November 2020
Committed to Cooperation.
The scientists at the Center for Advanced Genomics know that the best outcomes result from collaboration, and that’s why we, in partnership with Sam Houston State University, are so excited to join the Center for Advanced Research in Forensic Science (CARFS) as an industrial member. CARFS is an Industry University Cooperative Research Center that fosters innovation and collaboration in forensic science by bringing together its industrial and academic partners. As an industrial member, Signature Science will help guide research projects conducted at CARFS academic sites. We can’t wait to see what we will discover together!
Innovating at the Intersection of Proteogenomics and DNA Analysis.
Touch samples can be critically important to criminal investigations yet are the most challenging to analyze due to degradation or an insufficient amount of deposited DNA.
Though DNA analysis is the gold standard for human identification, the CAG is working to develop new methods based on proteomics.

Our Proteo-ID team, including collaborators from UNT Health Science Center and Ohio State University, has developed a method to co-extract DNA and the more robust proteins found in large quantities in touch samples. The method preserves the DNA for traditional analysis and enables insight from the proteins through proteolytic digestion and analysis via standard liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based proteomics.

This project is funded by IARPA's Proteos program, now in Phase 3.

The Proteo-ID team's sample prep method developed in Phase 1
is published in FSI:Genetics.
Expanded Footprint.
Greater Sequencing Capability.
We’re growing! The CAG recently expanded into its new state-of-the-art research and development laboratory in Central Virginia. We’ve added whole genome sequencing (Illumina®’s NextSeq™ 2000) to the extensive suite of NGS capabilities already employed in ongoing genomics research. Now, the CAG is applying the power of WGS technology to solve the toughest forensic challenges.
Supporting the Pursuit of Justice for Victims of Sexual Assault.
The Lavinia Masters Act (Texas HB 8), signed in June 2019, introduced accountability measures requiring timely processing of sexual assault evidence and infused funding to address the backlog of untested rape kits. The law requires that, in Texas, sexual assault evidence be submitted for processing within 30 days, laboratory analysis be completed within 90 days, and database services be performed within 30 days. SigSci’s forensic DNA analysts are proud to be supporting the pursuit of justice on behalf of victims in Texas through recent DNA analysis services contracts awarded by the City of Corpus Christi and Houston Forensic Science Center.
With this important work in mind, SigSci’s casework laboratory became the first private laboratory to implement STACS® Casework, an industry-leading laboratory information management system, in 2020. STACS-CW is designed for forensic scientists to ensure traceability of case processing, optimize workflow operations, and support stringent quality assurance practices with built-in quality checks. The automated reporting features help provide victims and law enforcement reliable, timely answers.
We’re reaching out to you with updates from the Center for Advanced Genomics because our paths crossed at a forensics-related conference or symposium over the past year or two, and we’d like to stay in touch! 
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