School of Medical, Molecular and Forensic Sciences Celebrates Significant Achievement

We are proud to announce that a collaborative forensic research initiative led by the team of Dr John Coumbaros, Associate Professor Garth Maker, Professor David Keatley, Dr Renee Jelly and Mrs Marie Lynam has been awarded a $70,000 Criminal Justice Research Grant through the Western Australian Office of Crime Statistics and Research (WACSAR), part of the Department of Justice.

The project, titled: “Blurred Lines: Exploring the Tenuous Relationship Between Sexual Consent and Substance Use”, is being undertaken by PhD candidate Marie Lynam under the expert supervision of the research team. 

This project addresses a critical gap in drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) investigations — where prescribed medications such as diazepam or escitalopram are often detected in toxicology results, yet there remains no scientific framework to determine how such substances affect an individual’s capacity to provide sexual consent.

Through a multidisciplinary research design combining forensic toxicology, pharmacology, behavioural science, and case analysis, the team aims to:

• Develop an evidence-based model to assist legal decision-makers in interpreting levels of impairment.
• Translate complex toxicological data into behavioural impact assessments, akin to existing frameworks for alcohol intoxication.
• Improve justice outcomes by enhancing the understanding of substance-driven cognitive impairment in DFSA contexts.
  

Marie’s research activities include:

• Analysis of court transcripts from DFSA cases
• Laboratory studies of metabolic and neurotransmitter effects of the prescription drugs escitalopram (Lexapro) and diazepam (Valium), with and without alcohol
• Modelling of drug–drug interactions and their impact on cognitive functions such as memory, impulse control, and voluntary consent
  

This grant supports the research program’s broader goal of advancing forensic toxicology to meet modern legal challenges. It reflects the strength of the research environment at Murdoch University and the growing relevance of translational forensic science to real-world justice applications.

We congratulate the team for securing this significant and competitive funding, and we recognise the contributions of PhD candidate Marie Lynam in advancing the experimental and analytical components of this important research.