Elias DeVoe
I am a Data Scientist and software developer with a background in the biomedical domain. In May of 2024 I completed a Master's degree in Biomedical Data Science at UW-Madison where I worked with Sushmita Roy's group on one project to understand how deep models predict 3D genomic structures using HiC data, and another to discover clusters of genetic variants that allow patients with metastatic breast cancer to have extremely long survival times despite their advanced disease. Before beginning graduate studies, I worked with the Mellowes Center and Research Data Warehouse at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where I developed several applications to streamline translational research.
Experience
Roy Group
Graduate Research Assistant
Leveraged explainability techniques to understand deep model predictions of 3D genome structure in HiC datasets.
Identified gene networks associated with long-term survival of metastatic breast cancer.
Several other projects, including deep learning approaches to scRNA-seq and HMM-based ortholog finding
Present
September 2022
Medical College of Wisconsin
Bioinformatics Software Developer
Developed software applications to support clinical research and practice, including:
A suite of tools to explore phenotypic and genetic data, including EMR search powered by deep learning and unification of variants across the proteome to facilitate hypothesis generation.
Tools to streamline identification of at-risk patients by genetic counselors 3. Gather, verify, and analyze the data supporting each application
Leveraged the EMR in a variety of research projects developing the precision medicine center.
Translated between many domains of expertise (data science, genomics, software)
August 2022
December 2018
Theseus LLC
Full Stack React/Django Developer
Developed a data-driven learning application to facilitate learning and knowledge retention in adult learners, and provide a metric on source quality and personal expertise in any category
Built front-end, REST API, and content recommendation engine
Managed tight communication with client including goals, progress, and setbacks
November 2018
June 2016
Roden Biogeochemistry Group
Undergraduate Researcher
Studied interactions between microbial communities and geological systems
Built data organization pipeline, automated BLAST workflow
May 2016
March 2015
Publications
An Analytical Approach that Combines Knowledge from Germline and Somatic Mutations Enhances Tumor Genomic Reanalyses in Precision Oncology
DeVoe, E., Reddi, H. V., Taylor, B. W., Stachowiak, S., Geurts, J. L., George, B., Shaker, R., Urrutia, R., & Zimmermann, M. T.
Journal of Computational Biology
Expanded analysis of tumor genomics data enables current and future patients to gain more benefits, such as improving diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutics. Here, we report tumor genomic data from 1146 cases accompanied by simultaneous expert analysis from patients visiting our oncological clinic. We developed an analytical approach that leverages combined germline and cancer genetics knowledge to evaluate opportunities, challenges, and yield of potentially medically relevant data. We identified 499 cases (44%) with variants of interest, defined as either potentially actionable or pathogenic in a germline setting, and that were reported in the original analysis as variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Of the 7405 total unique tumor variants reported, 462 (6.2%) were reported as VUS at the time of diagnosis, yet information from germline analyses identified them as (likely) pathogenic. Notably, we find that a sizable number of these variants (36%-79%) had been reported in heritable disorders and deposited in public databases before the year of tumor testing. This finding indicates the need to develop data systems to bridge current gaps in variant annotation and interpretation and to develop more complete digital representations of actionable pathways. We outline our process for achieving such methodologic integration. Sharing genomics data across medical specialties can enable more robust, equitable, and thorough use of patient's genomics data. This comprehensive analytical approach and the new knowledge derived from its results highlight its multi-specialty value in precision oncology settings.
Changes in Daily Apparent Diffusion Coefficient on Fully Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Correlate With Established Genomic Pathways of Radiation Sensitivity and Reveal Novel Biologic Associations
William A. Hall, Angela J. Mathison, Elias DeVoe, Michael Tschannen, Jaime Wendt-Andrae, Michael Straza, Musaddiq Awan, Lindsay L. Puckett, Colleen A.F. Lawton, Christopher Schultz, Raul Urrutia, Sarah Kerns, Javier F. Torres-Roca, X. Allen Li, Beth Erickson, Marja T. Nevalainen, Michael T. Zimmermann, Eric Paulson
International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
Changes in quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) are frequently observed during radiation therapy (RT). We hypothesized that qMRI changes may correlate with DNA damage response (DDR) capacity within human tumors. Therefore, we designed the current study to correlate qMRI changes from daily RT treatment with underlying tumor transcriptomic profiles. We found that multiple genomic pathways including DNA repair, peroxisome, late estrogen receptor responses, KRAS signaling, and UV response were significantly associated with qMRI feature changes (P < .001), indicating that common tumor biology that may correlate with qMRI changes during the course of treatment. Such data provide hypothesis-generating novel mechanistic insight into the biologic meaning of qMRI changes during treatment and enable optimal selection of imaging bio-markers for biologically MR-guided RT.
P2T2: Protein Panoramic annoTation Tool for the interpretation of protein coding genetic variants
Elias DeVoe, Gavin R. Oliver, Roman Zenka, Patrick R. Blackburn, Margot A. Cousin, Nicole J. Boczek, Jean-Pierre A. Kocher, Raul Urrutia, Eric W. Klee, and Michael T. Zimmermann
JAMIA Open
Our tool assists research efforts to interpret genomic variation by aggregating diverse, relevant, and proteome-wide information into a unified interactive web-based interface. Additionally, we provide a REST API enabling automated data queries, or repurposing data for other studies. The unified protein-centric interface presented in P2 T2 will help researchers interpret novel variants identified through next-generation sequencing.
Benchmarking deep and shallow methods for Hi-C count prediction within and across species
RSG-DREAM 2023 (UCLA)
Wisconsin Institute for Discovery 2023 Symposium (UW - Madison)
Personal Projects
See which of the ImageNet dog classes is closest to yours. On mobile, be sure to enable browser access to your camera.
The system proven (by one very successful data point) to lose weight with self-competition.