Introduction

Introduction of the Department The Department of Forensic Medicine & Medical Jurisprudence at the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore, is a multidisciplinary centre that integrates clinical education, applied research, and medico-legal services to support healthcare, public safety and the justice system. Conceived to meet a rising national demand for scientifically trained forensic expertise, the department has expanded from core undergraduate instruction into a comprehensive postgraduate and research unit offering M.Phil and PhD training. Over the years its faculty and postgraduate researchers have contributed to methodological advances in forensic genetics, toxicology, postmortem interval estimation, latent-fingerprint technology and nano-/electrochemical sensing for toxicants and drugs, strengthening both local capability and scholarly output.

The department’s academic remit encompasses clinical forensic medicine, forensic pathology, report writing, toxicology and analytical chemistry, serology, DNA analysis and population genetics, odontology and forensic anthropology, latent fingerprint development, and trace evidence analysis (fibres, paints, gunshot and explosive residues). Teaching is built on a blended pedagogy: rigorous theoretical modules are combined with problem-based learning, mock crime-scene simulations, supervised laboratory rotations, and courtroom preparedness training. Postgraduate curricula prioritize research design, statistical inference, method validation, laboratory quality management, ethical practice and clear expert communication, skills essential for expert witnesses, laboratory leads and academic investigators.

A major function of the department is to deliver support to clinicians, law enforcement and judicial authorities via expert opinions, forensic reporting and technical consultations. Its analytical infrastructure, comprising forensic serology and toxicology facilities, a trace-chemistry suite, fingerprint development station, firearm and tool-mark analysis capability, and a BSL-II laboratory for compromised biological samples, enables both routine casework and advanced research. Student and faculty projects are problem-driven and locally relevant: examples include population-specific STR and SNP characterization, miRNA and mRNA approaches for postmortem interval estimation, electrochemical and nanoparticle sensors for rapid toxicant detection, and environmental stability studies of biological evidence.

Beyond technical capacity, the department emphasizes forensic ethics, chain-of-custody discipline, victim-centred examination, and defensible expert testimony. Graduates are trained to balance scientific rigor with ethical responsibility, protecting human rights while contributing to evidence-based legal outcomes. The department also organizes continuing professional development workshops, interagency simulation exercises and forensic-awareness sessions for healthcare providers and law enforcement; mentoring, conference support and grant-writing guidance further cultivate a strong research pipeline. Research outputs and alumni contributions increasingly inform national forensic policy and practice. Looking forward, the department will prioritize laboratory accreditation, adoption of modern molecular and digital forensic methods, expanded postgraduate intake, intensified interdisciplinary partnerships, and translation of research into forensic services and policy. Through sustained investment in people, infrastructure and collaborative networks, the Department of Forensic Medicine & Medical Jurisprudence at UHS aims to remain a resilient, nationally relevant centre of excellence for forensic education and research.

Vision

To be a nationally and regionally recognized centre of excellence in forensic medicine advancing scientific innovation, ethical practice and professional training while shaping policy and building partnerships that strengthen justice, public safety and population health across Pakistan and neighboring regions.

Mission

To educate and train highly competent forensic professionals and researchers through rigorous clinical and laboratory instruction, robust and ethically conducted research, and reliable medico-legal services. We will: (1) develop and translate locally relevant forensic technologies, (2) deliver timely evidence-based medico-legal services, (3) build national capacity through partnerships and training, and (4) uphold integrity, quality assurance and victim-centred standards while ensuring measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.