ForMAT at the 7th Polish Congress of Genetics in Wrocław
From 21 to 24 September 2026, ForMAT researchers took part in the 7th Polish Congress of Genetics in Wrocław, Poland. The Polish Genetic Society and the Polish Society of Human Genetics organised the Congress. It brings together researchers working across many areas of genetics, including a dedicated forensic genetics session. For ForMAT, it was a […]
ForMAT at ISFG 2026: Sharing Our Science in Montréal
Every two years, the forensic genetics community gathers for the ISFG Congress, the field’s largest international meeting. This year it took place in Montréal, Canada, from 17 to 21 August 2026. ForMAT was there to present its work and connect with the researchers and practitioners shaping the field. What Is the ISFG Congress, and Why […]
Justice and Compliance: What Has to Happen Before Any New Forensic Tool Reaches Practice
This post focuses specifically on criminal investigations and disaster victim identification, since different forensic applications can fall under different legal frameworks. Closing a scientific gap and putting a tool into real casework are two different things. Here’s what has to happen in between. Research finding, not operational approval A method that performs well in one […]
Forensic Myths vs Reality: Why “Instant DNA Results” Is Mostly Fiction
Ever watched a crime show where a detective swabs a doorknob, and twenty minutes later a computer beeps and flashes a suspect’s photo on screen? That single dramatic moment actually hides several separate steps: finding a usable sample, obtaining a profile, searching for a possible match, confirming it, and figuring out what it means for […]
From Lab to Law: Why Forensic Science Needs New Investigative Tools
When a biological trace is found at a crime scene, DNA profiling is usually the first tool investigators reach for. It’s fast and well-established. But there’s a catch that rarely makes it into TV dramas: a DNA profile is only useful if there’s something to compare it to. What forensic labs can determine today Standard […]
ForMAT Explains: 5 Terms in Forensic Epigenetics
Ever wondered how forensic science might one day estimate age without a name attached to it? Forensic epigenetics is a fast-growing field trying to answer exactly that — and it comes with its own vocabulary. This summer, our “ForMAT Explains” series broke down five terms you’ll come across when reading about our project. Here’s the […]
Why Forensic Labs Need to Work Together, Not Just Side by Side
A new forensic DNA test can work perfectly in the lab that develops it. It can still fail when another lab tries to use it. That is not a hypothetical problem. It is one of the most persistent challenges in forensic genetics. It is also the reason scientific visits like the one ForMAT hosted last […]
Forensic Science Communication: Why It’s Harder Than It Sounds
Earlier this month, ForMAT’s Communication & Dissemination Manager Alina Harbovska and Project Coordinator Ana Freire-Aradas attended the Projects to Policy Seminar in Brussels. The event brought together EU-funded security research projects, representatives from DG HOME, and the Research Executive Agency (REA) for two days of exchange on how research translates into real-world impact. One theme […]
ForMAT at EDNAP 2026: Presenting Forensic Epigenetics to Europe
In May 2026, the ForMAT project took its work to one of Europe’s most respected forensic genetics forums. David Ballard from King’s College London represented the consortium at the 63rd EDNAP annual meeting. The event took place in Palermo, Sicily, on 12 May 2026. Thirty-nine members attended. They shared studies, projects, and new perspectives in […]
Screening 13th at UMinho: when forensic science meets social justice
On 27 March 2026, the Institute of Social Sciences at the University of Minho (ICS UMinho) hosted an Open Class. The goal was clear: to bring a documentary into an academic setting and connect the social realities of criminal justice with the scientific questions that ForMAT is working to answer. Researchers Rafaela Granja and Alessandra […]