NIJ Funding for Missing Person Identification
Bode Technology has received funding through the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) grant, “Using DNA Technology to Identify the Missing.” Using the NIJ funding, Bode is able to accept unidentified human remains and family reference samples from state and local governments and process the remains using both STR and mitochondrial DNA analysis free of charge.
Bode is the only private DNA laboratory participating in this NIJ funding opportunity. The funding is provided to assist the efforts of state and local governments in performing DNA analysis on unidentified human remains and/or family reference samples, and generating DNA profiles that will be uploaded into the FBI’s National Missing Persons DNA Database. Currently both mitochondrial and STR profiles can be entered into this database searched at the national level. Bode is working with the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification (UNTCHI) to facilitate the upload of the unidentified skeletal remains and family reference samples into the National Missing Persons DNA Database. Once Bode has processed the samples, the DNA data will be sent to UNTCHI to be uploaded into the National Missing Persons DNA Database.
Funding the DNA testing for unidentified remains and family reference samples is just one part of the program that the NIJ has developed in an effort to solve missing persons cases throughout the country. See the NIJ Journal Article, Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains: The Nation’s Silent Mass Disaster, for more information on NIJ’s missing persons program.
If your agency has unidentified human remains cases that you would like us to consider please contact us at (866) 263-3443 x787 or
bode.service@bodetech.com. There is no charge to your agency for the DNA testing or upload of the unidentified remains and/or family reference samples into the National Missing Persons DNA Database.
