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. Jason Eshleman, Trace Genetics)
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)
2:30 to 3:00 Fraud detection: Digital sequence signatures of STR electropherograms. (Simon Ford, Lexigen)
3:00 to 3:15 afternoon break (refreshments provided)
3:15 to 3:45 Run-specific limits of quantitation and detection: an alternative to minimum peak height thresholds. (Dr. Dan Krane, Biological Sciences, Wright State University)
3:45 to 4:15 Peak height related variability in peak height imbalance. (Dr. William Shields, SUNY, Syracuse)
4:15 to 4:40 Accuracy and precision of peak height/area measurements. (Dr. Thaddeus Tharpey, Mathematics and Statistics, Wright State University)
4:40 to 5:00 PM 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. (Dr. Fred Bieber, Harvard University)
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. (TBA)
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, Bieber, TBA, and Mueller)
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, with comments by Dr. Fred Bieber, Harvard 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. (Dr. 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 4:30 Scientific oversight of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. (Dr. Fred Bieber, Harvard University)
4:30 to 5:00 Scientific Advisory Committees: Virginia's model. (Dr. Dan Krane, Wright State University with comments by Drs. Fred Bieber, Harvard University and William Thompson, UC Irvine)
5:00 to 9:00 Poster session
6:00 to 7:00 dinner (provided)
7:00 to 8:00 Keynote address (TBA)
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)
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.
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
Discount hotel arrangements will be available shortly.
Questions?
Contact Carrie Rowland through e-mail or
call Forensic Bioinformatics at (937) 426-9270.
