The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the research, development, and evaluation agency of the
U.S. Department of Justice and a component of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). NIJ
provides objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to enhance the
administration of justice and public safety. NIJ supports research that can provide knowledge and
tools to guide policy and practice.
With this solicitation, NIJ seeks proposals for research and development to enhance the forensic
uses of DNA technology. This solicitation focuses on technologies that result in faster, more
robust, more informative, less costly, and/or less labor-intensive identification, collection,
preservation, and/or analysis of DNA evidence collected from crime scenes. Priority will be given
to proposals focusing on the following:
1. Software tools for mixture interpretation of DNA data from casework samples.
2. Physical separation of the components of a mixture.
3. Automated sperm searches.
4. Body fluid/cell type identification.
5. Preliminary genetic determination of probative evidentiary samples.
6. Identification and/or characterization of genetic marker systems that have the potential to
reveal additional or more powerful information about the source of biological evidence.
7. Improved tools for examining aged, degraded, limited, damaged, or otherwise compromised
DNA evidence.