Forensic and Legal Medicine

This professional carries out research in the field of gender-based violence, gender inequalities and forensic genetics.

With regard to the issue of gender-based violence, the research group, interacting with the healthcare authorities of Eastern Piedmont, is engaged in a project aimed at detecting the spread of the phenomenon by monitoring emergency room visits by adults and minors who are victims of abuse, taking into account demographics and the relationship between victim and abuser, objective injuries, psychological implications, and the retrieval of biological material for the purposes of genetics and forensic toxicology.

With the Department of Psychology at the University of Turin, the research group collaborates on a study on femicides committed in Turin and its province in the last 50 years, evaluating both psycho-criminological and forensic medical aspects.

The Laboratory is involved in the interdisciplinary "PAUSE (Prevention of Assault Under Scientific Evidence)” project to combat interpersonal violence, coordinated by the Computer Science Department of the University of Turin and funded by the same University as part of its public engagement activities. This project aims to make the detection of violence against women faster and more effective, with the involvement of various figures (health workers, psychologists, jurists and law enforcement agencies, and anti-violence centres) and the aid of artificial intelligence.The laboratory has collaborated for years with the Sexual Violence Relief Center - Sant'Anna Hospital in Turin, addressing issues relating to violence against women (sexual violence, mistreatment during pregnancy, violence against migrant women).

As regards gender inequalities, which also includes the topic mentioned above, in recent months the research group has developed a research project which aims to investigate gender differences in training courses and in access to the medical profession, focusing on the factors that influence gender imbalance in different medical specialties. The project seeks to address the apparent paradox of a high rate of feminization in the medical field in general, while observing strong gender imbalances within individual specialties.

The Forensic Genetics Section deals with research in the field of personal identification of biological traces, unidentified corpses and living subjects. In particular, it conducts population studies for forensic applications, identification of biological fluids and tissues in single samples and in mixtures using immunochromatographic tests and mRNA analysis, of DNA extraction from unusual tissues, storage and preservation of DNA extracts. In particular, in recent years, research has focused partly on the study of the microbiome for identification purposes, for the evaluation of the post-mortem interval and the causes of death, and also on "DNA intelligence" in order to identify and validate new Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers useful for the identification of geographic origin (ancestry) and phenotypic characteristics (DNA phenotyping).

The Forensic Medical Laboratory makes its skills available for Third Mission and partnership activities:

1. training activities for health personnel and legal practitioners in relation to the clinical and forensic management of victims of gender-based violence
2. dissemination activities for schools and citizens regarding gender-based violence and equality, diversity and respect
3. medical-legal - biological (forensic genetics) consultancy for the judicial authorities and for the parties involved in the criminal, civil and non-judicial fields (identification of biological traces, corpses, living subjects, evaluation of consanguinity relationships, attribution of biological material taken during health treatments).

1. Zara G., Freilone F., Veggi S., Biondi E., Ceccarelli D., Gino S., “The medicolegal, psycho-criminological, and epidemiological reality of intimate partner and non-intimate partner femicide in North-West Italy: looking backwards to see forwards”, International Journal of Legal Medicine, 133(4):1295-1307, 2019.
2. Gino S., Bo M., Ricciardelli R., Alù M., Boschi I., Carnevali E., Fabbri M., Fattorini P., Piccinini A., Previderè C., Verzeletti A., Tozzo P., Caenazzo L., “Evaluation of critical aspects in clinical and forensic management of sexual violence: a multicentre GE.F.I. project”, Forensic Science International, 314, 2020 (110387).
3. Bo M., Canavese A., Magnano L., Rondana A., Castagna P., Gino S., “Violence against pregnant women in the experience of the Rape Centre of Turin: clinical and forensic evaluation”, Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 76:1-5, 2020 (102071).
4. Zara G., Theobald D., Veggi S., Freilone F., Biondi E., Mattutino G., Gino S., “Violence Against Prostitutes and Non-prostitutes: An Analysis of Frequency, Variety and Severity”, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, April 2021, doi:10.1177/08862605211005145
5. Procopio N., Lovisolo F., Sguazzi G., Ghignone S., Voyron S., Migliario M., Renò F., Sellitto F., D'angiolella G., Tozzo P., Caenazzo L., Gino S., ""Touch microbiome" as a potential tool for forensic investigation: A pilot study", Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, 82, 102223, 2021.
6. Di Nunzio M., Agostini V., Alessandrini F., Barrot-Feixat C., Berti A., Bini C., Bottinelli M. Carnevali E., Corradini B., Fabbri M., Fattorini P., Garofano P., Gino S., Mameli A., Marino A., Previderè C., Robino C., Romano C., Tozzo P., Verzeletti A., Buscemi L., Gangitano D., Di Nunzio C., “A Ge.F.I. - ISFG European collaborative study on DNA identification of Cannabis sativa samples using a 13-locus multiplex STR method”, Forensic Science International, 329, 111053, 2021.
7. Sguazzi G., Mickleburgh H., Ghignone S., Voyron S., Renò F., Migliario M., Sellitto F., Lovisolo F., Camurani G., Obganga N., Gino S., Procopio N., “Microbial DNA in human DNA extracts: recoverability of the microbiome in DNA extracts stored frozen long-term and its potential and ethical implications for forensic investigation”, Forensic Science International: Genetics, 59, 2022, 102686.
8. Ogbanga N., Nelson A., Ghignone S., Voyron S., Lovisolo F., Sguazzi G., Reno’ F., Migliario M., Gino S., Procopio N., "The oral microbiome for geographic origin: an Italian study", Forensic Science International: Genetics, 2023 May;64:102841.
9. Ogbanga N., Nelson A., Gino S., Wescott D.J., Mickleburgh H.L., Gocha T.P., Procopio N., "The impact of freezing on the post-mortem human microbiome", Front. Ecol. Evol, 11:1151001, 2023.
10. Rubini E., Valente M., Trentin M., Facci G., Ragazzoni L., Gino S., "Negative consequences of conflict-related sexual violence on survivors: a systematic review of qualitative evidence", International Journal for Equity in Health, Oct 27;22(1):227, 2023. (10.1186/s12939-023-02038-7).

SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS

Scientific collaboration with Dr. Noemi Procopio - University of Central Lanchashire (UK).Dr. Procopio is Visiting Professor at the University of Eastern Piedmont.

Scientific collaboration with Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) in the study of the microbiome for forensic purposes. Prof. Sarah Gino is co-tutor of a PhD student on this topic and she is Visiting Fellow

Scientific collaboration with the Centro Soccorso Violenza Sessuale (Rape Centre) at the Sant'Anna Hospital in Turin (scientific director Dr. Paola Castagna) in the context of research activities in the field of sexual violence and maltreatment in pregnancy and problems relating to migrant women.

Scientific collaboration with the National Research Council (CNR) - Institute for the sustainable protection of plants (scientific director Dr. Stefano Ghignone), and the University of Turin - Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology (scientific director Dr. Samuele Voyron) in the context of the study of forensic microbiology for the purpose of personal identification, of defining the causes of death and the time of death.

Scientific collaboration for carrying out research activities with Eurofins Genoma (scientific director Dr. Luca Salvaderi) in the study of new polymorphic markers for the purpose of personal identification, definition of the geographical origin and phenotype (colour of the eyes, hair, skin ...) to be applied to forensic cases.

Scientific collaboration for carrying out research activities with Consorzio Piemontese per la prevenzione e repressione del doping e di altri usi illeciti dei farmaci “Centro Regionale Antidoping Alessandro Bertinaria” (responsabile scientifico dott. Paolo Garofano) in order to carry out experimental studies on the degradation of DNA extracts stored in non-ideal conditions. The University of Central Lancashire and Eurofins Genoma are also partner in the project.

SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS WITH FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES FOR THE REALIZATION OF DEGREE THESES

University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

1. "A review of the forensic applications of human microbiome research with focus on mass graves / mass disasters", M.Sc. in Forensic Science, University of Amsterdam

2. "The use of STR and SNP methods for phenotype prediction", M.Sc. in Forensic Science, University of Amsterdam

3. “Identification of cadavers in single and mass graves: different strategies in forensic genetics”, M.Sc. in Forensic Science, University of Amsterdam, Co-Supervisor con dott.ssa Hayley Mickleburgh e dott.ssa Noemi Procopio.

Murdoch University (Australia)

1. "Persistence and contamination of the human microbiome from clothes: T-shirt, socks and underwear_Section I", M.Sc. in Forensic Sciences (Professional Practice)

2. "Persistence and contamination of the human microbiome from clothes: T-shirt, socks and underwear_Section II", M.Sc. in Forensic Sciences (Professional Practice)

Uppsala University (Sweden)

1. "New molecular approaches to solving forensic caseworks", Master's program in Forensic Science

SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATIONS WITH FOREIGN UNIVERSITIES FOR THE REALIZATION OF DOCTORAL THESES

Northumbria University (UK)

1. "The forensic microbiome: investigation of the human microbiome for time since death estimation and human identification".

1.  2019: FAR2017 (Renò – Migliario – Gino) “Effetto di probiotici topici sul wound healing nel cavo orale: studio in vitro su un modello 3D di mucosa orale e in vivo”, funded with € 30,000 by the University of Eastern Piedmont.

2.  2021: Partner in the project “PAUSE (Prevention of Assault Under Scientific Evidence) interdisciplinare per contrastare la violenza interpersonale” proposed by the Department of Computer Science at the University of Turin, funded with € 50,000 related to a call for Public Engagement projects promoted by the University of Turin.

3. 2023: PRIN: PROGETTI DI RICERCA DI RILEVANTE INTERESSE NAZIONALE – Bando 2022 PNRR (Carbone D. – PI; Dagnes J., Scacchi L., Gino S. Ruspa M., Mognetti B., Monaci M.G.) “Gender segregation in specialised medical training”, finanziato con € 263.574

4. 2023: BANDO RICERCA UPO 2022 (Angelucci A. – P.I., Carbone D., Zaltron F., Gino S.) “Tackling Gender Segregation in Medical Specialisation Paths: choices, careers, and opportunity structure”, finanziato con € 44.500

Prof.ssa. Sarah Gino, MD (P.I.), dr. Federica Collini, dr. Giulia Sguazzi (PhD student), dr. Elena Rubini (PhD student)