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 70,000 至 80,000 人失踪。对于七天内没有被发现的人来说，被发现的可能性就会大大降低。当发现人类遗骸时，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 TSD 的方法要么仅限于数天（法医病理学），要么仅限于数年（法医人类学、牙科学），或者在加拿大等寒冷气候下全年都没有用（法医昆虫学）。之前识别 TSD 方法的尝试主要集中在单一标记上，该标记不符合死亡调查所需的准确性和精确度。我们建议，当与法医病理学 (CIHR)、人类学 (SSHRC) 和牙科学 (CIHR) 方法相结合时，涉及添加生物标志物发现 (NSERC) 的跨学科方法将显着改善 TSD 估计。我们的目标是通过发现与软硬组织降解时间相关的新型生物标志物特征来填补这一空白。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死亡学研究中心（REST）进行；加拿大唯一可以通过人体捐赠来研究 TSD 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学（玻璃体液）、人类学（骨化学）和牙科（牙髓）变化，同时发现和量化新的生物标志物（例如 15N、甲基化 DNA、脂肪酸） ）在软组织和硬组织中。 TSD 的估计对于发生犯罪事件（例如凶杀案）的调查尤为重要。加拿大目前的数据表明，原住民的凶杀率是原住民的七倍；正如全国失踪和被谋杀土著妇女和女孩调查所证明的那样，其中许多问题尚未得到解决。加强对 TSD 的评估可以显着增加识别边缘化受害者或任何暴力受害者的可能性，从而使他们的遗体返回到悲伤的家人身边。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犯罪者起诉提供更快速的解决方案，从而提高加拿大公众的安全和保障。