Madeline McLeod, Ph.D.

Madeline McLeod, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Forensic Science at St. Mary’s University. She joined the University in August 2024 and teaches undergraduate students forensic science and general biology classes. Her research interests include human and non-human DNA technologies for use in forensic science.

McLeod graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Biology. After graduation, she worked as a research assistant at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. The research she assisted with focused on the biological and pathological changes experienced during the aging process due to oxidative damage.

Her education continued at Sam Houston State University, where she earned a Ph.D. in Forensic Science. She performed her graduate research on forensic botany, focusing on the DNA of Cannabis sativa (marijuana) and Papaver somniferum (opium poppy). She developed a next-generation sequencing assay to interrogate novel markers in the chloroplast genome of C. sativa to differentiate between the drug (marijuana) and non-drug (hemp) forms of the plant and determine the biogeographic origin of forensic samples. Additionally, she developed a short tandem repeat (STR) assay for individual identification of poppy seeds for use in forensic cases of opium tea overdoses. In addition to her work on plants, McLeod studied decomposition at the Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science (STAFS) Facility (“body farm”) and its effects on forensic DNA profiling success. She performed or assisted in multiple research projects at Sam Houston State University involving the storage of DNA samples for mass disaster victims and the analysis and storage of low-template (“touch”) DNA.

After graduate school, McLeod worked as a Molecular Biologist at Signature Science, LLC in Austin. She performed forensic science-focused research projects for government clients, acting as the subject matter expert in forensic DNA for a team of multi-disciplinary scientists. In addition, she was trained as a DNA analyst in Signature Science’s casework laboratory and validated new methods and technologies for use on forensic evidence.

As a faculty member in the Biological Sciences department, McLeod’s research interests remain in the area of forensic DNA analysis, especially developing next-generation sequencing technologies for non-human species and improving human DNA analysis for difficult sample types, including touch DNA, mitochondrial DNA, mixed DNA templates and degraded DNA.

Publications

Gutierrez, R., Roman, M., Houston, R., and Kalafut, T. “Detection and analysis of DNA mixtures with the MiSeq FGx.” Science & Justice, 62(5), 547-555.

Gutierrez, R., Roman, M.G., Harrell, M., Hughes, S., LaRue, B., and Houston, R. (2022). “Assessment of the ForenSeq mtDNA Control Region kit and comparison of orthogonal technologies.” Forensic Science International: Genetics, 102721.

Roman, M.G., Cheng, Y.C., Kerrigan, S., and Houston, R. (2022). “Evaluation of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) synthase polymorphisms for distinguishing between marijuana and hemp.” Journal of Forensic Sciences, 67(4), 1370-1381.

Roman, M.G., Gutierrez, R., and Houston, R. (2022). “Massively parallel sequencing of Cannabis sativa chloroplast hotspots for determination of biogeographical origin and crop type.” Journal of Cannabis Research, 4(1), 1-10.

Roman, M.G., Flores, L.C., Cunningham, G.M., Cheng, C., Allen, C., Bai, Y., Hubbard, G.B., and Ikeno, Y. (2020). “Thioredoxin down-regulation in the cytosol in thioredoxin 2 transgenic mice did not have beneficial effects to extend lifespan in male C57BL/6 mice.” Aging Pathobiology and Therapeutics, 2(4), 203-209.

Roman, M.G., Flores, L.C., Cunningham, G.M., Cheng, C., Allen, C., Hubbard, G.B., Bai, Y., Saunders, T.L., and Ikeno, Y. (2020). “Thioredoxin and aging: What have we learned from the survival studies?” Aging Pathology and Therapeutics, 2(3), 126-133.

Roman, M.G., Gangitano, D., Figueroa, A., Solano, J., Anabalon, L., and Houston, R. (2020). “Use of eucalyptus DNA profiling in a case of illegal logging.” Science & Justice, 60(6), 487-494.

Roman, M.G. and Houston, R. (2020). “Investigation of chloroplast regions rps16 and clpP for determination of Cannabis sativa crop type and biogeographical origin.” Legal Medicine, 47, 101759.

Roman, M.G., Flores, L.C., Cunningham, G.M., Cheng, C., Dube, S., Allen, C., Van Remmen, H., Bai, Y., Hubbard, G.B., Saunders, T.L., and Ikeno, Y. (2020). “Thioredoxin overexpression in mitochondria showed minimum effects on aging and age-related disease in male C57BL/6 mice.” Aging Pathology and Therapeutics, 2(1), 20-31.

Tasker, E., Roman, M.G., Akosile, M., Mayes, C., Hughes-Stamm, S., and LaRue, B. (2020). “Efficacy of ‘touch’ DNA recovery and room-temperature storage from assault rifle magazines.” Legal Medicine, 43, 101658.

Young, B.*, Roman, M.G.*, LaRue, B., Gangitano, D., and Houston, R. (2019). “Evaluation of 19 short tandem repeat markers for individualization of Papaver somniferum.” Science & Justice, 60(3), 253-262.

* Indicates equal contribution by authors.

Di Nunzio, M., Houston, R., Roman, M.G., Di Nunzio, C., Gangitano, D., and Barrot, C. (2019). “European validation of a Cannabis sativa 13-locus STR multiplex kit for genetic identification: A preliminary study.” Forensic Science International: Genetics Supplement Series, 7(1), 224-226.

Roman, M.G., Gangitano, D., and Houston, R. (2019). “Characterization of new chloroplast markers to determine biogeographical origin and crop type of Cannabis sativa.” International Journal of Legal Medicine, 133(6), 1721-1732.

Cunningham, G.M, Flores, L.C., Roman, M.G., Cheng, C., Dube, S., Allen, C., Valentine, J.M., Hubbard, G.B., Bai, Y., Saunders, T.L., and Ikeno, Y. (2018). “Thioredoxin overexpression in both the cytosol and mitochondria accelerates age-related disease and shortens lifespan in male C57BL/6 mice.” GeroScience, 40(5-6), 453-468.

Flores, L.C., Roman, M.G., Cunningham, G.M., Cheng, C., Dube, S., Allen, C., Van Remmen, H., Hubbard, G.B, Saunders, T.L., and Ikeno, I. (2018). “Continuous overexpression of thioredoxin 1 enhances cancer development and does not extend maximum lifespan in male C57BL/6 mice.” Pathobiology of Aging and Age-related Diseases, 8(1), 1533754.

Holmes, A., Roman, M.G., and Hughes-Stamm, S. (2018). “In-field collection and preservation of decomposing human tissues to facilitate rapid purification and STR typing.” Forensic Science International: Genetics, 36, 124-129.

Cunningham, G.M.*, Roman, M.G.*, Flores, L.C., Hubbard, G.B., Salmon, A., Zhang, Y., Gelfond, J., and Ikeno, Y. (2015). “The paradoxical role of thioredoxin on cancer and aging.” Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 576, 32-38.

* Indicates equal contribution by authors.

Ikeno, Y., Hubbard, G.B., Lee, S., Dube, S., Flores, L.C., Roman, M., and Bartke, A. (2013). “Do Ames dwarf and calorie-restricted mice share common effects on age-related pathology?” Pathobiology of Aging & Age-related Diseases, 3, 20833.

Hinchee-Rodriquez, K., Garg, N., Venkatakrishnan, P., Roman, M.G., Adamo, M.L., Masters, B.S., and Roman, L.J. (2013) “Neuronal nitric oxide synthase is phosphorylated in response to insulin stimulation in skeletal muscle.” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications,435, 501-505.

Panda, S.P., Polusani, S.R., Kellogg, D.L., III, Venkatakrishnan, P., Roman, M.G., Demeler, B., Masters, B.S., and Roman, L.J. (2013). “Intra- and inter-molecular effects of a conserved arginine residue of neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthases on FMN and calmodulin binding.” The Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 533, 88-94.