Sorenson Genomics to Identify Tsunami Victims in Thailand; Utah Laboratory Assisting Thai Government to Perform DNA Analysis of Victims Most Difficult to Identify
Sorenson Genomics and Pacific Rim Consulting announced today that they are partnering to assist the Thai government in determining the identities of victims of the tsunami that struck the coastlines of Thailand and 11 other countries on December 26, 2004. The number of estimated victims in Thailand is 5,300 and growing.
Both companies are donating their time and resources to collect tissue and dental samples from tsunami victims found in Thailand, perform advanced DNA analysis to ascertain the genetic identify of victims, and match the DNA profiles of victims with those of living relatives.
“We feel privileged to be a part of this effort that can bring closure and comfort to surviving family members of the tsunami victims found in Thailand,” said Sorenson Genomics founder James LeVoy Sorenson, a noted billionaire, inventor, and philanthropist.
Sorenson Genomics performs DNA testing for many client organizations in more than 10 countries throughout the world. It is currently one of only four laboratories in the U.S. accredited for DNA testing by both the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) and the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), and is the only facility certified to do DNA testing for genealogical purposes.
“Our goal is to bring the victims home and reunite them with their families,” said Pacific Rim Consulting president David Rockwood. Rockwood has been consulting in Southeast Asia for 20 years and currently divides his time between living in Bangkok, Thailand and Park City, Utah. He was named in 2004 as an honorary trade representative for Thailand by the State of Utah’s International Business Development Office.
“It is because of the dedicated efforts of David Rockwood and the relationship of trust he has with government leaders in Thailand that makes this all possible,” said Douglas Fogg, chief operating officer of Sorenson Genomics.
Rockwood was watching coverage of the tsunami on a local Utah newscast when he saw one of his closest friends and business associates being interviewed. Rockwood learned that his friend was alive only because he was in his room on the third floor of a sturdy hotel building in Phuket when the waves of the tsunami hit. “I promptly got in touch with my friend on his cell phone,” said Rockwood. “As we spoke, I knew right away that there had to be something I could do in my second home to help the survivors of this disaster.”
As soon as he concluded the conversation with his friend, Rockwood woke up the staff in his Bangkok office and asked them to contact the Buddhist temple where the Thai government had selected as the central location to which tsunami victims found throughout the country would be brought for identification. Within an hour, Rockwood received a call from the head of forensics, Dr. Porntip Rojanasunan, on location at the temple. “I told her I knew of a lab in Utah that was experienced in performing DNA analysis,” he said.
The next day, Rockwood was on a plane headed for Thailand with 500 specimen collection kits and 1,000 swabs from Sorenson Genomics. For the next ten days, he worked from morning ’til evening together with Dr. Don Pedersen, head of the University of Utah’s physician’s assistants program, to collect samples from victims and family members to send back to the Sorenson Genomics laboratory. “Don happened to be coming to Thailand for a conference, and was willing to drop everything to help our Thai DNA team collect samples,” said Rockwood. “I set up shop with my computer to keep records while he collected the physical samples.”
Currently, Sorenson Genomics is performing DNA analysis on hundreds of the most difficult victims to identify. “Many of these bodies are so far along in the decomposition process that their identity cannot be clearly established without advanced DNA analysis,” said Lars Mouritsen, chief scientific officer at Sorenson Genomics. “We are uniquely qualified to perform this type of analysis.”
“The Chinese government graciously offered to analyze all of the victims at no cost, with results in a matter of months,” added Rockwood. “Right now we are only being asked to solve the most difficult cases.” He added that it is possible that the number of such cases will grow considerably. It is also possible that the scope of the victims Sorenson Genomics is asked to identify might expand to include some that are easier to identify, because of the speed and efficiency with which the lab is able to perform DNA analysis. The contribution from Sorenson Genomics could reach an estimated commercial value of $1.5 million.
The demand for accurate DNA analysis recently reached a new level of urgency when the Thai government instituted a death benefit of $1,000 for surviving family members of each victim. In order to claim the death benefit and to perform traditional Buddhist last rites for the victims, family members will now need to demonstrate a genetic relationship with the victim. “Last rites are a very important issue for Thai families,” said Rockwood. “That makes it all the more important that we are accurate in performing this analysis for the victims and their families.”
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