Letter from the Editor

August tends to arrive with a kind of dual energy—one foot still in summer, the other already leaning toward fall. For those of us on the ISHI team, it also signals that we’re just a few months out from gathering in West Palm Beach for ISHI 36. While the final agenda is taking shape, this issue offers a preview of the kinds of stories and conversations that will carry us into the conference—and beyond.

Ray Wickenheiser and Colleen Fitzpatrick, members of the NTVIC Policy and Practice Committee offer a look inside the newly revised FIGG guidelines, including what’s changed—and why. From third-party consent and bioethics to international collaboration, this update reflects the growing complexity (and global reach) of forensic investigative genetic genealogy. If you’re working in or around this space, their candid insights offer helpful guardrails for where the field is headed next.

In parallel, we take a close look at Multidye STR technology, now pushing into 8- and 9-dye systems. This technical deep dive outlines the performance gains, expanded locus capacity, and challenges of integrating new optical and amplification systems—all critical considerations as labs weigh the value of upgrading legacy workflows.

We also explore how the DBLR™ Kinship module is helping labs stretch beyond traditional STR-based identification, especially when direct reference samples aren’t available. Whether you're working on missing persons cases, complex mixtures, or distant relationship testing, this tool is opening new doors in familial and database-driven search strategies.

Dr. Pankaj Shrivastava’s piece, meanwhile, offers a sharp reminder that STR panel design must be population-aware. His team’s work in India underscores how marker selection, amplicon size, and regional variation can make or break the effectiveness of a kit—especially in underserved or endogamous populations.

And while the science continues to move forward, many of you are doing that work under increasing strain.

In our first article, we look at what happens when federal funding falters—and how crime labs are stretching innovation, forming local partnerships, and redesigning workflows just to keep up. From Lean Six Sigma applications to local lab creation in Shelby County, it’s clear that resourcefulness isn’t optional—it’s the only way through.

Finally, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about the people behind the science. In “Supporting the Silent Front Line,” former police chief Reuben Ramirez makes a powerful case for including forensic professionals in wellness and peer-support initiatives. If your lab hasn’t yet embraced structured wellness check-ins, this one’s worth a read—and a conversation.

All of these stories point to the same idea: whether it’s the science itself or the systems we build around it, the best outcomes come from collaboration, transparency, and care.

We hope this issue gives you something useful to bring back to your lab, your team, or your next case. And of course, we look forward to seeing you in November at ISHI 36—where these conversations will continue in person.

Until then,

The Editorial Board