ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is relocating its Orlando Toxicology Laboratory to the University of Central Florida’s Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona, a move officials say will strengthen forensic testing, research and workforce development in Central Florida.
The lab, previously based in downtown Orlando, handles about 10,000 cases each year. Its new location places FDLE forensic experts closer to UCF researchers, students and faculty in Lake Nona Medical City, one of the region’s fastest-growing hubs for health, technology and biomedical innovation.
FDLE leaders said the move is designed to improve public safety by connecting forensic testing with academic research and workforce training. The toxicology lab supports law enforcement agencies across Central Florida and the state by providing scientific testing used in criminal investigations and prosecutions.
“This partnership reflects what UCF was built to do — bring talent, technology and applied research together in service to Florida,” UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright said. “By welcoming the FDLE Orlando Toxicology Lab to UCF’s Academic Health Sciences Campus, we are bringing state forensic operations closer to faculty expertise and future workforce, creating opportunities to make smarter use of public resources while strengthening the knowledge, talent and tools available to keep Floridians safe.”
FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said the partnership will help the agency modernize forensic services while recruiting and developing future forensic scientists.
“Through this partnership between FDLE and UCF, we are investing in the future of forensic science,” Glass said. “This partnership enhances our ability to recruit highly trained forensic scientists, develop new techniques and deliver timely, high-quality results to law enforcement agencies for investigations.”
The relocation also brings FDLE’s toxicology work closer to UCF’s National Center for Forensic Science, where researchers study areas such as DNA analysis, drug detection and chemical analysis of trace evidence.
Officials said the partnership could help advance drug detection methods, improve toxicology workflows, study emerging synthetic substances and develop faster analytical tools for criminal investigations.
“The closer our researchers are to operational labs, the more responsive and impactful their work becomes,” said Jack Ballantyne, UCF chemistry professor and director of the National Center for Forensic Science. “We’re able to identify challenges in real time and immediately begin working on solutions.”
The move is also expected to create more opportunities for UCF students pursuing careers in forensic science. Students may gain greater access to internships, experiential learning and professional networking with FDLE professionals.
Lauren McCool, a UCF forensic science alum and FDLE crime laboratory analyst, said her own internship with FDLE helped prepare her for the field.
“I was lucky enough to complete my internship with FDLE Toxicology, where I was able to experience firsthand what the day-to-day workflow is like before graduating,” McCool said. “When I began my career with FDLE I was able to navigate the laboratory with confidence due to the real-world and hands-on experience I had at UCF.”
UCF’s forensic science program dates back to 1974, making it one of the oldest in the country. The university currently has about 500 students enrolled across bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral forensic science programs.
The National Center for Forensic Science was established in 1997 and is based in Central Florida Research Park. Its faculty and staff conduct research that supports advancements in forensic science, including work related to toxicology, anthropology, trace evidence and chemical analysis.
FDLE employs about 2,000 members statewide and operates from its headquarters in Tallahassee and seven regional operations centers across Florida.
