Institute for Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University

Institute for Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University
Muellerstrasse 44
6020 Innsbruck
Austria

http://gerichtsmedizin.at/

Scientific Lead

Prof. Dr. Walther Parson
Phone: +43 (0) 512 9003 70640
Fax: +43 (0) 512 9003 73640

Contact

PubMed
ResearchGate

 

Project Staff

Msc MA Mayra Mayr-Eduardoff
Phone: +43 (0) 512 9003 70624
Fax: +43 (0) 512 9003 73640

Contact

Institute Presentation

The Institute of Legal Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University, harbours the Austrian Central DNA Database Laboratory that was established in 1997. It consists of a “High Through-put DNA Databasing Unit” and a “Casework Laboratory” that are both scientifically accompanied by a research branch. The institute represents Austria in the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP) and the Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI). The director, Prof. Richard Scheithauer, is chairman of the INTERPOL DNA Monitoring Expert Group (DNA MEG). Prof. Walther Parson is member of international boards and steering committees such as the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) and the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP). Walther Parson supervises the research unit “Forensic Molecular Biology” that has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles in the forensic and medical genetic field within the past 5 years.

A main research focus of the institute is the development of new forensic analysis methods and technologies, in autosomal, Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial (mt)DNA analysis. The group has established and disseminated new mtDNA research protocols, has refined interpretation guidelines and developed software to aid the processes of mtDNA data generation to meet the high quality standard demands of forensic science. The institute has been collaborating with more than 30 institutions worldwide in mtDNA matters and created the internet-accessible mtDNA database EMPOP (www.empop.org) that is meanwhile internationally recognized as the state-of-the-art in forensic mtDNA analysis. As a result international networking has taking place where international meetings (Berlin, 2004; Innsbruck, 2006; Ancona 2008; Berlin 2010) and mt-DNAspecific workshops (e.g. 2008 in Porto and Ancona, 2009 in Buenos Aires, Mannheim and Ancona, 2010 in Copenhagen, Bogota, Santiago de Chile and Ancona) were received with very positive feedback. The institute has pioneered the application of mass spectrometry for the analysis for forensic DNA markers.

Another focus of research is the development and curation of the internet-accessible forensic resource ENFSI DNA WG STR-BASE (www.str-base.org), which is frequently interrogated from users worldwide in forensic STR related issues and is currently expanded by EU funds.

The institute was repeatedly consigned to handle international requests on DNA fingerprinting such as the DNA identification of the Asian Tsunami-victims from Sri Lanka, the DNA identification of the remains of the two missing children of the Russian Tsar family and historical cases including the investigations on the putative Mozart skull and the Friedrich v. Schiller Code. Currently, the group is analyzing remains of the victims of the Chile 1973 military regime.