Scientific Papers

Over the last 10 years, the Virtopsy® team has published around 400 peer-reviewed scientific articles.

Zora

2026

1. Advances in wound ballistic research: Computed tomography analysis of projectile effects in simulants. Crossref:10.1016/j.jflm.2025.103061 DOI
2. Assessing the impact of bone type on the accuracy of methylation-based forensic age estimation. Crossref:10.1016/j.fsigen.2026.103459 DOI
3. Attenuating trauma- and cocaine-related intrusions by blocking memory reconsolidation with minocycline: protocol for a transdiagnostic randomized controlled trial. Crossref:10.1080/20008066.2026.2650920 DOI
4. Challenges in mRNA-based time since deposition estimation: A multiplex MPS primer panel investigation. Crossref:10.1016/j.fsigen.2025.103415 DOI
5. Comparison of human metabolome changes identified in a placebo-controlled amphetamine administration study versus those using forensic toxicology routine data. Crossref:10.1038/s41598-026-34985-w DOI
6. Conversion to publication rate of abstracts presented at annual congresses of the International Society of Forensic Radiology and Imaging. Crossref:10.1016/j.fri.2025.200661 DOI
7. Dorsal hand image comparison: A survey of image comparison practitioners. Crossref:10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112758 DOI
8. Fahreignungsuntersuchungen bei Senioren am IRM-UZH – eine retrospektive Analyse
9. Fatal intoxication involving amphetamine, clonazafone, a benzodiazepine prodrug, and fluoro-etonitazene, a new synthetic opioid. Crossref:10.1007/s00414-025-03627-7 DOI
10. First experience with 0.31 Tesla low-field MRI in post-mortem fetal examinations. Crossref:10.1007/s00414-025-03698-6 DOI
11. Forensic 3D avatars – AI-assisted injury detection and interactive digital-twin visualization. Crossref:10.1007/s12024-026-01200-1 DOI
12. From 3D Surface Documentation to Visualization in Forensic Practice: A Review of Current Methods and Emerging Technologies. PubMed:PMID:42030038 DOI
13. From Unsupervised Selection of AIMs to Likelihood-Based BGA inference: Challenges Revealed by OpenADMIXTURE and GENOGEOGRAPHER. Crossref:10.1016/j.fsigen.2026.103433 DOI
14. High-resolution bone imaging and spectral soft-tissue contrast in post-mortem photon-counting CT DOI
15. How do substance and polysubstance use trajectories differ by sexual attraction from ages 17 to 24? A community-based longitudinal cohort study in Switzerland. Crossref:10.1136/bmjph-2025-003583 DOI
16. In Situ pH Determination Using ¹ H‐MRS Acetate Chemical Shift for Noninvasive Postmortem Examinations. Crossref:10.1002/nbm.70323 DOI
17. Intracranial needle insertion into an infant’s brain: a case report revealing an unprecedented computed tomography discovery. Crossref:10.1007/s00414-025-03685-x DOI
18. Memory deficits of MDMA users are linked to cortical thinning related to 5-HT receptor densities. Crossref:10.1093/brain/awaf391 DOI
19. Methylation-based forensic age estimation on different biogeographic backgrounds: A study on Central Europeans, East Asians and West Africans. Crossref:10.1016/j.fsigen.2025.103397 DOI
20. Musculoskeletal Diseases 2026–2029. Crossref:10.1007/978-3-032-17040-8 DOI
21. Myocardial calcification revealed by postmortem computed tomography in a case of infantile myocardial ischemia caused by anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. Crossref:10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102743 DOI
22. Peptide ratios for post-mortem interval estimation using targeted liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Crossref:10.1007/s00414-025-03693-x DOI
23. Perceived Chronic Stress prior to SARS-CoV-2 Infection Predicts Ongoing Symptomatic COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study. Crossref:10.1159/000547858 DOI
24. Petrous bone fractures and ossicular chain lesions detected by PMCT in burnt bodies. Crossref:10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112709 DOI
25. Photography techniques for 3D surface reconstruction during autopsy. Crossref:10.1016/j.forsciint.2025.112702 DOI
26. Something is not nothing: Hair-tested substance use and cognitive functions in a large community sample of young adults. Crossref:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2026.10156 DOI
27. Stereotactic rodent-to-human approximation of the mesencephalic cuneiform nucleus to guide deep brain stimulation. PubMed:PMID:41786287 DOI
28. Striking energy achieved by knee strikes, elbow blows, head butts and fist punches. Crossref:10.1016/j.forsciint.2026.112889 DOI
29. The Impact and Reliability of Tissue Segmentation on In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Metabolite Quantification. Crossref:10.1002/mrm.70380 DOI
30. Think Forensic, Act Forensic, Feel Forensic: Qualitative Descriptive Recording of Forensic Nurses’ Experiences in German-Speaking Switzerland. Crossref:10.1097/jfn.0000000000000576 DOI
31. Where i got to – in radiology. Crossref:10.1067/j.cpradiol.2026.04.011 DOI

2025

1. A 28-Year-Old Man With Consecutive Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Kidney Failure, and Progressive Neurologic Deterioration. Crossref:10.1016/j.chest.2025.05.031 DOI
2. A CE-based mRNA profiling method including six targets to estimate the time since deposition of blood stains DOI
3. Accuracy and Robustness of Bone Volume Fraction Assessment by Photon-Counting, Dual-Energy, and Quantitative CT using Micro-CT as Standard of Reference DOI
4. Analysis of <i>Treponema pallidum</i> subsp. <i>pallidum</i> predicted outer membrane proteins (OMPeomes) in 21 clinical samples: variant sequences are predominantly surface-exposed. Crossref:10.1128/msphere.00213-25 DOI
5. Assessing the Feasibility of In Vitro Assays in Combination with Biological Matrices to Screen for Endogenous CYP450 Phenotype Biomarkers Using an Untargeted Metabolomics Approach—A Proof of Concept Study. Crossref:10.3390/metabo15120791 DOI
6. Assessing transcriptomic signatures of aging: Testing an mRNA marker panel for forensic age estimation of blood samples DOI
7. Assessment of cardiac biomarker “point-of-care” testing as postmortem diagnostic tool DOI
8. Association between inflammatory biomarkers, chronic stress, and pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation obtained with coronary CT. PubMed:PMID:40886153 DOI
9. Associations Between Self‐Reported Cocaine Use Patterns and Cocaine and Its Metabolites in Hair: Implications for Clinical and Forensic Practices DOI
10. Automated volumetric estimation of six basic thoracic and abdominal organs in postmortem computed tomography data using deep learning techniques DOI
11. Ayahuasca-inspired DMT/HAR formulation reduces brain differentiation between self and other faces DOI
12. Cannabis use is associated with changes in psychological and functional well-being during young adulthood: evidence from self-reports and hair analyses. Crossref:10.1017/s003329172510144x DOI
13. Clinically Uncertain Liver Masses: A Guide to Distinguishing Poorly Differentiated Primary Liver Cancer. Crossref:10.3390/biomedicines13051063 DOI
14. Co-Boost: boosting and guiding neuroplasticity by combining ketamine with neurofeedback-assisted learning-towards an individualised and integrated pharmaco-psychotherapy for cocaine addiction: study protocol for a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, single-centre trial. PubMed:PMID:40999531 DOI
15. Colchicum autumnale poisoning in a dairy farm in Switzerland: a glimpse at the milk safety aspect. Crossref:10.4081/ijfs.2025.13828 DOI
16. Comparative evaluation of emphysema quantification: Standardized %LAV−950 versus DL-based emphysema quantification with clinical parameter correlation. Crossref:10.1097/md.0000000000046246 DOI
17. Correlation of pulmonary fat embolism with trauma and resuscitation in children DOI
18. Delayed Ferumoxtran‐10‐Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Neurography of the Lumbosacral Plexus: Impact on Vascular Suppression and Image Quality DOI
19. Development and thorough evaluation of a multi-omics sample preparation workflow for comprehensive LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics, lipidomics and proteomics datasets DOI
20. Dynamic ultrasound guided assessment of pelvic ring injury measurement (PRIME) for traumatic symphysis diastasis. PubMed:PMID:41148366 DOI
21. Effects of Subanesthetic Oromucosal Dexmedetomidine on Sleep in Humans: A Randomized, Controlled Pharmacokinetics–Pharmacodynamics Study. Crossref:10.1097/aln.0000000000005314 DOI
22. Endocannabinoid and steroid hormone levels during and after pregnancy in fingernail samples from mothers and their infants. Crossref:10.1016/j.steroids.2025.109663 DOI
23. Evaluation of Bladder Wash as an Alternative Specimen for Postmortem Toxicology: Comparison to Screening Results of Urine and Kidney Tissue DOI
24. Evaluation of Therapeutic Opioids in Hair of Neonatal and Pediatric Patients. Crossref:10.1002/dta.3935 DOI
25. Exploring transcriptomic signatures in sudden unexplained death (SUD) cases DOI
26. Feasibility and usefulness of in-hospital and at-home salivary sampling in healthy dogs and trilostane-treated dogs with Cushing’s syndrome: a prospective observational study. PubMed:PMID:41131585 DOI
27. FORMics: Forensic Microbiome and Metabolome Analysis for Body Fluid Identification
28. From Promise to Practice: Why HRMS Has Yet to Fully Revolutionize Forensic Toxicology DOI
29. Genetic Testing of a High-End ‘Angel Skin’ Precious Coral Necklace Identifies a Species New to the Precious Coral Trade and Potentially New to Science. Crossref:10.3390/d17060395 DOI
30. ISFRI Education Working Group: competencies and training requirements for reporting and interpretation of adult forensic post-mortem imaging. Crossref:10.1016/j.fri.2025.200652 DOI
31. ISFRI guidelines working group: best practice standards for non-contrast postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) of blunt force trauma. Crossref:10.1016/j.fri.2025.200630 DOI
32. Kategorisierte Analytische Fünfjahresintervalluntersuchung von Sexualdelikten am IRM UZH DOI
33. Left ventricular perforation resistance during pleural drainage puncture DOI
34. Magnetic resonance imaging of regional gray matter volume in persons who died by suicide DOI
35. Microbial and seminal traces of sexual intercourse and forensic implications. Crossref:10.1186/s40168-025-02268-7 DOI
36. mRNA profiling and donor association of mock casework samples: Results of a 3rd and 4th EDNAP collaborative exercise DOI
37. Multianalyte Approach-Including Automated Preparation of Calibrators-for Validated Quantification of 82 Drugs in Whole Blood by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry DOI
38. National Consensus on the Assessment of Visual Function for Driving in Switzerland DOI
39. New Approaches To Identify Urine and Hair Adulteration Attempts in Forensic Toxicology: A Proof-of-Concept Study Using a Proteomics Approach Based on Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). Crossref:10.1021/acs.analchem.5c03096 DOI
40. Pars basilaris size to estimate fetal and young infant age using forensic post mortem CT imaging DOI
41. Postmortem computed tomography-based evaluation of brain decomposition: Correlation with postmortem interval and cause-of-death determinability. Crossref:10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102710 DOI
42. Postmortem CT and MRI for detecting bowel obstruction in cases of pediatric sepsis deaths DOI
43. Postmortem CT: Applications in Clinical and Forensic Medicine DOI
44. Prevalence and origin of prominent nutrient channels of the ilium bone on MR-imaging DOI
45. Prolonged Detection of GHB Intake in Urine: Are We Finally There?. Crossref:10.1002/dta.3956 DOI
46. Psychobiological stress outcomes in mothers, fathers, and children after successful assisted reproduction. Crossref:10.1080/02646838.2025.2596046 DOI
47. Quantitative wound ballistic analysis of gelatin head phantoms by computed tomography using the total crack length method DOI
48. Radial EBUS to Identify Tuberculosis Mediastinal Lymph Nodes for Biopsy in Young Children DOI
49. RNA Profiling for Forensic Applications: Body Fluid Identification, Estimating the Age of Stains, Determining the Age of the Stain Donor
50. Sample Preparation for Multi‐Omics Analysis: Considerations and Guidance for Identifying the Ideal Workflow DOI
51. Standardizing a microbiome pipeline for body fluid identification from complex crime scene stains DOI
52. Swiss recommendations on driving ability in patients with diabetes mellitus. Crossref:10.57187/s.4665 DOI
53. Systematic review and comparison of measurement methods for determining the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) on chest X-rays with subsequent validation using chest CT. Crossref:10.1097/md.0000000000045062 DOI
54. TASER 7 and TASER 10 Probe Penetration Into Human Skull Simulants DOI
55. The current state of forensic imaging – perspectives DOI
56. The current state of forensic imaging – post mortem imaging DOI
57. The current state of forensic imaging – recommended radiological tools and international guidelines DOI
58. The current state of forensic imaging– clinical forensic imaging DOI
59. The evolution of postmortem investigation: a historical perspective on autopsy’s decline and imaging’s role in its revival DOI
60. The influence of cancer on a forensic age estimation tool. Crossref:10.18632/aging.206281 DOI
61. The periaqueductal gray in chronic low back pain: dysregulated neurotransmitters and function DOI
62. Toward a Cannabis Terroir: Untargeted Metabolomic Profiling of Authentic Samples Using Gas Chromatography–High‐Resolution Mass Spectrometry (GC‐HRMS) and Liquid Chromatography–High‐Resolution Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC‐HRMS/MS) DOI
63. Trace DNA from a century-old holotype specimen resolves taxonomic uncertainties: the case of the Hawaiian pink precious coral (Pleurocorallium secundum), a CITES-listed species used in jewelry. Crossref:10.1007/s00338-025-02678-x DOI
64. Uncovering genetic signatures of the Walser migration in the Alps: Patterns of diversity and differentiation DOI
65. Untargeted Metabolomics for Forensic Body Fluid Identification-A Pilot Study. Crossref:10.1021/acs.analchem.5c04864 DOI
66. Using Hologram-Based Augmented Reality in Anatomy Learning: The TEACHANATOMY Randomized Trial DOI
67. UYSD: a novel data repository accessible via public website for worldwide population frequencies of Y-SNP haplogroups DOI
68. VIRTual autOPSY—applying CT and MRI for modern forensic death investigations. Crossref:10.3389/fradi.2025.1557636 DOI
69. Virtual Bullet Examination: Forensic Insights from CT Imaging in Gunshot Victims. Crossref:10.3390/forensicsci5020023 DOI

Pubmed

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Scopus

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Books

Gil Brogdon”s standard textbook “Brogdon’s Forensic Radiology” (CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA, 2nd ed. 2010) which was edited by Gil Brodon, Michael Thali and Mark Viner provides an excellent overview of forensic radiology and features several chapters on Virtopsy®. Click here to order the book online through Amazon.com

The textbook “The Virtopsy Approach” (CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA, 1st ed. 2009) which was edited by Michael Thali, Richard Dirnhofer and Peter Vock provides in-depth information on forensic imaging.Click here to order the book online through Amazon.com

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