Forensic Fellows
Three students in the Department of Forensic Science earn Fellowships from the National Institute of Justice in the first year of the Ph.D. program.n the first year of the Ph.D. program in Forensic Science at Sam Houston State University, three students received National Institute of Justice Fellowships grants for research on room temperature preservation of DNA in cases such as mass disasters, DNA-based identification of marijuana, and designer drug identification in crime labs.<--more-->
The three doctoral students, Amy Sorensen, Rachel Houston, and Jessica Winborn received full scholarship, stipends and travel expenses – up to $50,000 annually – as part of the fellowship. The NIJ program is designed to strengthen and broaden research on emerging issues in criminal justice by allowing students to work full time on research and promote critical and innovative thinking on issues affecting criminal justice professionals.
Sorensen is conducting research with Dr. Sheree Hughes-Stamm to improve the preservation of DNA in tissues and to speed up the DNA identification process for victims following a mass disaster, such as Hurricane Katrina or the Haitian earthquake. Recovery and identification efforts are sometimes complicated by harsh environmental conditions, limited facilities, loss of electricity and refrigeration capabilities. Therefore, DNA quality often is compromised, and identification processes can take up to several months to complete.
“Given these circumstances, it is important to quickly collect DNA samples from victims for immediate preservation in order to help with later identification,” said Sorensen.
Sorensen worked with Dr. Hughes-Stamm as part of a research grant funded by National Institute of Justice, which found that human samples could be stored in chemical preservatives at room temperature for up to three months. In collaboration with colleagues from Australia, further research was conducted on human samples stored in chemical preservatives to speed up the DNA identification process. This research was recently published in the International Journal of Legal Medicine. Titled “Direct-to-PCR Tissue Preservation for DNA Profiling,” the study found that these types of DNA samples in chemical preservatives could be processed much faster by removing a time-consuming step in the DNA identification process.
Houston, who works with Dr. David Gangitano, is examining a new DNA profiling method for identifying marijuana, which will aid law enforcement in linking cases and identifying illegal growers.
“Similar to humans, individual marijuana plants contain a unique DNA profile,” said Houston. “However, there is no commercial kit available to process marijuana DNA.”
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance in the U.S. and is legal for medical use in 23 states and for recreational use in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia. As a result of legalization, law enforcement faces a unique challenge in tracking and preventing the flow of legal marijuana to states where it is still illegal.
Houston’s research focuses on developing a validated method for evaluating the DNA of marijuana using the same standards as processing human DNA. The completion of such a method will legally allow for the genetic identification of marijuana and will aid in the individualization of Cannabis samples as well as serve as an intelligence tool to link Cannabis cases, such as illegal traffic at the US-Mexico border.
The study, “Evaluation of a 13-loci STR multiplex system for Cannabis sativa genetic identification,” by Houston, Matthew Birck, Sheree Hughes-Stamm and David Gangitano, was recently published by Science and Justice and is available at http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00414-015-1296-x
Winborn, who works with Dr. Kerrigan, is developing a new test to detect desomorphine, also known as “Krokodil,” a powerful heroin alternative that gained notoriety in the media for its ability to produce severe tissue necrosis following use. The surge of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) over the past decade has made it increasingly difficult for forensic laboratories to keep pace with current use.
“In order for us to reliably interpret toxicological findings, we need to understand how the drug behaves in the human body, including how it breaks down,” said Jessica Winborn. The new study will systematically evaluate metabolism of desomorphine using human liver microsomes an identify potential analytical targets or “markers” to identify its use in biological evidence.
“At SHSU we are absolutely committed to research efforts that address the current needs of the forensic science community. This type of academic-industrial partnership is critical to our mission, and to a forward-looking profession within forensic science,” said Kerrigan, Chair of the Department of Forensic Science. Kerrigan is along-time advocate of forensic reform and currently serves on the Forensic Science Standards Board, the governing body of the federal government’s effort to enforce consensus standards within all of the forensic disciplines.