Best practice recommendations for the establishment of a national DNA identification program for missing persons: A global perspective

Abstract

I was awarded a 2015 Churchill Fellowship to visit international laboratories which have specialisation in the DNA identification of unidentified human remains (UHR), applied new technologies to DNA identification casework including the massively parallel sequencing (MPS) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and forensic DNA phenotyping markers, and established successful DNA-led identification programs for missing persons (MP) casework or disaster victim identification. The goal of the Fellowship was to improve the DNA profiling outcomes for the 500+ cases of UHR in Australia, explore new technologies or DNA markers which could aid the identification effort in the absence of other investigative leads, and devise recommendations for the establishment of a DNA identification program for the 2000+ long-term MP in Australia. Despite DNA being used worldwide to successfully identify large numbers of MP resulting from armed conflicts, human rights abuses and natural or man-made disasters, the cost, labour and success rate of using DNA for routinely identifying compromised UHR has historically been prohibitive for many countries, resulting in current backlogs of identification casework. The introduction of a nationally coordinated DNA testing program, and adoption of DNA technological advancements, will facilitate the effective and efficient identification of a country’s unknown and missing citizens thus bringing closure to potentially large numbers of missing person and criminal cold cases. I will translate key Fellowship findings into practical recommendations for the establishment of a national DNA identification program based on international best practice that will be applicable for any country considering implementing a DNA-led MP program.