Battelle to Implement Sequencing Tech at Ohio’s Criminal Investigation Lab; Jeffrey Wadsworth Comments

Battelle and the Ohio Office of the Attorney General have partnered to launch a sequencing project at the state’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation laboratory in an effort to help solve cases of missing people in the state.

Battelle and BCI will collaborate to test and implement new DNA testing technology in the BCI lab with the goal to aid in missing persons forensic investigations, Battelle said Thursday.

Jeffrey Wadsworth, Battelle president and CEO, said the NGS technology “aligns with Battelle’s core mission of investing in original research that will provide societal benefits.”

The nonprofit demonstrated the NGS technology in the field for the Defense Department for five years and led the National Institute of Justice’s evaluation efforts for NGS methods in forensic labs across the U.S.

As part of the project, Battelle and BCI will move the NGS testing to the BCI laboratory from a federally-funded out-of-state lab to speed up outcomes.