ForMAT at EDNAP 2026: Presenting Forensic Epigenetics to Europe

format ednap meeting palermo 2026 cover

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

Researcher presenting the ForMAT project to students at an open class at ICS UMinho

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 […]

From Vision to Impact: ForMAT at Europol’s first Horizon Europe projects meeting

ForMAT project poster displayed at the Europol Horizon Europe Annual Networking Meeting in The Hague, April 2026

On 7–8 April 2026, ForMAT attended a landmark event in The Hague. The project develops advanced DNA methylation toolsets for forensic science under the Horizon Europe programme. Europol’s Innovation Lab organised From Vision to Impact for Horizon Europe projects. It brought together EU-funded security research projects and law enforcement practitioners under one roof for the […]

The ForMAT project officially launches in Santiago de Compostela

View of the historic Santiago de Compostela skyline, with the famous cathedral towers in the background.

We are excited to announce the official launch of the ForMAT project, following a successful kick-off meeting in the historic city of Santiago de Compostela. This marks the beginning of an ambitious journey to revolutionize forensic sciences across Europe. On October 8th and 9th, 2025, the ForMAT project consortium came together for the first time. […]

ForMAT in the spotlight: forensic tools featured on Portuguese TV

ForMAT forensic tools featured on TV with the message 'We Are On TV' displayed on a retro television.

We are excited to share that the ForMAT project was recently featured on Portuguese television. The segment highlighted how our research is set to transform forensic investigations across Europe. Dr. Catarina Xavier, from our partner institution i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, gave viewers an exciting look at the new capabilities ForMAT […]

ForSpEC: Advancing forensic intelligence through the sperm epigenetic clock

A researcher holding a test tube with forensic data displayed on a screen, showcasing advanced forensic analysis techniques.

The ForMAT project is excited to announce a significant scientific breakthrough: the development of ForSpEC (Forensic Sperm Epigenetic Clock). This innovative tool offers forensic experts a highly accurate method for analyzing biological evidence, specifically focusing on age estimation. While DNA profiling has long been the go-to method for identification, estimating the age of a biological […]