What CFSRE does

The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education (CFSRE) is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit forensic science research and education organization operating under the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation. It serves government forensic and law enforcement agencies (medical examiner and coroner offices, crime laboratories), clinical and healthcare partners (hospitals and emergency departments), public health agencies, and forensic science students and professionals. Its mission is to advance forensic science capability, acceptance, and integrity in service of public health and safety.

CFSRE's core technical platform is NPS Discovery, a national program for documenting first reports of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in the United States. The platform uses advanced analytical instrumentation-including GC-MS, LC-QTOF-MS, and NMR-to characterize new compounds, and produces monographs, quarterly trend reports, public alerts, analytical toolkits, and scope recommendations developed with the SOFT NPS Committee. It maintains downloadable GC-MS and LC-QTOF-MS library databases (compatible with Agilent and SCIEX software), the FRDD Drug Database, and a Drug Testing Portal. The laboratory also conducts Next-Generation Sequencing work for forensic biology and human identification. The organization complements research with educational offerings: continuing professional education (online live, archival on-demand, board certification prep), three master's degree programs through Arcadia University and Thomas Jefferson University, the Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute, and STEM programs.

CFSRE's business model is a hybrid nonprofit mix. Revenue derives from National Institute of Justice (DOJ) grants for monitoring and trend reporting, tuition-channel revenue through university partners for graduate programs, fees from direct laboratory testing services (drug checking, clinical testing, sample submission), and donations to the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation. The organization has strategic alliances with NMS Labs, Agilent, SCIEX, Waters, the SOFT NPS Committee, and the National Association of Medical Examiners, and operates event-driven go-to-market through academic programs, public health partnerships, and professional development rather than commercial sales.

Name

CFSRE

Legal name

The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education

Website

https://cfsre.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education (CFSRE) is a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit that conducts forensic science research, education, and testing, serving medical examiners, crime laboratories, public health agencies, clinical partners, and forensic science students through its NPS Discovery platform and graduate degree programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forensic Science Research & Education

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Criminal Investigations & Forensics (Detectives, Crime Labs, CSI) (BPAIAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forensic Science & Crime Laboratories (Justice System Support) (BPAIAFAI), Toxicology & Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratories (HLAFAMAF), National Public Health Reference Laboratories (HLAJAIAA), Laboratory Quality & GLP/GCLP Compliance (HLAGAKAK), Data Management, Reporting & Regulatory Submissions for Central Labs (HLAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Forensic toxicology research
• Novel psychoactive substances
• Forensic science education
• Drug testing services
• Forensic laboratory testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Willow Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Funding: CFSRE receives funding from government sources including the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) of the Department of Justice for developing NPS monitoring and trend reporting initiatives
2. Educational Programs: Revenue from graduate degree programs (MS in Forensic Science with Arcadia University, MS in Forensic Biology and MS in Forensic Toxicology with Thomas Jefferson University), continuing professional education, and certificate courses
3. Testing Services: Drug testing services including clinical testing, drug checking programs, and sample submission services for NPS identification
4. Donations: Individual and organizational donations through the Fredric Rieders Family Foundation for STEM programs and educational initiatives

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CFSRE conducts forensic science research, drug testing services, and educational programs for the forensic science community through its NPS Discovery platform. The organization uses advanced analytical instrumentation (GC-MS, LC-QTOF-MS, NMR, NGS) to identify and characterize novel psychoactive substances, publishes monographs, trend reports, and public alerts, offers graduate degrees in forensic science through university partnerships, and provides continuing professional education and testing services to government agencies, clinical partners, and forensic laboratories.

Product overview

CFSRE operates as a forensic science research and education organization offering a unified platform called NPS Discovery for novel psychoactive substance monitoring and reporting. The core product portfolio consists of research and testing services including Monographs (documenting first NPS reports with analytical data), Trend Reports (quarterly national prevalence reports), Public Alerts (adverse event notifications), Drug Checking services (public health collaboration), Clinical Reports (emergency department specimen testing), Scope Recommendations (laboratory guidance), and Analytical Toolkits (comprehensive NPS reference documents). Supporting products include downloadable GC-MS and LC-QTOF-MS library databases, a Drug Testing Portal, and the FRDD Drug Database. Education offerings encompass online and archival continuing professional education, three master's degree programs (MSFS, MSFB, MSFT) offered through university partnerships, the Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute, and STEM programs for younger students. The laboratory utilizes state-of-the-art instrumentation from Agilent, SCIEX, and Waters for faculty and student research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NPS Discovery: A program documenting first reports of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in the United States through analysis of drug materials and biological samples.

Products and services

• NPS Discovery Monographs Documentation of first reports of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in the United States through analysis of drug materials and/or biological samples, generated using comprehensive analytical techniques including GC-MS, LC-QTOF-MS, and NMR. Each monograph includes analytical data generated during testing.
• NPS Discovery Trend Reports Quarterly trend reports associated with NPS occurrence in the United States providing near real-time information regarding NPS prevalence, positivity, and turnover, developed with funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
• NPS Discovery Public Alerts Public alerts and related reports to increase public awareness regarding NPS involvement in adverse intoxications, mass overdoses, and fatalities, generated based on data collected at or near the time of first report or incidence.
• NPS Discovery Drug Checking Collaborative program with public health agencies to collect up-to-date information regarding the drug supply in various cities and communities across the United States, providing scientifically backed opinions and understanding of complex drug data.
• NPS Discovery Clinical Reports Comprehensive drug testing of clinical biological specimens collected after suspected NPS-related overdoses in various cities across the United States, collaborating with clinicians and emergency department physicians.
• NPS Scope Recommendations Recommendations for NPS scope based on information from extensive collaborations, partnerships, and initiatives yielding national perspectives, established by CFSRE and the SOFT NPS Committee to help laboratories determine which drugs should be prioritized for detection.
• NPS Discovery Analytical Toolkits Comprehensive documents detailing relevant information about the detection and characterization of specified NPS, including basic drug information, date of first appearance, prevalence, temporal trends, geographical trends, demographics, poly-drug combinations, metabolism, methods for identification and confirmation, and reference concentration ranges.
• GC-MS Library Database Downloadable database for NPS identification readable in Agilent MSD ChemStation, last updated June 16, 2022.
• LC-QTOF-MS Library Database Downloadable database for NPS identification readable with SCIEX LibraryView, last updated October 19, 2021.
• Drug Testing Portal Online portal for drug testing services provided by CFSRE.
• FRDD Drug Database Drug database maintained by CFSRE for forensic and research purposes.
• Online Live Education Live online continuing professional education programs for forensic science professionals.
• Archival On-demand Education On-demand continuing professional education courses for forensic science professionals.
• MS in Forensic Science (MSFS) Master of Science in Forensic Science degree program offered in partnership with Arcadia University.
• MS in Forensic Biology (MSFB) Master of Science in Forensic Biology degree program offered in partnership with Thomas Jefferson University.
• MS in Forensic Toxicology (MSFT) Master of Science in Forensic Toxicology degree program offered in partnership with Thomas Jefferson University.
• Forensic Sciences Mentoring Institute Mentoring program supporting young people interested in forensic science, aligned with the founder's vision that all young people deserve a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• Laboratory Intensive Course Hybrid certificate course providing hands-on laboratory training in forensic science.

Quantifiable outcome

• 180+ NPS compounds documented and published as monographs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NMS LabscoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaborates on NPS monograph documentation and provides analytical testing support. NMS Labs contributes to the comprehensive analytical data for NPS identification and characterization.
• AgilentcoreTechnology or IntegrationInstrumentation partner providing laboratory equipment for forensic analysis. Equipment used exclusively for faculty and student research and teaching.
• SCIEXcoreTechnology or IntegrationInstrumentation partner providing LC-QTOF-MS equipment. Their LibraryView software is used for NPS library database analysis.
• WaterscoreTechnology or IntegrationInstrumentation partner providing laboratory equipment for forensic analysis and research.
• SOFT NPS CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in establishing NPS scope recommendations. Together with CFSRE, they provide national perspectives on NPS detection and testing prioritization for laboratories.
• Arcadia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner offering MS in Forensic Science degree program. Students receive education and training through CFSRE-affiliated coursework.
• Thomas Jefferson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner offering MS in Forensic Biology and MS in Forensic Toxicology degree programs with CFSRE involvement.
• National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFSRE partners with NAME to support Forensic Pathologists through education and professional development initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• NMS Labs: National forensic reference laboratory providing toxicology and drug identification services. Directly comparable to CFSRE on forensic toxicology testing, NPS characterization, and partnership with NIJ-funded research, while operating at significantly greater commercial scale.
• Society of Forensic Toxicologists (SOFT): Professional scientific society for forensic toxicologists that collaborates with CFSRE on NPS scope recommendations. Directly comparable professional community for CFSRE's NPS scope-setting work and educational programming.

Broad incumbents

• SCIREQ / Cayman Chemical: Broad provider of forensic and research chemicals, reference standards, and immunoassay reagents. Comparable to CFSRE's NPS reference materials and analytical standards work, though Cayman is a much larger commercial supplier serving multiple research and forensic end markets.
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Laboratory System: Federal government laboratory system conducting seized drug analysis and forensic chemistry. Comparable in mission scope (NPS detection, drug intelligence) but operates as a federal agency rather than a nonprofit research center.
• Quest Diagnostics: Large commercial clinical and forensic laboratory providing drug testing services nationwide. Comparable to CFSRE's clinical toxicology and drug testing services, though CFSRE's scope is far more specialized in NPS and forensic casework.
• Bureau of Forensic Sciences (various state labs): State-level public forensic laboratories performing toxicology and seized drug analysis. Comparable in forensic toxicology service offerings to medical examiner and coroner offices that CFSRE supports, though they are public agencies rather than nonprofit research entities.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Forensic Science Program: Federal agency advancing forensic science standards, measurements, and reference data. Comparable to CFSRE in advancing forensic science methodology and reference standards, though NIST operates at a broader, federally mandated scale.

Regional players

• Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (Canada / questionable overlap): Not a strong match — listed as a placeholder; there are no other large US nonprofits predominantly focused on NPS monitoring at this scale. Skipping weak peers.
• Laboratory Sciences of Arizona / Sonora Quest Laboratories: Regional clinical and toxicology laboratory. Comparable to CFSRE on clinical toxicology testing, though serves a narrower geographic market and is not focused on NPS research.

Emerging players

• PinPoint Testing / Modern Forensics: Emerging providers in the forensic testing and drug checking services space. Comparable to CFSRE's drug checking and clinical testing efforts, though at smaller scale and focused on commercial rather than research-led offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cfsre_
• Facebookfacebook.com/cfsre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-center-for-forensic-science-research-&-education
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfsre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CFSRE