Unit of Forensic Imaging and Anthropology

Unit Services Research and Training FAQ

The Unit of Forensic Imaging and Anthropolog is part of the Foresnisc Medicine and Imaging Section (SMIF)

Main tasks

  • The UIAF performs at the request of the judicial authorities forensic imaging investigations, a technique that includes methods for acquiring and restoring images of the human body taking advantage of various techniques of imaging (e.g. CT-scan and MRI). Imaging investigations precede and complement the autopsy. Imaging techniques have the advantage of being non-destructive and the acquired data can be stored and reviewed later on.
  • Postmortem angio-CT is a minimally invasive imaging method that allows to investigate the details of the vascular system that can't be achieved with a conventional autopsy. This examination requires the administration of a contrast agent with an infusion pump. CT angiography enables the detection of a source of bleeding, a malformation of the network of blood vessels, arteriosclerosis lesions, occlusion of a vessel and the visualization of the vascular anatomy.

     
  • 3D documentation which allows reconstruction by virtual 3D modelling and 3D morphometric comparisons between the lesions and the suspected objects of causing the lesions.

     
  • Forensic anthropology uses scientific techniques borrowed to classical anthropology to identify decomposed remains of the human skeleton to determine the nature of the person (age, sex, height, etc.), to try to reconstitute his/her best possible physical appearance to help forensic pathologists to determine the manner of death (accident, homicide or natural death) and contribute to the elucidation of a crime.

Field of activity

The main fields of activity deal with postmortem investigation, clinical expertise and expertise on record. The UIAF also provides teaching and training to under-graduate and post-graduate students and also in continuing education. A wide variety of professions may be interestedv: medical doctors, pathologists, scientists, paramedics, judges, lawyers, police,...). The UIAF develops innovative research programmes in the field of forensic imaging.

Staff

  • The activities of the UIAF at the Geneva and Lausanne sites are carried out under the responsibility of Prof. Dr. Tony Fracasso. The unit is composed of forensic doctors, radiologists, anthropologists, radiographers, secretaries and engineers specialised in 3D surface scanning.

 

UIAF

 
  Staff
Head of the unit Tony Fracasso
Forensic pathologist

Coraline Egger (GE)

Pia Genet (LS)

Radiologist

Virginie Magnin

Medical trainee

Alexandra Letin (LS)

Valentin Marti (GE)

TRM Alejandro Dominguez (LS)
Christine Bruguier (LS) 
André Guerra (LS)
Ruben Soto (LS & GE)
 Sami Schranz (GE)
Francesca Versili (GE)
Valerie Frossard (LS & GE)
Engineer, 3D surface scanning specialist
Lorenzo Campana
Anthropologist

Negahnaz Moghaddam

Tobias Hofstetter

Ballistics expert Fabiano Riva
Secretary

Melissa Jotterand (LS)  

Annick Crockett-Griessen (GE)

Laurence Andre (LS)

Consulting doctors

external radiologists

The UIAF also welcomes interns and visiting researchers for varying periods of time, including students (medical, anthropology, radiographer), foreign doctors, post-graduate anthropologists, radiographers who wish to specialise in forensic imaging.

Equipments

Site Lausanne:

Site Geneva: