Overview
The Virtual Investigator Forum 2021, held from June 30 – July 2, 2021, was a huge success!
Attendees of the Investigator Forum discussed the latest breakthroughs and achievements in human identity science and technology, the advancement in automated sample prep, the EZ2 Connect Fx and improved solutions for casework, next-generation sequencing and so much more. The community also shared their research during the poster session.
Poster session
Attendees of the Forum showcased their research work in the poster session, where their colleagues showed their support by voting in the online poll for their favorite poster. The winning presenter was selected for a poster prize. As a bonus, participants got a chance to win an exclusive T-shirt during the raffle.
Program at-a-glance
| Day 1, June 30, 2021 | NGS for human identification |
|---|---|
| 2:00 p.m. CEST (8:00 a.m. EDT) |
Investigator Forum kickoff: Rules of the road Inga Gérard MSc, Senior Global Marketing Manager – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN Make sure to join us for this important introduction where we'll teach you how to navigate the virtual event hall and get the most out of your Forum experience. |
| 2:10 p.m. CEST (8:10 a.m. EDT) |
New Horizons in Next Generation Sequencing Keith Elliot, Director of Global Product Management – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN |
| 2:25 p.m. CEST (8:25 a.m. EDT) |
QIAseq HID: a new sequencing chemistry for forensics Erica Sawyer PhD, Multiplex Assay Technical Development Scientist, QIAGEN |
| 2:40 p.m. CEST (8:40 a.m. EDT) |
Evaluation of microhaplotypes in forensic kinship analysis from a Swedish population perspective Adam Staadig, PhD student, National Board of Forensic Medicine in Linköping, Sweden |
| 3:10 p.m. CEST (9:10 a.m. EDT) | Break |
| 3:25 p.m. CEST (9:25 a.m. EDT) | Workshop: Operationalizing NGS by Verogen Join Verogen in this workshop as they use real-world examples to demonstrate how you can unify and streamline your NGS workflows for more impactful outcomes. Nicola Oldroyd Clark, Regional Director EMEA and Director Outbound Marketing, Verogen and Daniel Hellwig, Laboratory Director, Intermountain Forensics |
| 4:25 p.m. CEST (10:25 a.m. EDT) | Break |
| 4:40 p.m. CEST (10:40 a.m. EDT) |
Poster session Located in the poster area |
| 5:10 p.m. CEST (11:10 a.m. EDT) |
Reducing noise and stutter in short tandem repeat loci with unique molecular identifiers August E. Woerner PhD, Assistant Professor at University of North Texas Health Science Center, USA |
| 5:35 p.m. CEST (11:35 a.m. EDT) |
Wrap-up of day 1 Inga Gérard MSc, Senior Global Marketing Manager – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN |
| Day 2, July 1, 2021 | Solutions in automation |
|---|---|
| 2:00 p.m. CEST (8:00 a.m. EDT) |
Welcome and house keeping Inga Gérard MSc, Senior Global Marketing Manager – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN |
| 2:10 p.m. CEST (8:10 a.m. EDT) |
Meet your new favorite sample prep instrument: Scientists' experiences with the EZ2 Connect Fx Mark Guilliano PhD, Director of HID Americas, QIAGEN Invited guest speakers from the field |
| 3:10 p.m. CEST (9:10 a.m. EDT) | Break |
| 3:25 p.m. CEST (9:25 a.m. EDT) |
Official unveiling: See the EZ2 Connect Fx in action Vanessa Duchamp PhD, Professional CSM Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN |
| 3:40 p.m. CEST (9:40 a.m. EDT) | Break |
| 3:55 p.m. CEST (9:55 a.m. EDT) |
The adVANTAGEs of high-throughput forensic casework automation Kristin Sasinouski MS, Director, Technical Operations at Bode Technology, USA |
| 4:25 p.m. CEST (10:25 a.m. EDT) | Digital PCR made fast and easy, QIAGEN´s Nanoplate dPCR system Michael Bussmann PhD, Associate Director of Global Product Management – dPCR, QIAGEN |
| 5:25 p.m. CEST (11:25 a.m. EDT) |
Wrap-up day 2 Inga Gérard MSc, Senior Global Marketing Manager – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN |
| Day 3, July 2, 2021 | Applied forensics |
|---|---|
| 2:00 p.m. CEST (8:00 a.m. EDT) |
Welcome and house keeping Inga Gérard MSc, Senior Global Marketing Manager – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN |
| 2:10 p.m. CEST (8:10 a.m. EDT) |
Dive into the Police of the Czech Republic's QIAGEN workflow Pavel Tomek PhD, Forensic DNA Analyst, Police of the Czech Republic Ondrej Krsicka, Market Development Manager, QIAGEN |
| 2:20 p.m. CEST (8:20 a.m. EDT) |
An introduction to Real Time PCR and Quantiplex Pro Vanessa Duchamp, Professional CSM Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN |
| 2:40 p.m. CEST (8:40 a.m. EDT) |
Comparison and optimization of two qPCR DNA quantification assays to improve STR analysis workflow efficiency Major Sylvain Hubac PhD Forensic Science Laboratory of the French Gendarmerie (IRCGN), France |
| 3:10 p.m. CEST (9:10 a.m. EDT) | Break |
| 3:25 p.m. CEST (9:25 a.m. EDT) |
Argus Y-28 QS - data from product development and field test Anke Prochnow PhD, Associate Director of Global Product Management – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN |
| 3:55 p.m. CEST (9:55 a.m. EDT) |
Y bother? – The new Investigator Argus Y-28 QS Kit Lisa Dierig, PhD student, Institute of Legal Medicine Univesity, University Hospital Ulm, Germany |
| 4:25 p.m. CEST (10:25 a.m. EDT) |
Validation of 24-plex, 26-plex and Argus Y-28 QS kits José Luis Jimenez Gomez, Manager of Forensic Genetics, Laboratory of Forensic Genetics of the general attorney of justice of Zacatecas State |
| 4:55 p.m. CEST (10:55 a.m. EDT) | Break |
| 5:10 p.m. CEST (11:10 a.m. EDT) | Poster winner announcement |
| 5:25 p.m. CEST (11:25 a.m. EDT) |
Bonecrusher: Utilizing the Tissuelyser II for easier and more effective bone pre-processing Daniel Hellwig, Laboratory Director, Intermountain Forensics |
| 5:55 p.m. CEST (11:55 a.m. EDT) |
Sample Collection – New Developments And Products Christian Pustelny PhD, Global Senior Product Manager – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN |
| 6:25 p.m. CEST (12:25 a.m. EDT) |
Final wrap-up and outlook Inga Gérard MSc, Senior Global Marketing Manager – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN |
Asia-Pacific program
Those who couldn’t attend the live Investigator Forum from June 30 – July 2 due to the time zone conflict were still able to hear the talks on July 6 – 8. The entire event program was rerun for registrants in Asia-Pacific countries. Despite the time difference, participants experienced live interactions with QIAGEN experts and won exciting prizes!
Speakers
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Inga Gérard MSc
Senior Global Marketing Manager – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN
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Keith Elliot
Director of Global Product Management – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN
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Erica Sawyer PhD
Multiplex Assay Technical Development Scientist, QIAGEN
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Adam Staadig
PhD student, National Board of Forensic Medicine in Linköping, Sweden
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Kristin Sasinouski MS
Director, Technical Operations at Bode Technology, USA
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Michael Bussmann PhD
Associate Director of Global Product Management – dPCR, QIAGEN
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Vanessa Duchamp PhD
Professional CSM Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN
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Anke Prochnow PhD
Associate Director of Global Product Management – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN
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Lisa Dierig
PhD student, Institute of Legal Medicine Univesity, University Hospital Ulm, Germany
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José Luis Jimenez Gomez
Manager of Forensic Genetics, Laboratory of Forensic Genetics of the General Attorney of Justice of Zacatecas State
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Christian Pustelny PhD
Global Senior Product Manager – Human ID & Forensics, QIAGEN
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Nicola Oldroyd Clark
Regional Director EMEA and Director Outbound Marketing, Verogen
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Mark Guilliano PhD
Director of HID Americas, QIAGEN
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Daniel Hellwig
Laboratory Director, Intermountain Forensics
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Ondrej Krsicka
Market Development Manager, QIAGEN
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Pavel Tomek PhD
Forensic DNA Analyst, Police of the Czech Republic
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Major Sylvain Hubac PhD
Forensic Science Laboratory of the French Gendarmerie (IRCGN), France
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Inga Gérard MSc
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Keith Elliot
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Erica Sawyer PhD
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Adam Staadig
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Kristin Sasinouski MS
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Michael Bussmann PhD
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Vanessa Duchamp PhD
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Anke Prochnow PhD
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Lisa Dierig
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José Luis Jimenez Gomez
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Christian Pustelny PhD
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Nicola Oldroyd Clark
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Mark Guilliano PhD
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Daniel Hellwig
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Ondrej Krsicka
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Pavel Tomek PhD
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Major Sylvain Hubac PhD
Certificate
Certificate of attendance
Attendees of the Investigator Forum had the opportunity to receive continuing education certificates if they attended eight or more hours of talks, presentations and/or demonstrations.