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2019 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program - Competitive

Award Information

Award #
2019-CD-BX-0073
Funding Category
Competitive Discretionary
Location
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2019
Total funding (to date)
$101,430

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2019, $101,430)

The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (NYC OCME) is the largest medical examiner’s office in the country. The agency relies on highly trained personnel from numerous internal departments to provide forensic information relevant to the determination of cause and manner of death, as well as decedent identification. Forensic excellence at the NYC OCME needs to be sustained by three pillars: 1) maintaining gold standard laboratory accreditations from programs such as the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB); 2) maintaining staff professional certifications through continuing education activities; and 3) providing training through the Visiting Scientist Program (VSP). To support the three pillars of forensic excellence at the NYC OCME, Coverdell funding is requested for the following needs: 1) maintenance of laboratory accreditations for the Forensic Anthropology and Molecular Genetics Laboratories, 2) continuing education activities for Medical Examiners, Forensic Anthropologists, Medicolegal Investigators, and Geneticists, and 3) training of external forensic anthropologists through the established VSP. Maintaining forensic excellence is essential for NYC OCME to fulfill the commitment in serving justice and the public, as well as in providing answers to families and communities during their most challenging times. CA/NCF

Date Created: September 12, 2019