BJA FY 24 Missing and Unidentified Human Remains Program

The California Department of Justice Missing Persons DNA Program (MPDP) is submitting a proposal with two components: validation and implementation of the Forenseq Kintelligence HT assay; and development of a technical training course on the forensic application of massively parallel sequencing. The first goal of this proposal is to use this funding to purchase equipment and consumables for the validation and implementation of a DNA typing method that will enable the MPDP to perform Single Nucleotide Polymorphism typing, followed by forensic genetic genealogy (FGG), on MPDP’s unresolved unidentified human remains homicide cases. This will be accomplished using the Forenseq Kintelligence HT assay. The second goal is to develop a technical training course on massively parallel sequencing methodology so FGG can become more broadly adopted in forensic laboratories in California and across the country. After completion of this project, the MPDP will be well positioned to use FGG to resolve other unidentified human remains cases. Upon submission of this application, the applicant’s jurisdiction has reported 1710 unresolved Unidentified Human Remains (UHR) cases and 1345 unresolved Missing Persons (MP) cases to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Funding under this program will, in part, work toward resolving a portion of the aforementioned cases by the end of the grant period.