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Denise Syndercombe Court

Professor Denise Syndercombe Court

Professor of Forensic Genetics

Research interests

  • Forensics

Biography

Scientist, geneticist, statistician, academic, editor and published author of peer reviewed scientific publications.  Editor and author of the award-winning textbook ‘Medical Science’.  Trained in systematic reviews and evidence-based approaches to medical and scientific publications. Is the Professor of Forensic Genetics at King’s College London, a Chartered Scientist and a Chartered Biologist, and is a member or fellow of a number of professional bodies: Academy of Forensic Medical Sciences; Biochemical Society; British Academy of Forensic Sciences; Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences; Institute of Biological and Medical Sciences; International Society for Forensic Genetics; International Society of Blood Pattern Analysts; Royal College of Pathologists Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine; Royal Society of Biology; and the Royal Statistical Society.  Has more than thirty years of experience in scientific research, forensic evidence examination and DNA interpretation with a sound knowledge of the civil and criminal justice process, including court presentation as an expert witness.  She manages an ISO17025 accredited laboratory specialising in complex kinship and specialist DNA analysis for police forces.  Denise is the UK representative on the European DNA Profiling Group and the International Society of Forensic Genetics representative on the Forensic Regulator’s DNA Working Group.   Her research interests are in the use of DNA in complex and limited matrices, both human and non-human, for intelligence purposes.  As a member of the European Forensic Genetics Network of Excellence was joint leader of the ethics and law work package and has since become a member of the Home Office Biometric and Forensic Ethics Group.  Has an active interest in promoting science, and especially the use of DNA in justice to a wider audience via television, radio and external lectures. 

    Research

    dna-samples
    Forensic Genetics

    Forensic Genetics is concerned with specialist ‘next-generation’ analysis of trace biological level evidence to solve crime, providing intelligence to law enforcement in forensic investigations.

    Nepal Desk Review picture
    InterSEC:Action

    The InterSEC:Action team review to understand the nature and scale of sexual exploitation in the aid industry and conduct a pilot study using genealogy

    Project status: Ongoing

    world map
    Forensic Genomics: Genomic discovery of forensically relevant variation as revealed through massively parallel sequencing

    Forensic genomics utilises massively parallel sequencing technologies to explore detailed information from forensic samples.

    Project status: Ongoing

    pro-bono
    Forensic genetics futures and ethical considerations

    The group collaborates with others to develop clear communications & robust ethical standards in association with new forensic genetics investigative approaches

    Project status: Ongoing

    family
    Implementation of massively parallel sequencing technology in kinship

    The project focusses on kinship testing, which is the process by which we can use inherited DNA shared between individuals to work out how/if they are related.

    Project status: Ongoing

    TrafficNighttexco-kwok-NWXN_0frxCQ-unsplash
    International Forensics

    The international forensics group has a wide remit to look at evidence from international sources, providing data to support research in criminal justice.

    News

    Andrew MacLeod named 'Legal Hero' for work on overseas sexual exploitation

    Professor Andrew MacLeod has been recognised by the Law Society for helping to bring justice to children born overseas who have been abandoned by their...

    Andrew MacLeod (1)

    A summer of success for King's Forensics

    King’s Forensics is an academic group within King’s College London that hosts a range of world-leading laboratories, including the Drug Control Centre: the...

    King's symposium thumbnail

    Study of 60 cities' microbes finds each has a signature microbial fingerprint

    An international consortium, including a team from King’s Forensics, has reported the largest-ever global metagenomic study of urban microbiomes, spanning...

    Tube Sign

    The need for a protocol to prevent racial bias in DNA databasing

    Professor Denise Syndercombe Court highlights the potential for racial bias in the way DNA profiles are collected and stored.

    Scientist examining evidence through a microscope

    Blood spatters reveal a suspect's age through new technique

    Researchers at King’s College London have discovered a new method of forensic analysis which could more accurately predict the age of criminal suspects based...

    Blood cells

    Events

    31Marforensics natural disaster and climate change 780x450

    Crossovers between natural disasters and human response activities to disaster victim identification: the carbon footprint and challenges associated with climate change

    Explore the climate change and the carbon footprint related challenges in forensics, particularly with victim identification in natural disaster responses in...

    Please note: this event has passed.

    Features

    Dog bites to kidnapping: how King's Forensics uses canine DNA to solve crime

    It's not just human DNA that is used to solve criminal cases. Increasingly, DNA from canines is being carefully collected and analysed by forensics experts to...

    AQ FOLSM - Forensic

    Spotlight

    Playing a part in the fight against ivory poaching

    The use of new techniques for retrieving fingerprints from ivory has been validated for the first time by scientists from King’s College London and University...

    Example-of-Fingerprints-Enhanced-on-a-Full-Tusk-hero

      Research

      dna-samples
      Forensic Genetics

      Forensic Genetics is concerned with specialist ‘next-generation’ analysis of trace biological level evidence to solve crime, providing intelligence to law enforcement in forensic investigations.

      Nepal Desk Review picture
      InterSEC:Action

      The InterSEC:Action team review to understand the nature and scale of sexual exploitation in the aid industry and conduct a pilot study using genealogy

      Project status: Ongoing

      world map
      Forensic Genomics: Genomic discovery of forensically relevant variation as revealed through massively parallel sequencing

      Forensic genomics utilises massively parallel sequencing technologies to explore detailed information from forensic samples.

      Project status: Ongoing

      pro-bono
      Forensic genetics futures and ethical considerations

      The group collaborates with others to develop clear communications & robust ethical standards in association with new forensic genetics investigative approaches

      Project status: Ongoing

      family
      Implementation of massively parallel sequencing technology in kinship

      The project focusses on kinship testing, which is the process by which we can use inherited DNA shared between individuals to work out how/if they are related.

      Project status: Ongoing

      TrafficNighttexco-kwok-NWXN_0frxCQ-unsplash
      International Forensics

      The international forensics group has a wide remit to look at evidence from international sources, providing data to support research in criminal justice.

      News

      Andrew MacLeod named 'Legal Hero' for work on overseas sexual exploitation

      Professor Andrew MacLeod has been recognised by the Law Society for helping to bring justice to children born overseas who have been abandoned by their...

      Andrew MacLeod (1)

      A summer of success for King's Forensics

      King’s Forensics is an academic group within King’s College London that hosts a range of world-leading laboratories, including the Drug Control Centre: the...

      King's symposium thumbnail

      Study of 60 cities' microbes finds each has a signature microbial fingerprint

      An international consortium, including a team from King’s Forensics, has reported the largest-ever global metagenomic study of urban microbiomes, spanning...

      Tube Sign

      The need for a protocol to prevent racial bias in DNA databasing

      Professor Denise Syndercombe Court highlights the potential for racial bias in the way DNA profiles are collected and stored.

      Scientist examining evidence through a microscope

      Blood spatters reveal a suspect's age through new technique

      Researchers at King’s College London have discovered a new method of forensic analysis which could more accurately predict the age of criminal suspects based...

      Blood cells

      Events

      31Marforensics natural disaster and climate change 780x450

      Crossovers between natural disasters and human response activities to disaster victim identification: the carbon footprint and challenges associated with climate change

      Explore the climate change and the carbon footprint related challenges in forensics, particularly with victim identification in natural disaster responses in...

      Please note: this event has passed.

      Features

      Dog bites to kidnapping: how King's Forensics uses canine DNA to solve crime

      It's not just human DNA that is used to solve criminal cases. Increasingly, DNA from canines is being carefully collected and analysed by forensics experts to...

      AQ FOLSM - Forensic

      Spotlight

      Playing a part in the fight against ivory poaching

      The use of new techniques for retrieving fingerprints from ivory has been validated for the first time by scientists from King’s College London and University...

      Example-of-Fingerprints-Enhanced-on-a-Full-Tusk-hero