University of Turin Launches “IDENTIKID”.  An Identification Form to Support the Search and Identification for Missing Children and Adolescents

The University of Turin, through the Laboratory of Personal Identification and Forensic Odontology (LIPOF) of the Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, has developed IDENTIKID, an innovative Identification Form for Children and Adolescents designed to assist families and authorities in the rapid identification of minors in cases of disappearance.

IDENTIKID was conceived and developed by Prof. Emilio Nuzzolese, forensic odontologist and faculty member at the University of Turin, with the aim of strengthening preparedness and coordination in missing child emergencies.

The IDENTIKID form allows families to collect and securely store key identifying information about their child, including personal details, dental records, fingerprints, and recent photographs.

In emergencies, this information can be promptly shared with law enforcement authorities – such as the Police, Carabinieri, or Civil Protection – to facilitate search and identification operations.

Developed in collaboration with Penelope Italia Onlus, an association supporting families of missing persons, IDENTIKID is inspired by the U.S. Child ID Kit program (established in 1998), but has been enhanced with detailed dental and oral health data, compiled with the support of the family’s dentist.

The form is free of charge, intended to be kept exclusively by families, and can be downloaded at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.25742766.v1 

To ensure global accessibility, IDENTIKID has been translated into English, Spanish, Japanese, Hindi, and many other languages, thanks to the collaboration of the Association of Forensic Odontology and Human Rights.

The project has received the endorsement of the Italian National Federation of the Orders of Physicians and Dentists (FNOMCeO), Penelope Italia, and the Association of Forensic Odontology and Human Rights (AFOHR).

For information:

University of Turin

Laboratory of Personal Identification and Forensic Odontology (LIPOF)

Corso Galileo Galilei, 22 – 10126 Turin, Italy

Tel. +39 011 6705919 | Email: emilio.nuzzolese@unito.it