SUMMARY
Eric W. Klee, Ph.D., conducts research focused on the translational application of omics data in the clinical setting, including novel method and application development. Studies include a focus on rare or undiagnosed Mendelian diseases, development of state-of-the-art analytics applied to novel omics technologies, and identification of novel diagnoses and treatments for patients. Using integrative multi-omics profiling to characterize patients' molecular states is a primary area of research, involving comprehensive and unbiased transcriptomic profiling and methylation profiling.
Dr. Klee's research also focuses on developing novel tools and methods to support variant interpretation and continuous and dynamic interpretation of genomic data. In addition, he leads an effort to build a standardized and centralized omics infrastructure at Mayo Clinic to support the institution's drive to digitize practice.
Focus areas
- Rare and undiagnosed disease. Dr. Klee is engaged in research to push the boundary on how suspected rare or undiagnosed genetic diseases are identified and treated. His research focuses on applying novel methods that transform patient care by solving patients' diagnostic odysseys, changing the courses of their clinical care or both. The program includes multi-omics patient profiling, integrative analyses, gene-phenotype characterization and functional genomic studies.
- Omics data platform. A cloud-based omics solution is the central institutional repository for omics data and enables research and clinical workflows by providing infrastructure, artificial intelligence (AI) tools and knowledge services for internal and external users. Dr. Klee leads this strategic effort to transform how Mayo Clinic organizes and accesses omics data.
- RNA-Assisted Diagnosis and Treatment (RADIaNT). The RADIaNT application of transcriptomic sequencing from blood to complement DNA sequencing identifies outlier effects, aiding in diagnosis and treatment. This work includes looking at multiple characteristics of RNA sequencing for hereditary disease, including splicing fusion detection, allele-specific expression and aberrant outlier expression. This effort also is exploring the viability of antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics to counter pathogenic effects in rare diseases.
- Population-level genetic interpretation. By looking at novel methods and applications to enable genetic data interpretation at scale, Dr. Klee's work supports population-level sequencing efforts. He evaluates systems required to facilitate genome sequencing of all patients and seamlessly and intuitively integrate the genomic findings into clinical practice.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Klee strives to employ translational applications of genomic medicine in clinical practice and research. His work at Mayo Clinic in the Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory aims to use omics to transform patient testing and directly affect patient care. He uses machine learning methods to create better tools to interpret genetic variants in hematologic cancer and population-level screening.
Dr. Klee's research directly affects patient care through the implementation of Semi-Automated Variant Interpretation (SAVI). The SAVI application makes it easier to interpret data from tens of thousands of patients for predictive and preventive screening. Dr. Klee's research program also created RENEW, which stands for REanalysis of NEgative Whole-exome/genome data. RENEW continuously reinterprets patient genomic data in a translational research setting to overcome some of the barriers related to static genetic test results.
Finally, Dr. Klee's research program uses transcriptomic profiling for rare disease diagnoses to begin pilots into tailored N=1 therapeutics with antisense oligonucleotides.
Professional highlights
- Scientific director, Research Data and Digital Innovation, Mayo Clinic, 2024-present.
- Enterprise co-deputy director, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, 2022-present.
- Everett J. and Jane M. Hauck Midwest Associate Director, Research and Innovation, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 2022-present.
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic:
- Director, Digital Omics, 2020-present.
- Director, Translational Omics Program, 2015-present.
- Director of bioinformatics, Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, 2018-present.
- Member, board of directors, Undiagnosed Diseases Network International, 2018-present.
- Research Award, Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Medical Genomics, 2023.