Discovery of biomarker signatures to accurately estimate time since death

发现生物标志物特征以准确估计死亡后的时间

• 批准号: DH-2022-00198
• 负责人: Forbes, Shari
• 金额: $ 7.19万
• 依托单位: Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Horizons
• 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=748456
• 关键词: Discovery; biomarker; signatures; accurately; estimate

Every year, between 70,000 to 80,000 people go missing in Canada. For those who are not found within seven days, the likelihood of discovery is significantly decreased. When human remains are discovered, the greatest challenge is to determine time since death (TSD) to assist with victim identification. Current methods for estimating TSD are either limited to days (forensic pathology), or years (forensic anthropology, odontology), or are not useful year-round in cold climates like Canada (forensic entomology). Prior attempts to identify TSD methods have focused on a single marker which do not meet the accuracy and precision required for death investigations. We propose that an interdisciplinary approach involving the addition of biomarker discovery (NSERC) will significantly improve TSD estimates when incorporated with forensic pathology (CIHR), anthropology (SSHRC) and odontology (CIHR) methods. Our objective is to fill this gap by discovering novel biomarker signatures linked to time in degrading soft and hard tissues. We will achieve this by investigating a suite of metabolomic, isotopic and genomic biomarkers. Research will be conducted at the facility for Research in Experimental and Social Thanatology (REST); the only facility in Canada where TSD can be studied through human body donation. REST blends medical, natural and social science research ensuring our ability to concomitantly assess pathological (vitreous humor), anthropological (bone chemistry), and odontological (dental pulp) changes, while discovering and quantifying new biomarkers (e.g. 15N, methylated DNA, fatty acids) in soft and hard tissues. The estimation of TSD is particularly important in investigations where a criminal event has occurred, such as homicide. Current data in Canada suggests homicide rates are seven times higher in people with Indigenous identity; many of these go unsolved as evidenced by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. An enhanced estimation of TSD can significantly increase the likelihood of identifying marginalized victims, or any victim of violence, permitting the return of their remains to their grieving families. Our research will therefore have significant societal impact by helping to bring missing persons home. It will provide a more rapid resolution to medico-legal death investigations and the prosecution of offenders, thus increasing the safety and security of the Canadian public.

加拿大每年有7万到8万人失踪。对于那些在7天内没有被找到的人，被发现的可能性大大降低。当人类遗骸被发现时，最大的挑战是确定死亡时间（TSD），以协助受害者身份识别。目前估计创伤后精神障碍的方法要么局限于几天（法医病理学），要么局限于几年（法医人类学，牙科学），或者在像加拿大这样的寒冷气候下不适合全年使用（法医昆虫学）。先前鉴定创伤后应激障碍方法的尝试都集中在单一标记物上，不符合死亡调查所需的准确性和精密度。我们建议将生物标志物发现（NSERC）与法医病理学（CIHR）、人类学（SSHRC）和牙科学（CIHR）方法结合起来，采用跨学科的方法来显著提高TSD的估计。我们的目标是通过发现与降解软硬组织的时间相关的新型生物标志物来填补这一空白。我们将通过研究一套代谢组学、同位素和基因组生物标志物来实现这一目标。研究将在实验和社会病理学研究（REST）设施进行；这是加拿大唯一一个可以通过人体捐献来研究创伤后应激障碍的机构。REST融合了医学、自然和社会科学研究，确保我们能够同时评估病理（玻璃体幽默）、人类学（骨化学）和牙科学（牙髓）变化，同时发现和量化软硬组织中的新生物标志物（例如15N、甲基化DNA、脂肪酸）。对创伤后精神障碍的估计在已经发生犯罪事件的调查中尤其重要，例如杀人案。加拿大目前的数据显示，具有土著身份的人的凶杀率高出七倍；许多案件仍未得到解决，正如“失踪和被谋杀土著妇女和女孩全国调查”所证明的那样。加强对创伤后精神障碍的估计可以大大增加识别边缘化受害者或任何暴力受害者的可能性，从而允许将其遗体归还给悲伤的家人。因此，我们的研究将通过帮助失踪人员回家而产生重大的社会影响。它将为法医死亡调查和对罪犯的起诉提供更迅速的解决办法，从而增加加拿大公众的安全和保障。