Forensic Bioinformatics
4th Annual Conference
The Science of DNA Profiling:
A National Expert Forum

August 12 - 14, 2005

University of Dayton School of Law
Dayton, OH

Schedule


Friday, August 12th

8:15 - 8:50 am : Registration (Coffee and pastries)

8:50 - 8:55 : Welcome (Lori Shaw, Dean of the University of Dayton School of Law)

8:55 - 9:00 : Welcome (Dr. Dan Krane, Wright State University/FBS)


Session Ia - Introduction to DNA testing and interpretation (Simon Ford, chair) - Parallel Session

9:00 - 10:45 : Simon Ford and Mark Windham will provide an introductory session covering the basics of DNA testing and interpretation for those who are new to the subject.


Session Ib - Typing methodologies (Marc Taylor, chair) - Parallel Session

9:00 - 9:20 : Timeline for DNA analysis (Marc Taylor, Technical Associates, Inc.)

9:20 - 9:50 : Evidence collection / Selection for DNA testing (Keith Inman, Forensic Analytical)

9:50 - 10:00 : Extraction techniques (Marc Taylor, Technical Associates, Inc.)

10:00 - 10:30 : Y-STR typing (Marc Taylor, Technical Associates, Inc.)

10:30 - 10:50 : Was the Shawnee war chief Blue Jacket a caucasian? (Carrie Rowland, Forensic Bioinformatics)

10:50 - 11:00 : Break


Session I continued - joint session for remainder

11:00 - 12:00 : Lab mistakes and the Houston police department (Elizabeth Johnson)

12:00 - 1:15 : Lunch (provided)



Session II - Making DNA profiling objective/scientific (Dan Krane, chair)

1:15 - 2:00 : Objective characterization by automation (Jason Gilder, Forensic Bioinformatics)

2:00 - 2:15 : Background noise in STR testing (Travis Doom, Wright State University/FBS)

2:15 - 2:30 : Variability in peak height imbalance (William Shields, SUNY-Syracuse)

2:30 - 3:00 : Provable mixture deconvolution (Michael Raymer, Wright State University/FBS)

3:00 - 3:30 : Assessing the implications for close relatives in the event of similar but non-matching DNA profiles (Dan Krane, Travis Doom, and Mike Raymer, Wright State University/FBS)

3:30 - 3:50 : Break

3:50 - 4:45 : Effective net size and search criteria in database trawls (Larry Mueller and Keith Inman)

Friday night : Dayton Dragons game



Saturday, August 13th

Session III - Cold hit statistics (William Sheilds, chair)

8:30 - 8:50 : US v Jenkins (Ed Ungvarsky, Washington DC Public Defender)

8:50 - 9:40 : Avoiding ascertainment bias by testing additional loci (Larry Mueller, UC Irvine)

9:40 - 10:30 : NRC II's approach, the database match probability (William Shields, SUNY-Syracuse)

10:30 - 10:40 : break

10:40 - 11:30 : A Bayseian (Donnelly and Balding) approach (Sandy Zabell, Northwestern University)

11:30 - 12:10 : The DNA Advisory Board's two number approach (Dan Krane, Wright State University)

12:10 - 12:30 : Panel discussion: Is there a generally accepted approach?

12:30 - 1:30 : Lunch (provided)



Session IV - Discovering problems with DNA testing (William Thompson, chair)

1:30 - 3:30 : VA vs. Earl Washington (William Thompson, UC Irvine)

3:30 - 3:45 : Break

3:45 - 5:00 : Fraud detection through case reviews (Simon Ford, Lexigen/FBS)



Sunday, August 14th

Session V - Difficulties in Communicating DNA to the Public: Different Perspectives (Jennifer Friedman, chair)

8:30 - 8:45 : Introduction of panel and topic for Discussion

8:45 - 9:15 : From a prosecutor's point of view (William Schenk, Greene County Prosecutor)

9:15 - 9:45 : From a defense attorney's point of view (Ed Ungvarsky, Washington DC Public Defender)

9:45 - 10:15 : From an expert witness' point of view (Keith Inman, Forensic Analytical)

10:15 - 10:30 : Break

10:30 - 11:00 : From the media's point of view (Richard Willing, USA Today)

11:00 - 12:00 : Open discussion

12:00 - Adjourn

About the Conference
The fourth annual forum of DNA profiling experts will be presented jointly by the University of Dayton School of Law, Wright State University and Forensic Bioinformatics, Inc., at the University of Dayton School of Law in Dayton, Ohio. The conference is primarily intended to be an opportunity for experts and attorneys familiar with forensic DNA profiling to exchange information and insights. Less experienced attorneys learn what issues may be important to criminal cases they are litigating as well as to determine which resources and experts are best suited to assist them. There are no admission restrictions.

Over a period of three days, the seminar will cover subjects germane to forensic DNA including: evidence collection, quality assurance, validation of laboratory procedures, transfer, identification, technical artifacts and error, juror comprehension, expert witness selection and due diligence. Course materials consisting of speaker presentations and supporting references such as key literature, legal documents and web sites will be provided to each participant in electronic format at the beginning of the seminar. Written course evaluations will be solicited from all participants.

Location
The conference will be held at University of Dayton Law School in Dayton, OH. The link contains directions and information on local hotels.

Visit this link to get a map of the campus. The law school is located in Joseph E. Keller Hall (number 20 on the map).

CLE Credit
CLE accreditation is pending for all forty states that offer CLE credit.

Registration

Prior to July 22: $295

After July 22: $425

Note: There is a 20% discount for groups of four or more.

Academic Scholarships are available.

Download the registration form here.

Note: You must pre-register for the conference regardless of when you will be paying. Please register as soon as possible.

Travel Arrangements
All-World Travel is offering discounted airfare through Delta airlines.

1) Book on-line
You can purchase your airline tickets on-line at all-world.com. Please mention the "Forensic Bioinformatics DNA conference" in the comments box.

2) Full-service agent
To speak to a live agent, please call (800) 592-9998. Please mention the "Forensic Bioinformatics DNA conference".

Hotel

The Doubletree is offering standard rooms for $82 a night and suites for $102 a night. Call (937) 461-4700 and mention the "Forensic Bioinformatics DNA Meeting" to reserve a room.

On-line reservations can be made here.

A free shuttle is available to and from the airport until 11pm.

Transportation will also be provided to and from the conference.

Directions
Visit this link to get a map of the campus. The law school is located in Joseph E. Keller Hall (number 20 on the map).

Questions?
Contact Carrie Rowland through e-mail or call Forensic Bioinformatics at (937) 426-9270.

Last modified: 03/12/10