Untangling Forensic Truths

Jason Gilder, '03 M.S. Bioinfomatics

When Jason Gilder's graduate advisor approached him in 2001 about doing research in bioinformatics, Gilder remembers thinking, "If I'd wanted to study biology, I wouldn't have majored in computer science!" Yet, by the time he'd finished his master's thesis, he had created a program that would become the impetus for a new bioinformatics company that specializes in DNA analysis services.

Like the twists in a strand of DNA, Gilder's knowledge of computer science became intertwined with biology. "At first I thought, 'how can I contribute to something like cancer research when I have never studied anything about it?'" said Gilder. "Then I realized I could use the computer science tools I already had—problem solving and data analysis—and apply them to a very narrow research problem."

Today, Gilder's DNA analysis software program, Genophiler®, does in less than one day what used to take months of work. Genophiler® automates the analysis of DNA evidence and provides attorneys objective, detailed results ready for use at trial.

"Whereas prosecutors have access to state laboratories, less than one percent of cases based on DNA evidence going to trial were being reviewed by experts for the defense," said Gilder. "Not only does Genophiler® speed up analysis time considerably, it eliminates the subjective interpretation."

Gilder is a systems engineer at Forensic Bioinformatics, Inc., the only lab in the world currently doing this test. Gilder, now working towards his Ph.D. in computer science, has gone on to design and develop software that tests the degradation of DNA samples. In cases where lives hang in the balance, determining whether miniscule amounts of DNA are too broken down by natural elements to be analyzed can determine the success of the prosecution—or the defense.