Letter from the Editor

As we turn the page into spring in Madison, this issue of The ISHI Report blooms with voices that challenge, inspire, and reaffirm the vital role forensic DNA plays across the globe. From Innsbruck to Africa, and the US to the UK, the stories we share in this edition remind us that scientific progress is only as powerful as the people it serves—and the professionals who drive it forward.

We open with a remarkable account of historical identification following the Tokyo Prison Fire of 1945. Nearly 80 years after a World War II firebombing claimed the lives of 62 American airmen, a cross-agency effort led by the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory is restoring names to the unknown. Through the use of next-generation sequencing and painstaking osteological analysis, scientists are overcoming the damage of fire and time to bring resolution to families and rewrite a long-closed chapter of military history.

We then turn to a celebration of mentorship where Dr. Walther Parson and his team in Austria show us what it means to build not just a lab, but a lasting community of scientific thinkers. Through insights from his students and collaborators, we see how precision, openness, and a shared love of discovery can echo across generations. It’s a powerful reminder that our greatest tools are not just technologies, but communities built on trust and rigor.

Trust also takes center stage in Forensic Genomics in Africa: Beyond Choice, Toward Readiness and Transformation. With insight and urgency, Yahaya Sumara Sulley explores both the promise and the infrastructure challenges of forensic genomics across the continent. His piece invites us to reflect not only on science, but on the systemic changes required to ensure access, equity, and sovereignty in forensic practice.

This issue also introduces readers to the growing power—and complexity—of investigative genetic genealogy (IGG). In the UK, Silverwell Research is adapting IGG to European challenges, showing that the technique is not one-size-fits-all, but deeply rooted in cultural context and genealogical nuance. Meanwhile, Cairenn Binder and the Ramapo IGG Center in New Jersey offer a blueprint for building IGG capacity from the ground up—a practical guide for any lab or agency looking to launch their own program. Her story is both a roadmap and a reality check—showing what’s possible when structure and process align with purpose.

That alignment—between purpose and sustainability—is a recurring theme this issue. In Behind the Bench, Jennifer Dillon draws from years of firsthand experience to address the growing mental and emotional toll of forensic casework. Her call for leadership that actively supports wellness, resilience, and psychological safety is especially resonant as conversations around burnout take on new urgency within our community. Jennifer will be moderating a panel presentation at this year’s ISHI conference on that same topic.

You’ll also meet this year’s ISHI Student Ambassadors, who bring a remarkable range of passion and expertise—from DNA methylation and epigenetics to disaster victim identification and environmental justice. Their work gives us a hopeful glimpse into the next generation of forensic leadership.

Finally, we share a deeply personal feature from John M. Collins, who reflects on the second edition of his book 50 Situations Awaiting Every Forensic Scientist. More than a professional guide, it’s a meditation on what it means to lead with ethics, courage, and humility in a field where the stakes are often life and death.

Together, these pieces form a mosaic of the challenges and momentum defining forensic science in 2025. As always, we thank you for your readership—and your role in this dynamic community. Whether you’re in the lab, the field, or the classroom, your work advances justice and shapes lives. We hope this issue brings you fresh ideas, renewed energy, and a sense of connection to colleagues around the world.

Warmly,

The Editorial Board