Oslo University Hospital (OUS)

Oslo University Hospital (OUS)
Sognsvannsveien 20
Oslo
Norway

https://oslo-universitetssykehus.no/oslo-university-hospital

 

"This is the current affiliiation of this partner group which has previously worked at the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH)."

Scientific Lead

Prof. Peter Gill
Phone: +44 (0) 7786126571

Contact

PubMed
Google Scholar
ReserachGate

Project Staff

Oskar Hansson

Contact

Institute Presentation

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health will be represented by Peter Gill. He has a concurrent position as Professor of Forensic Genetics at the University of Oslo. PG began research into DNA in 1985, collaborating with Sir Alec Jeffreys of Leicester University. In the same year the first demonstration of the forensic application of DNA profiling was published. In 1987 he was given an award under the civil service inventor’s scheme for the discovery of the preferential sperm DNA extraction technique and the development of associated forensic tests. In 1993-4 he was responsible for leading the team which confirmed the identity of the remains of the Romanov family, murdered in 1918, and also the subsequent investigation which disproved the claim of Anna Anderson to be the Duchess Anastasia. This was the first example in the world of the solving of an historical mystery that involved the analysis of very degraded and aged material. In relation to the above, he was responsible for developing a super-sensitive method (low template number) DNA profiling that is capable of analysing DNA profiles from a handful of cells.

PG was responsible for leading the team that successfully developed the first multiplex DNA systems to be used in a National DNA database anywhere in the world, and for the design of the interpretation methods that are still in current use (c.1995). He has been closely involved with major crime investigations and has given evidence in several high profile cases – including the Omagh bombing trial. Currently he is a member of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes and chair of the ‘methods, analysis and interpretation sub-section’. He also leads the International Society of Forensic Genetics DNA commission, he is member of the European DNA Profiling Group (EDNAP). He has published more than 180 papers in the international scientific literature – many of these are collaborative papers under the auspices of ISFG, EDNAP and ENFSI.  These papers have been cited more than 9600 times (h index= 53). He is actively promoting the new methodology to interpret DNA profiles by leading international workshops on the subject e.g. recently he led a two day workshop on mixture interpretation for the International Society of Forensic Genetics in Vienna (2011). He is on the editorial boards of Forensic Science International (Genetics) and International Journal of Legal Medicine. Dr. Gill’s interests are: development of interpretation strategies (e.g. analysis of mixtures) and their incorporation into expert systems; development of new biochemical systems and markers; experimental design and analysis of data to guide formation of pan-European DNA databases.

Oskar Hansson has recently begun his PhD project, which is partly funded by Euroforgen. The main focus lies within EP3 where the PCR simulation model in Forensim will be improved and extended. Laboratory experiments will be performed in order to develop and calibrate the model.

OH started his career at the Swedish National Laboratory of Forensic Science in 2002, after finishing his student project on Y-Chromosomal STR analysis. His main functions involved projects and development within laboratory methods, automation, and programs supporting the routine processes. Convinced that knowledge of practical details is required when optimising processes he regularly performed routine laboratory work. Quality assurance and validation has always been an important part of his work, as is required by accredited laboratories. OH was one of the key players making it possible for the laboratory to handle a 5-fold increase in reference samples after the Swedish legislation on obtaining DNA reference samples was changed from the 1^st of January 2006. He was recruited to the Norwegian Institute of Legal Medicine when Norway was going through similar changes in 2008. The Institute of Legal Medicine became a part of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in 2011.