Objective
The ForMAT project addresses limitations in forensic DNA profiling, particularly in criminal cases, disaster victim identification (DVI), and legal age assessment for asylum claimants. Traditional DNA methods struggle with unsolved cases, mass disasters, and legal age estimation. ForMAT focuses on DNA methylation (DNAm) as a solution, using epigenetic markers to estimate age and lifestyles, as well to predict tissue type. This approach enhances criminal investigations by narrowing suspect profiles and expedites missing person identification in mass disasters, improving the return of remains to families. In asylum cases, DNAm offers a radiation-free alternative for assessing age, reducing reliance on X-rays.
ForMAT builds on the VISAGE project, aiming to advance these tools from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 to TRL 7. By developing new DNAm kits and a bioinformatic applicaiton including forensic prediction models, ForMAT enables law enforcement to estimate age, to infer lifestyles and to identify the tissue-of origin from DNA samples. Kits include a DNAm somatic kit, as well as a DNAm germ-line kit for criminal cases, a DNAm DVI kit for guiding in the identification process of human remains, and a DNAm legal age kit for asylum assessments. The integration of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies, including second- and third-generation sequencing, enhances forensic workflows and ensures high accuracy even with degraded samples.
The ForMAT consortium , consisting of 11 EU institutions, leverages expertise across countries and disciplines to bring these innovations to real-world use. Members include leading universities, police bodies, and forensic institutes, committed to scaling up, testing, and validating these tools across Europe. Their involvement in international forensic boards ensures widespread dissemination, aiming for broad adoption of ForMAT’s epigenetic molecular tools in forensic science, ultimately enhancing investigative practices and public safety.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.2.3 - Civil Security for Society
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.3.2 - Protection and Security
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-CL3-2024-FCT-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
15782 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.