Looking Ahead to ISHI 2025
What I'm Excited to Learn as a
Promega UK Student Ambassador
My name is Michael, and I am a first year PhD student in forensic genetics at King’s College London.
If you had told me a year ago that I’d be acting as a student ambassador for a global brand at one of the biggest forensic conferences, I would not have believed you. From growing up in South Africa where I witnessed first hand the impact of crime on everyday life, to be given the incredible opportunity by Promega UK, to attend the International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI) and learn more about the ways in which leading forensic scientists are consistently improving the field to tackle real world cases, is such a privilege.
ISHI36 is going to be the first conference of my PhD journey, and I am so excited for the chance to present my research on the development of a novel body fluid identification approach using digital PCR (dPCR). While dPCR is an advanced molecular analysis technique that has gained popularity for medical and diagnostic applications, it is very new to the forensic field.
Digital PCR allows for the absolute quantification of target molecules, while offering a greater sensitivity and resistance to inhibitors than other analytical methods that are often used for body fluid identification. I am eager to showcase the work I have carried out over the past year developing two dPCR multiplex assays that target tissue-specific messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts. I am also thrilled about engaging with fellow scientists working on neighbouring projects which may enable fruitful collaborations. Furthermore, the opportunity to discuss my project with forensic practitioners will be instrumental in understanding the real-world impact of my work which in turn can create the perfect environment to better my research once back in the UK.
One of the many inspiring individuals I am looking forward to hearing speak is Dr. Vanessa Lynch. Her efforts to help strengthen laboratory capabilities to combat sexual and gender-based violence in Africa through her initiative “Samples to Solutions” are both impactful and urgent. The opportunity to hear her talk and gain insight into how she is driving change within the forensic systems of Africa will be incredibly meaningful. Her work also demonstrates that research like mine has the potential to make a difference if implemented in the right way.
I am sure that my time at ISHI will provide me with vital contacts and crucial knowledge that I can one day use to help the very communities in South Africa that first inspired my journey.
