The Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Lab

The IGG Lab is the practice arm of the IGG Center. In the Lab, Center staff will use IGG to produce leads in cases involving certain violent crimes, unidentified human remains, and wrongful convictions. Cases will come from jurisdictions throughout New Jersey, the greater United States – and the world. As one of the missions of the IGG Center is to expand the use of IGG in helping to solve cases of wrongful convictions, the Lab will place special emphasis on seeking out cases from the Innocence Project and similar organizations.

Students who complete the IGG Certificate Program will have the opportunity to assist with Lab cases through the summer IGG Bootcamp, and select traditional Ramapo students who complete the IGG Workshop course will be invited to help work on cases as well.

Refer a Case to the IGG Center 

The IGG Center is actively accepting cases for evaluation. IGG is able to provide leads in cases where CODIS or other STR DNA databases have not yielded results.

We consider cases in two categories: those involving unidentified human remains and those involving certain violent crimes. We are especially interested in expanding the use of IGG in helping to exonerate the wrongfully convicted.

We do not charge for our services, and funding is currently available to assist with the costs for DNA testing and fees for uploading to GEDmatch and FamilyTreeDNA.

If you are interested in consulting with our team, you may fill out the form below, call us, or email us at igg@ramapo.edu.

All information you share with us will be kept strictly confidentiality unless you give us written permission to discuss the case publicly.

Case Evaluation Form