The UVa Department of Chemistry seeks healthy men and women ages 18 to 64 for participation in a research study.
The purpose of the study is to develop new technology to help law enforcement agencies analyze forensic evidence obtained after sexual assault.
Sexual assault (e.g. rape) evidence samples frequently contain cells from both the victim (skin cells) and from the perpetrator (sperm cells). These two cells types must be separated from each other to get quality DNA evidence. DNA evidence is often an important part of the successful prosecution of sexual assault cases.
However, not all evidence from sexual assault is processed in a timely manner, or at all. Factors that contribute to this hurtful backlog are that current methods for separating skin cells from sperm cells take a long time and are relatively expensive. A large backlog of samples exists that may delay justice for these incredibly harmful crimes. This study seeks to develop and improve upon technologies for faster and less expensive processing of sexual assault evidence samples. Please help us end the backlog and advance justice.
Healthy volunteers are needed to donate cell types used in the study.
No clinical procedures are part of the study.
No compensation is provided for this study.
Participation is confidential and samples are de-identified
Donation of semen, vaginal and cheek swabs are needed for mock sexual assault samples
For more information please contact the study coordinator at cellsepartionstudy@virginia.edu
IRB-HSR# 12548
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