Automated processing of sexual assault samples to enable rapid DNA analysis

自动处理性侵犯样本以实现快速 DNA 分析

• 批准号: 562031-2021
• 负责人: Wheeler, AaronAR
• 金额: $ 6.56万
• 依托单位: University of Toronto
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=748333
• 关键词: Automated; processing; sexual; assault; samples

In this NSERC Alliance proposal, The Ontario Centre for Forensic Sciences (CFS), ANDE, and the Wheeler research group at the University of Toronto have come together to explore the development of next-generation automated forensic DNA typing systems for processing sexual assault samples. We are an ideal team to pursue this project, as CFS is the largest forensic science institute in Canada and coordinates the deployment of tools for forensic analysis on the ground in the province and beyond, ANDE is the global leader in the manufacture and sales of Rapid DNA Analysis systems, which are being leveraged around the globe in use cases spanning criminal investigations, missing persons, sex crimes, border security and disaster victim identification, and the Wheeler group has a long track record in automating intricate, multi-step sample processing procedures using the two techniques envisioned for the proposal, digital microfluidics (DMF) and optoelectronic tweezers (OET). We propose to develop two new automated system that will bridge critical gaps that stand in the way of automated analysis of sexual assault samples. The first system will automate differential extraction using DMF for "typical" sexual assault samples; the second will automate an OET-driven cell sorting technique to extract small numbers of sperm cells from degraded samples (that are, today, often not testable). If successful, these systems should be operable close to the point of need (in hospitals and police stations), which, if distributed widely, would dramatically reducing the time required for analysis of sexual assaults. Thus, this project is much more than a standard "industry-academia" collaboration (of the sort that is funded by NSERC "option 1" Alliance grants). This project has the potential to result in deep and widely experienced societal impact in Canada, making it appropriate for the unique "option 2" mechanism of Alliance grants.

在这个NSERC联盟提案中，安大略法医科学中心（CFS）、ANDE和多伦多大学的惠勒研究小组共同探讨开发下一代自动法医DNA分型系统，用于处理性侵犯样本。我们是一个理想的团队来追求这个项目，因为CFS是加拿大最大的法医科学研究所，并协调在该省和其他地方部署法医分析工具，ANDE是快速DNA分析系统制造和销售的全球领导者，该系统在地球仪的使用案例中被利用，包括刑事调查，失踪人员，性犯罪，惠勒团队在使用该提案设想的两种技术（数字微流体（DMF）和光电镊子（OET））自动化复杂的多步骤样本处理程序方面拥有悠久的历史。我们建议开发两个新的自动化系统，以弥合阻碍性侵犯样本自动化分析的关键差距。第一个系统将使用DMF自动化差异提取“典型的”性侵犯样本;第二个系统将自动化OET驱动的细胞分选技术，从降解的样本中提取少量精子细胞（今天，通常无法测试）。如果成功，这些系统应该可以在需要的地方（医院和警察局）运行，如果广泛推广，将大大减少分析性攻击所需的时间。因此，这个项目远不止是一个标准的“工业-学术”合作（由NSERC“选项1”联盟赠款资助的那种）。该项目有可能在加拿大产生深刻和广泛的社会影响，使其适合联盟赠款的独特“备选方案2”机制。