forensic pathology, seized drug analysis, toxicology, pattern evidence, trace evidence, and more. The investment aligns with the work of the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), which is the only publicly available national database of unidentified persons. The article lays out background on NIJ-funded research, the University of Tennessee panel discussion and Forensic Anthropology Center (FAC) tour, the FAC’s skeletal collection in the Department of Anthropology, and summarizes NIJ forensic research investment since 2006.