Forensic medicine has developed from the “detective with a scalpel”, as portrayed in crime and detective novels, to a mutiltidisciplinary forensic high-tech science.
Research comprises independent research as well as the adaptation, implementation and validation of scientific knowledge of other medical specialties for specific forensic purposes. Forensic research is high-quality university research, which must have an international orientation. Applied research is derived from specific sovereign questions (i.e. the identification of humans by means of DNA analysis, detection of toxins, evaluation of impairment due to drugs or medication in traffic, etc.) which are not managed this way in other Natural Sciences
