image: Guest Editor Santo Davide Ferrara
Credit: FSR
https://researching.cn/EN/JournalEarlyPostingIssue/fsr
This Special Issue addresses the significant challenges associated with the identification of human remains in both routine forensic casework and extraordinary circumstances. It highlights advances in multidisciplinary approaches, emerging technologies, and best practices that support accurate and reliable identification across a wide range of contexts, including decomposed, fragmented, burned, and disaster-related remains.
Guest Editor: Santo Davide Ferrara, Emeritus Professor and Past President, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
On the occasion of the recent Congress of the International Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS), held in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 25 to 30 May 2026, the Special Issue entitled The Future of Forensic Sciences was officially presented to the international forensic science community.
The Special Issue was conceived and coordinated by Santo Davide Ferrara, serving as Guest Editor of the volume.
Structured around a collection of forward-looking scholarly essays and expert interviews, organised into a General Section and a Special Section, the volume offers a comprehensive reflection on the future evolution of forensic sciences, legal medicine and related interdisciplinary fields.
The publication comprises 22 scientific contributions authored or co-authored by 53 scholars and experts affiliated with 25 universities and institutions across 25 countries on four continents, reflecting a uniquely international and multidisciplinary perspective.
In an extensive editorial essay entitled Quo Vadis Forensic Science ?, the Guest Editor presents and critically discusses the scientific reflections that inspired the conception of the project, its overall structure, methodological framework, thematic architecture and the selection of contributors.
While examining the challenges currently facing the identity and future survival of forensic disciplines, the editorial addresses fundamental issues such as the autonomy and epistemological foundations of forensic sciences, the increasingly relevant implications of quantum physics, its intrinsic mysticism and conceptual dimensions, the principles of scientific freedom and openness, the risks associated with scientism, and the transformative impact of the ongoing digital revolution.
Particular emphasis is placed on the indispensable role of universities and academic communities in guiding, harmonizing and safeguarding future trajectories of scientific development.
The editorial concludes by arguing that the future of forensic sciences will largely depend upon the capacity to restore a renewed disciplinary unity while simultaneously embracing a more influential and effective vision of humanitarian forensic action.
Such a vision, the Guest Editor suggests, may become essential in confronting the unprecedented challenges posed by the emergence of Organoid-Based Superintelligence and other disruptive technological paradigms, the ultimate consequences of which can only be assessed by the impartial judgment of time itself.
Among the distinguished contributors are internationally recognized academic leaders, presidents of scientific societies, editors and co-editors of leading scientific journals, directors of research institutions and prominent representatives of national and international academic communities active in the broad field of forensic sciences.
Contributors include C. Basso, A. Carracedo, C. Cattaneo, S. Cordner, I. Dadour, H. de Boer, F. Dedouit, M. Ducloyer, V. Fineschi, J. Fronczek, A. W. Jones, A. Incampo, K. Michaud, B. Morrys, G. Orrù, R. Parma, S. Parsons, C. Phillips, P. Pietrini, S. Pollak, C. Roux, D.A. Shokry, G. Sartori, T. Snarski, P. Sommaggio, G. Tarantini, M. Tibbal-Binz, A.C. Van der Wal, P. Vanezis, N.M. Van Mieghem and N.D. Vieira, among others.
The authors are affiliated with leading academic institutions, including University of Bari, The University of Queensland, Cairo University, The University of Chicago, University of Coimbra, University of Freiburg, Medical University of Gdańsk, University of Granada, Medical University of Silesia, University of Florence, University of Lausanne, Linköping University, King’s College London, Queen Mary London, Maastricht University, The University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Milan, Nantes Université, University of Oxford, The University of Western Australia, University of Padua, University of Pisa, Sapienza University of Rome, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Santiago de Compostela, The University of Sydney, South Bank Academic Institutions, and Université de Toulouse, among others.
The Special Issue represents one of the most comprehensive international reflections currently available on the future challenges, opportunities and strategic directions of forensic sciences.
By bringing together leading voices from multiple scientific domains and geographical regions, The Future of Forensic Sciences offers a valuable roadmap for future generations of forensic scientists and contributes significantly to ongoing discussions concerning the evolution of forensic sciences in the twenty-first century.
The thematic scope of the volume encompasses a remarkably broad spectrum of disciplines and emerging areas of inquiry, including Biomolecular Medicine, Large Language and Reasoning Models, Radioimaging, Cardiology, Juridical Sciences, Clinical Legal Medicine, Pathology, Cardiovascular Pathology, Genomics, Toxicology, Doping and Anti-Doping Sciences, Forensic Anthropology, Psychology, Psychiatry, Criminology, Traceology, Entomology, Palynology, Humanitarian Forensic Action, and Education and Training within both Anglo-Saxon and Islamic Cultural Traditions.
The volume, focusing also on the complex and evolving challenges associated with the identification of human remains in forensic and humanitarian contexts, aims to highlight multidisciplinary, evidence-based, collaborative and innovative methodological and technological approaches.
In addition to the scientific essays, the Special Issue includes two distinguished interviews with internationally respected scholars, S. Piccolo and V. Botré, whose reflections provide further insight into contemporary scientific developments and future perspectives in biomedical and forensic research.
In conclusion, the Special Issue stands not only as a scientific publication, but also as an intellectual platform for reflection on the future identity, mission and societal role of forensic sciences in a rapidly changing world.
A video introduction to the issue is available to view at https://share.plvideo.cn/front/video/view?vid=943fc492df24e8624e1a2cc71fc86fcf_9
Papers in this issue:
First Section
Editorial
Quo Vadis Forensic Science ?
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0088?type=en
Santo Davide Ferrara
Interview
Molecular medicine meets forensic medicine
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0078?type=en
Stefano Piccolo, Santo Davide Ferrara
Reviews/Scholarly Essays
Large language and reasoning models in forensic sciences
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0038?type=en
Graziella Orrù, Pietro Pietrini, Giuseppe Sartori
Forensic imaging: what’s next? About some new challenges
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0033?type=en
Fabrice Dedouit, Mathilde Ducloyer
The emblematic future of cardiovascular sciences: clinical, pharmacological and interventional cardiology in the era of artificial intelligence
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0029?type=en
Giuseppe Tarantini, Andrea Panza, Radoslaw Parma, Nicolas M. Van Mieghem
Second Section
Reviews/Scholarly Essays
Artificial intelligence between regulation and symbiotic approach: a comprehensive legal review
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0027?type=en
Paolo Sommaggio, Piero Marra, Tomasz Snarski, Ivan Daldoss
When algorithms rule: AI, code, and the erosion of legal order
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0043?type=en
Antonio Incampo
Clinical forensic medicine: a field of forensic medicine at the crossroads of justice, science, and human dignity
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0048?type=en
Duarte Nuno Vieira
Macroscopic forensic pathology
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0031?type=en
Stefan Pollak
Forensic histopathology as an autonomous discipline of method and scientific advancement
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0028?type=en
Vittorio Fineschi and Donato Morena
Sudden cardiac death: postmortem issues and future research paths
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0047?type=en
Katarzyna Michaud, Sarah Parsons,Cristina Basso,Judith Fronczek,Allard C. van der Wal and Hans H. de Boer
From forensic genetics to omics in forensics-a visionary perspective on the future of forensic genetics
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0061?type=en
Angel Carracedo, Adrian Ambroa-Conde, Alejandro Blanco-Verea, Maria Brión, Maria de la Puente, Ana Freire-Aradas, Ana Mosquera-Miguel, Christopher Phillips, Amelia Rodríguez-López, Maria Victoria Lareu
Past, present, and future of forensic toxicology
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0045?type=en
Alan W. Jones
Interview
The future of doping and anti-doping
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0079?type=en
Francesco Botrè, Santo Davide Ferrara
Reviews/Scholarly Essays
Forensic anthropology and odontology in the 21st century: a perspective on advances and unmet needs
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0054?type=en
Cristina Cattaneo, Debora Mazzarelli, Mirko Mattia, Giulia Caccia, Marco Cummaudo, Pasquale Poppa, Dominic Salsarola, Danilo De Angelis
Large language and reasoning models in forensic psychology, psychiatry and criminology
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0039?type=en
Giuseppe Sartori, Pietro Pietrini, Graziella Orrù
Forensic science at an epistemological crossroads: choosing its future
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0055?type=en
Claude Roux
Forensic entomology in the age of data, DNA and AI
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0026?type=en
Ian R. Dadour, Beryl Morris
Forensic palynology: principles, applications and emerging frontiers
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0025?type=en
Ian R. Dadour, Beryl Morris
Humanitarian forensic action. Its origins, applications, value and future directions
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0058?type=en
Morris Tidball-Binz, Stephen Cordner, Cristina Cattaneo, Duarte Nuno Vieira
Paradigmatic present and future education in forensic medicine in the United Kingdom
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0032?type=en
Peter Vanezis
Forensic medicine education in Egypt and Islamic culture
https://researching.cn/EN/HPArticle/TFSR-2026-0049?type=en
Dina Ali Shokry
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Guest Editor Biography
Santo Davide Ferrara
Santo Davide Ferrara, Emeritus Professor of Legal Medicine and Forensic Toxicology, at the State University of Padova, Italy, where he also served as Dean of the School of Medicine and Surgery, Director of the Department of Public Health and of the International Centre for Behavioural and Forensic Toxicology (UNDCP Collaborating Centre). Former Director of the Institutes and Schools of Legal Medicine at the State Universities of Ancona and Parma, Italy, and Vice-President of the European Council of Legal Medicine (ECLM). Past President of the European Academy (EALM), the International Academy of Legal Medicine (IALM) and the Veneto Region School of Public Health (SSP). For decades Regional Representative of the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT) and Director of the International Program of Proficiency Testing on Psychoactive Substances. For many years Consultant to the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and to the World Health Organisation, Division of Mental Health, as Director of training programmes in Asia and Africa in the fields of forensic medicine and toxicology. President of international congresses, Chairman, Moderator, and invited Speaker at numerous international symposia in the biomedical and forensic sciences. Editor and Member of the Editorial Boards of international journals in legal medicine and forensic sciences. Author of more than 400 publications, including monographs and articles in national and international peer-reviewed journals and publishing houses.
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Forensic Sciences Research (FSR) is a publication of the Academy of Forensic Science (AFS), Shanghai, P.R. China, that publishes the latest research in various disciplines of forensic sciences. It aims to promote forensic sciences through quality research articles, reviews, case reports, and letters to editors. The journal has been publishing highly impactful articles and achieving a 1.4 Impact Factor and 3.6 CiteScore (Scopus) while averaging 11 days from submission to first decision. Forensic Sciences Research is indexed in by ESCI, PMC, Scopus, DOAJ, ProQuest, HeinOnline and CSCD.
For more information, please visit https://researching.cn/fsr
Editorial Board: https://researching.cn/fsr/journalnewsdetails/5d92066a-f54c-4f2f-ad88-0fa6d74b4ca6
Forensic Sciences Research is available online at https://researching.cn/fsr/allissues
Submissions to Forensic Sciences Research may be made using Editorial Manager® (https://www.editorialmanager.com/tfsr/default.aspx).
Citation metrics
1.8 (2024) Journal Impact Factor (Clarivate)
2.3 (2024) 5 Year Impact Factor (Clarivate)
4.1 (2025) CiteScore (Scopus)
Q1 (2025) CiteScore Best Quartile
Print ISSN: 2096-1790
Online ISSN: 2471-1411
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Journal
Forensic Sciences Research