Forensic Bioinformatics
5th Annual Conference
The Science of DNA Profiling:
A National Expert Forum

August 11 - 13, 2006

David H. Ponitz Conference Center
Dayton, OH

About the Conference
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.

Tentative Schedule

Friday, August 11

Session I: Mitochondrial DNA profiling
8:30 to 8:45 Opening remarks (Dr. Dan Krane, Biological Sciences, Wright State University)
8:45 to 9:45 Establishing a forensic mtDNA testing laboratory. (Dr. Mitch Holland, Forensic Science, Penn State University)
9:45 to 10:30 Critical review of mtDNA test results. (Dr. Norah Rudin)
10:30 to 10:45 morning break (refreshments provided)
10:45 to 11:00 Statistical implications of a "match" in mtDNA testing. (Dr. William Shields, SUNY, Syracuse)
11:00 to noon Reasonable safeguards against contamination in mtDNA testing. (Dr. Frederika Kaestle, Indiana University)

noon to 1:00 lunch (provided)

Session II: Objective characterization of STR testing results
1:00 to 1:40 Objective characterization of degradation/inhibition. (Keith Inman, Forensic Analytical)
1:40 to 2:00 Characteristics and tendencies of pull-up peaks. (Carrie Rowland, Forensic Bioinformatics)
2:00 to 2:30 Detection of fraud in electronic data files. (Simon Ford, Lexigen)
2:30 to 3:00 Characteristics and tendencies of spikes. (Jason Gilder, Forensic Bioinformatics)


3:00 to 3:15 afternoon break (refreshments provided)
3:15 to 4:00 Run-specific limits of quantitation and detection: an alternative to minimum peak height thresholds. (Dr. Dan Krane, Biological Sciences, Wright State University)
4:00 to 4:30 Peak height related variability in peak height imbalance. (Dr. William Shields, SUNY, Syracuse)
4:30 to 5:00 GenoStat®: A shareware tool for statistical weighting of STR profiles and mixture deconvolution. (Jason Gilder, Forensic Bioinformatics)


Saturday, August 12

Session III: DNA profile database statistics
9:00 to 9:20 NRC I's approach: test additional loci. (Dr. Larry Mueller, UC Irvine)
9:20 to 9:40 NRC II's approach: multiply the random match probability by the size of the database. (Keith Inman, Forensic Analytical)
9:40 to 10:10 The Balding and Donnelly approach: Bayesian likelihood ratios. (Dr. David Balding, Imperial College)
10:10 to 10:30 The DNA Advisory Board's approach: report both RMP and DMP. (Dr. Michael Raymer, Wright State University)
10:30 to 10:45 morning break (refreshments provided)
10:45 to 11:15 Panel discussion: What weight should be given to a DNA profile "cold hit?" (Drs. Balding, Inman, Mueller, and Raymer)
11:15 to 11:40 The birthday problem and database searches: the implications of relatives in offender databases. (Jason Gilder, Forensic Bioinformatics)
11:40 to noon Familial searches: what constitutes probable cause when a database search finds someone similar to but different from an evidence sample? (Dr. Dan Krane, Wright State University)

noon to 1:00 lunch (provided)

Session IV: Laboratory oversight and reform
1:00 to 2:00 The new paradigm in forensic science. (Dr. Michael Saks, Arizona State University)
2:00 to 3:00 Legal trends in the admissibility of forensic evidence. (Paul Giannelli, Case Law School)
3:00 to 3:15 afternoon break (refreshments provided)
3:15 to 4:00 Laboratory accreditation: Is it the solution (and to which problem)? (Dr. Norah Rudin)
4:00 to 5:00 Scientific Advisory Committees: Virginia's model. Perspectives of a local attorney: Betty Layne Desportes, Richmond VA and a committee member: Dr. Dan Krane, Wright State University

5:00 to 9:00 Social (cash bar)
6:00 to 7:00 Dinner (provided)
7:00 to 8:00 Keynote address: Responses to "the new paradigm in forensic science." (Drs. Jay Koehler and Michael Saks)


Sunday, August 13

Session V: Psychological aspects of DNA evidence
9:00 to 9:45 The Psychology of the DNA Analyst: Predictable Errors in Scientific Judgment. (Keith Inman, Forensic Analytical, and Dr. William Thompson, UC Irvine)
9:45 to 10:30 What makes forensic scientists open or closed to change? (Dr. Michael Saks, Arizona State University)
10:30 to 10:45 morning break (refereshments provided)
10:45 to 11:30 Reliably conveying the weight of DNA evidence to innumerate jurors. (Dr. David Balding, Imperial College)
11:30 to 12:30 What jurors hear when DNA experts testify. (Dr. Jay Koehler, University of Texas)
Forum adjourned (sack lunches provided)

Introductory session
There will be a separate introductory session on Friday for the attendees new to forensic DNA testing and interpretation. The tentative schedule is as follows:

9:00 to 10:00 Collection, Extraction, and the Polymerease Chain Reaction for Lawyers. (Christine Funk, Minnesota Board of Public Defense Trial Team)
10:00 to 10:30 DNA from start to finish (Dr. Mitch Holland, Forensic Science, Penn State University)
10:30 to 10:45 Break
10:45 to 12:00 Electropherograms and You: Sorting through those pages of discovery, what do they mean? (Mark Windham, LA County Public Defender and Simon Ford, Lexigen Inc.)

12:00 to 1:00 Lunch

1:00 to 3:00 Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh, my! Looking at the Software, the case file, and mixed samples (Simon Ford, Lexigen Inc.)
3:15 to 3:45 Things that can muck up a DNA profile (Christine Funk, Minnesota Board of Public Defense Trial Team)
3:45 to 4:30 Technical Artifacts: You are ready for the science now. . . (Dan Krane, Wright State University)
4:30 to 5:00 GenoStat: Join the scientists to learn about this great new tool. (Jason Gilder, Forensic Bioinformatics)

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: please send a one page curriculum vitae and a one paragraph explanation as to why you should receive a registration waiver. Deadline: July 5th.

Download the registration form here.

Directions
The conference center is located at 444 West 3rd Street. You can find the Google map HERE.

You can download a map HERE.

Parking
The conference center is within walking distance of the Doubletree hotel. If you are driving, then you can park underneath the conference center. You can find a map with directions HERE.

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 rooms for $84 a night. Call (937) 461-4700 and mention the "Forensic Bioinformatics DNA Meeting" to reserve a room.

On-line reservations will be available soon.

Free parking is available.

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

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

Last modified: 12/01/10