Pathology/Biology Section Awards—2026 AAFS Annual Conference

Several members of the Pathology/Biology Section were recognized during the 2026 Section Business Meeting for their contributions to forensic science and to the activities of the Section and of the Academy.

The Milton Helpern Award was presented to Dorothy E. Dean, MD, in recognition of her distinguished career in forensic pathology and more than 25 years of service as a forensic pathologist and Deputy Coroner at the Hamilton County Coroner's Office. Her contributions include numerous publications, co-authoring the textbook Practical Forensic Pathology and Toxicology (CRC Press, 2024), and longstanding service to the American Academy of Forensic Sciences through reviewing, mentorship, and professional engagement.
 

The Award for Achievement in the Forensic Life Sciences was presented to Noemi Procopio, PhD, in recognition of her contributions to advancing forensic science through biomolecular approaches. As Full Professor in Forensic Sciences and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, she leads the Forens-OMICS team, integrating proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics to improve postmortem interval and age-at-death estimation. She is also currently Chair of the Pathology/Biology Section.
 

The Section also recognized excellence in scientific presentation. The Best Resident Paper Award was presented to Ashley Smith, MD, for the presentation titled Retinal Fold Apical Attachment of the Internal Limiting Membrane Is Not Diagnostic of Vitreoretinal Traction During Alleged Cycles of Ocular Acceleration-Deceleration (Shaking): Insights From Lange's Folds Histology.

In addition, the 2026 Pathology/Biology Section Research Grant was awarded to Lavinia Iancu, PhD, for the project Microbial and VOC Signatures as Predictors of Postmortem Interval, conducted in collaboration with Selly Strauch, MD, Darshil Patel, PhD, Andrea Bonicelli, PhD, and Noemi Procopio, PhD.

Finally, Kathryn Pinneri, MD, and Edward Mazuchowski, MD, PhD, received the 2026 Annual Scientific Conference Service Award Certificate in recognition of their service on the Annual Meeting Program Committee, contributing to the development of the scientific program of the AAFS Annual Conference.

The Pathology/Biology Section congratulates all award recipients and acknowledges their important contributions to advancing research, education, and practice in forensic pathology and forensic biology.