Professor

Karen Tu

DFCM

MD,MSc

Publications

Location

Central DFCM

Address

500 University Avenue, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5G 1V7

Research Interests

Health Informatics, Health Service Delivery, Electronic Medical Records, Administrative Databases, Quantitative Data Analysis, Chronic Diseases, Observational Studies

Accepting

Graduate Students, Postdoctoral Fellows

Dr. Karen Tu is a Research Scientist at Horth York General Hospital, a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at University of Toronto, with a cross appointment in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto and a staff family physician at the University Health Network-Toronto Western Hospital Family Health Team. She received her MD from the University of Toronto and her MSc in Health Policy, Planning and Financing in a joint degree from the London School of Economics and the London School of Tropical Medicine.

Research Synopsis

Dr. Karen Tu is the founder of the Electronic Medical Record Administrative data Linked Database (EMRALD) and has unique insights into the analysis electronic medical record (EMR) data. She has extensive experience and expertise in the use of primary care EMR data, administrative data and the validation of administrative data and EMR data algorithms for the identification of common chronic diseases.

Honours and Awards

Name:
Description:

Ten Most Notable Family Medicine Research Studies in Canada by Canadian Family Physician. 07/2015. For Improving cardiovascular cluster randomized trial of Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP) study.

Twenty Top Papers to Mark The BMJ’s Two Digital Decades. 07/2015. For J Kaczorowski, L W Chambers, L Dolovich et al. Improving Cardiovascular Health at Population Level: 39 Community Cluster Randomised Trial of Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP). Research BMJ. 2011; 342:d442.

Research Excellence (Senior) Award University of Toronto, DFCM Awards of Excellence, 2014/5. Tu K.

CIHR–CMAJ Top Canadian Achievements in Health Research Awards. 2012/9. For Kaczorowski J, Chambers LW, Dolovich L, Paterson JM, Karwalajtys T, Gierman T, Farrell B, McDonough B, Thabane L, Tu K, Zagorski B, Goeree R, Levitt CA, Hogg W, Laryea S, Carter MA, Cross D, Sabaldt RJ. Improving cardiovascular health at population level. BMJ. 2011 Feb; 342:d442.

American Heart Association, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, Top Advances in Epidemiology and Prevention for 2011. 2012/9. For Kaczorowski J, Chambers LW, Dolovich L, Paterson JM, Karwalajtys T, Gierman T, Farrell B, McDonough B, Thabane L, Tu K, Zagorski B, Goeree R, Levitt CA, Hogg W, Laryea S, Carter MA, Cross D, Sabaldt RJ. Improving cardiovascular health at population level. BMJ. 2011 Feb; 342:d442.

Outstanding Family Medicine Research Article College of Family Physicians of Canada. 2012/8 For Kaczorowski J, Chambers LW, Dolovich L, Paterson JM, Karwalajtys T, Gierman T, Farrell B, McDonough B, Thabane L, Tu K, Zagorski B, Goeree R, Levitt CA, Hogg W, Laryea S, Carter MA, Cross D, Sabaldt RJ. Improving cardiovascular health at population level. BMJ. 2011 Feb; 342:d442. Society for Clinical Trials.

Finalist in the Research Paper of the Year category at the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Group Improving Health Awards. 2012/5. For Kaczorowski J, Chambers LW, Dolovich L, Paterson JM, Karwalajtys T, Gierman T, Farrell B, McDonough B, Thabane L, Tu K, Zagorski B, Goeree R, Levitt CA, Hogg W, Laryea S, Carter MA, Cross D, Sabaldt RJ. Improving cardiovascular health at population level. BMJ. 2011 Feb; 342:d442.

CIHR Fellowship Award in the Area of Primary Care Canadian Institutes of Health Research. $100,000. 2011/3–2013/3

Certificate of Excellence Award from Blood Pressure Canada. 2011/9. For Kaczorowski J, Chambers LW, Dolovich L, Paterson JM, Karwalajtys T, Gierman T, Farrell B, McDonough B, Thabane L, Tu K, Zagorski B, Goeree R, Levitt CA, Hogg W, Laryea S, Carter MA, Cross D, Sabaldt RJ. Improving cardiovascular health at population level. BMJ. 2011 Feb; 342:d442.

Distinguished Paper. North American Primary Care Research Group. 2010/11. For Kaczorowski J, Chambers LW, Dolovich L, Paterson JM, Karwalajtys T, Gierman T, Farrell B, McDonough B, Thabane L, Tu K, Zagorski B, Goeree R, Levitt CA, Hogg W, Laryea S, Carter MA, Cross D, Sabaldt RJ. Improving cardiovascular health at population level. BMJ. 2011 Feb; 342:d442.

Top Breakthroughs, Co-Chairs Award for Impact 1st Canadian Stroke Congress. 2010/6. For Kaczorowski J, Chambers LW, Dolovich L, Farrell B, McDonough B, Sebaldt R, Thabane L, Tu K, Zagorski B, Goeree R, Paterson JM, Karwalajtys T. Improving cardiovascular health at the population level: A 39 community cluster-randomised trial of the Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP).

Best Original Research Article Award 2010 Canadian Family Physician (CFP). 2010/1–2010/12. Tu K, Cauch-Dudek K, Chen Z. Comparison of primary care physician payment models in the management of hypertension. Can Fam Physician. 2009 Jul; 55(7):719–27.

Department of Family and Community Medicine Outstanding Research Publication. 2009. University of Toronto. 2009/1-2009/12. Tu K, Cauch-Dudek K, Chen Z. Comparison of primary care physician payment models in the management of hypertension. Can Fam Physician. 2009 Jul; 55(7):719–27.

Robert E. Beamish Award for significant contribution to the field of cardiology, as demonstrated by the impact of original research published in The Canadian Journal of Cardiology Canadian Cardiovascular Society. 2008/10. For Joffres MR, Campbell NR, Manns B, Tu K. Estimate of the benefits of a population-based reduction in dietary sodium additives on hypertension and its related health care costs in Canada. Can J Cardiol. 2007; 23(6):437–43.

Short-Term Clinician Investigator Award Canadian Institutes of Health Research. $25,000. 2005/3–2005/5

Department of Family and Community Medicine Outstanding Research Publication. 2002. University of Toronto. 2002/1–2002/12. For Tu K, Mamdani MM, Tu JV. Hypertension guidelines in elderly patients: Is anybody listening? Am J Med. 2002 Jul; 113(1):52–8.

Grants

Pinto AD, Greiver M, Donnelly P, Tanuseputro P, Mamdani M, Tu K, Verma A, Raszak F, Gibson J, Crampton N, Feldman J, Upshaw T. Analyzing primary care EMR data using AI to predict and improve transitions in care. University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine Research Development Grant. 2018/09-2019/09. 15,000.

Alba C(PI), Rac V, Tu K, Guyatt G, Manlhiot C, Ross H. Physician intuition versus model predicted prognosis in heart failure (G-19-0026322). Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. 2019/03-2021/09. $299,700.

Barnett-Tapia C, Tu K, Parkin P, Candido E. Using Administrative Health Data to Identify Patients with NF1 in Ontario, Canada, and to Assess Prevalence, Mortality and Health Care Utilization Patterns. Department of Defense United States of America. 2019/03-2022/03. $660,394 US.

Tu K. Advancing predictive models for the future of chronic disease patients using artificial intelligence. MaRS Innovation Fund. 2018/05-2019/05. $28,500.

Eder L, Chandran V, Cook R, Gladman D, Harvey P, Piguet V, Rochon P, Rosen C, Tu K, Widdifield J, Akhtari S, Colaco K. Derivation and Validation of a Disease-Specific Cardiovascular Risk Prediction Score for Psoriatic Disease Using Patient Registry and Population-Based Data. CIHR project grant. 2019/03-2022/09. $100,000.

Tu K. Rathlyn Foundation Primary Care EMR Research and Discovery Fund. Rathlyn Foundation. 2018/12-2022/12. $100,000.

Atzema C, Austin P, Charles J, Desveaux L, Ivers N, King B, Larsen D, Ovens H, Slaughter G, Tu K. A Primary Care Online Appointment Scheduling Platform for Emergency Departments: Improving the Care Transition between Emergency and Primary Care. CIHR Project Grant. 2019/03-2022/03 $690,000.

Drucker A (PI), Tu K (Co-PI), Chan An-Wen, Eder L, Jaakkimainen L. Atopic Dermatitis: Exploring Prevalence and Disparities (ADEPD). 2018/07-2019/07. PSI Foundation. $250,000, CIHR Project Grant $100,000, Canadian Dermatology Foundation $55,000.

Widdifield J (PI), Barra L, Pope J, Jaakkimainen L, Tu, K, Paterson M, Bell M, Appleton T, Haaland D. Raising Awareness of the Burden of Giant Cell Arteritis: Occurrence, healthcare use, costs and health outcomes. CRA (CIORA). 2018/06-2020/06. $120,000.

Shepherd J (PI), Tu K, Craven C, Moineddin R, Jaglal S. Developing a case-finding algorithm to identify patients with spinal cord injury in Ontario primary care electronic health records. Toronto Rehab Institute Chair Fund. 2017/10-2018/10. $13532.

Walji S (PI), McIsaac W, Tu K, Moineddin R, Koroluk K, Levy M, Bell C, Siu V. Comparing the use of a validated readmission risk index tool (LACE) with the primary care provider’s assessment of readmission to predict risk of readmission to hospital within 30 days. UTOPIAN. 2017/07-2018/12. $14913.

Gupta K (PI), Kwong J, Tu K. UTOPIAN Screening and Vaccination by Family Physicians for Hepatitis B in Immigrants to Ontario. UTOPIAN. 2017/11-2018/11. $15000.

Schwartz K (PI), Langford B, Leung V, Brown K, Wu JH, Achonu C, Johnstone J, Daneman N, Garber G, Tu K, McIsaac W. The Ontario Program To Improve AntiMIcrobial USE (OPTIMISE): Building the Foundation for a Community Stewardship Program. PSI Foundation. 2018/5-2021/5, $249,988.

Jaakkimainen L (PI), Del Giudice L, Tu K. Identifying breast cancer pathways of care from family physicians electronic medical records. CCO Clinical Programs & Quality Initiatives. 2018/04-2019/03, $100,000.

Shah B (PI), Tu K (co-PI), Booth G, Coyle D, Hux J, Juni P, Lipscombe L, Persaud N, Taljaard M, Wong A. A pilot pragmatic randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of improving access to drugs on type 2 diabetes care, outcomes and costs. CIHR Project Grant. 2018/01-2021/1, $392,256.

Vigod S (PI), Berard A, Brown H, Cohen E, Dennis C, Hanley G, Holloway A, Morrison K, Oberlander T, Ray J, Saunders N, Tu K. Schizophrenia Understood in the Perinatal period: Psychiatric Outcomes and Reproductive Trajectories (SUPPORT) – Part 3: Child Health. CIHR Project Grant. 2018/01-2021/1, $336,600.

Widdifield J (PI), Barber C, Bernatsky S, Lacaille D, Ahluwalia V, Singer A, Tu K, Jaakkimainen L, Mosher D, Thorne C, Elder L, Zummer M, Haaland D (co-PIs). Enhancing the Use of Rheumatology Electronic Medical Records to Evaluate and Optimize Care. Arthritis Society Young Investigator Grant. 2018/1-2021/1 $298,108.

Tu K (PI awarded-withdrawn), Jaakkimainen L (PI-promoted), Lix L (co-PI), Butt D, Reimer K, Smith M, Singer M, Katz A, Widdifield J. Validating Administrative Data Algorithms to Identify Patients with Chronic Diseases-Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia team. Public Health Agency of Canada. 2017/9-2021/10 $500,000.

Gershon A(PI), Aaron SD, Dhalla I, Fisher J, Gupta S, Hayes A, Kendzerska T, Rose L, Sadatsafavi M, Lavigne S, Lee A, To T, Tu K, de Lara E. Canadian Best Respiratory Research Evaluation and Analyst Team of Health Experts (CanBREATHE). CIHR Foundation Grant 2017/9-2022/9, $962,746

Tu K (PI), Bernatsky S, Hawker G (co-PI), Bombardier C, Butt D, Ivers N, Jaakkimainen L, Jenkinson R, Kreder H, Kuriya B, Meaney C, Morris Q, Paterson M, Pope J, Ravi B, Thorne C, Thomlinson G, Wasserstein D, Widdifield J. Leveraging Electronic Medical Records and Health Administrative Data to Evaluate Patient Care and Outcomes in Osteoarthritis. CIHR Project Scheme 2017/7–2018/6. $100,000.

Ko D (PI), Jackevicius C (co-PI), Alter D, Atzema C, Austin P, Bronskill S, Singh S, Stukel T, Tu J, Tu K, Wijeysundera H. Assessing and improving the quality of care and outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation in Canada. CIHR Project Scheme 2017/4-2017/6, $43,095.

Anderson K (PI), Archie S, Booth R, Cheng C, Hameed S, Kurdyak P, Lizotte D, MacDougall A, Norman R, Palaniyappan L, Ryan B, Terry A, Tu K, Voineskos A. Understanding the role of the family physician in early psychosis intervention: a mixed methods study. CIHR Project Scheme 2017/4-2020/3. $367,200.

Elder L (PI), Tu K (co-PI), Widdifield J (co PI), Rosen C, Gladman D, Bernatsky S, Alhusayen R, Widdifield J, Patterson M, Campbel W, Cook R. The Ontario Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (OPPsA) Cohort Study — Development of an information system from Electronic Medical Report and Health Administrative Data for assessment of surveillance and quality of care of psoriatic disease. Canadian Initiative for Outcomes in Rheumatology Care (CIORA) 2017/6-2019/6. $119,024.

Tu J (PI), Oakes G, Tepper J, Woodward G, Farkouh M, Udell J, Anderson T, Atzema C, Austin P, Bhatia SR, Booth G, Chow CM, Goodman S, Ivers N, Jackevicius C, Johnston S, Juni P, Kapral M, Ko D, Lee D, Manuel D, Moore J, Nolan R, Straus S, Tu K. Using big data to conduct innovative cardiovascular clinical trials. CIHR SPOR Innovative Clinical Trial Multi-Year Grant. 2017/6-2019/12, $2,999,986.

Persaud N (PI), Laupacis A, Mitchell C, Boozary A, Glazier R, Gomes T, Hwang S, Juni P, Law M, Manns B, Martin D, Morgan S, Mamdani M, Oh P, Shah B, Sullivan F, Thorpe K, Tu K, Abelson J, Leong V, Thavorn K, Wodchis W. CLEAN Meds RCT: Carefully seLected and Easily Accessible at No charge Medications. CIHR SPOR Innovative Clinical Trial Multi-Year Grant. 2017/6-2019/12, $1,064,955.

Brooks J (PI), Anagnosotou E, Tu K, Bronskill S, Nylen K, McLaughlin J. Linkage of whole genome sequencing and administrative health data for the study of autism spectrum disorder. McLaughlin Centre Accelerator Grant. 2017/6-2018/6. $100,000

Rotstein D (PI), Tu K, Marrie RA, Tu J. Immigration and the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis. MS Society of Canada. 2017/4-2019/3, $102,774.64.

Kassardjian C (PI), Briener A (coPI), Widdifield J, Tu K. The risk of serious infections and fractures in patients with myasthenia gravis in Ontario. St. Michael’s Hospital Research Fund. 2017/3-2018/3. $20,000.

Schwartz K (PI), Tu K. Using Electronic Medical Record Administrative data Linked Database (EMRALD) to measure community antimicrobial use. Public Health Ontario 2017/1-2017/12. $49,943.

Heather Manson, Tu K (co-PI’s) Evaluating the Impact of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge (HKCC) on Healthy Weights Using the EMRALD. Public Health Ontario. 2016/11-2017/3. $82,484.

Elder L, Tu K, Widdifield J (PI’s) Rosen C, Gladman D, Bernatsky S, Alhusayen R, Widdifield J, Patterson M, Campbel W, Cook R. Development of an information system from EMR & health administrative data for assessment of surveillance and quality of care of psoriatic disease. International Psoriasis and Arthritis Research Team (IPART).Canadian Dermatology Society. 2016/1-2017/1. $75,000.

Wilson S (PI), Crowcroft N, Deeks S, Guttmann A, Halperin S, Kwong J, Rashid M, Tu K, Wilson K. Immunization coverage among newcomers to Ontario. CIHR Operating Grant. 2017/2-2019/1. $198,773.

Rotstein D (PI), Tu K, Marrie RA, Tu J. Immigration and the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis. National MS Society.2017/1-2017/12, $53,174.

Widdifield J (PI), Kuriya B, Bernatsky S (co-PI’s), Paterson M, Thorne C, Bombardier C, Pope J. Ahluwalia V, Tu K, Jaakimainen L, Tatangelo M, Lyddiatt A, Hofstetter C. Assessing the Provision, Patterns, and Costs of Waiting for Rheumatology Care: a step towards optimizing the Care of Rheumatic Diseases. Canadian Rheumatology Association. 2016/7-2018/6, $120,000.

Liddy CE, Aminu B, Ireland L, Keely E, MacDonald S, Samis S (PI’s), Afkham A, Asghari S, Audcent T, Becker M, Belanger CA, Cook S, Deri A, Ens CD, Fairclough L, Farrell G, Fraser-Roberts L, Hagens S, Hillmer M, Jaakkimainen LR, Kendall C, Klarenbach S, Kovacs CS, Kuziemsky C, Lai L, Loewen L, McQuarrie S, O’Brien S, Oppenheimer L, Poulin PA, Smyth CE, Tu K, Tuot D. Building Access to Specialist care for remote, rural populations through eConsultation (BASE). CIHR PHSI. 2016/6-2019/5. $330,556.

Liddy CE, Archibald DB, Bello A, Fairclough L, Horsley TA, Keely EJ, Kossey S, Kuziemsky CE, Lai L, Mitera G, Tuot D (PI’s), Affleck E, Afkham A, Asghari S, Audcent T, Becker M, Belanger CA, Benchimol EI, Braam B, Cook S, Deri A, Catherine A, Ens CD, Fraser-Roberts L, Hagens S, Hillmer M, Jaakkimainen LR, Kendall C, Klarenbach S, Kovacs CS, Macdonald SM, McRae S, Oppenheimer L, Poulin PA, Smyth CE, Tu K. Putting patients first: A national patient-centered evaluation of electronic consultations to improve access to specialists. CIHR Project Grant. 2016/04-2017/04. $100,000.

Sander BH, Evans GA, Patel S (PI’s), Deilgat MPP, Moore KM, Pullenayegum EM, Sider D, Swanson D, Tu K. Addressing the Health and Economic Burden of Lyme Disease. CIHR Project Grant. 2016/04-2017/04. $100,000.

Liu P (PI), Tu K, Tobe S, Kaczorowski J. Accelerated Canadian AppliCation of Evidence to Practice Through Monitoring of Outcomes Research team Endeavour (ACCEPT-MORE). Vascular Network 2016/6-2018/6. $300,000.

Shah BR (PI), Austin P, Ivers N, Katz A, O’Reilly D, Singer A, Tu K. Derivation of risk prediction models and a computer microsimulation model in type 2 diabetes to aid clinical decision making and health technology assessment. CIHR Project Grant. 2016/07 – 2019/06. $424,298.

Tu K (PI), Frost D, Vembu S, Morris Q. Comparison of an Electronic Medical Record Text-based Tool to HARP for predicting emergency department visits and high system costs. BRIDGES. 2015/11-2016/3 $50,219.

Wilson S (PI), Crowcroft N, Deeks S, Guttman A, Kwong J, Tu K. Use of Electronic Medical Record data to assess rotavirus vaccine coverage and predictors of vaccine uptake. Public Health Ontario. 2015/9 – 2016/8. $73,658.

Tu K (PI), Bematsky S, Hawker G, Kreder H, Bombardier C, Butt D, Ivers N, Jaakimainen L, Jenkinson R, Kuriya B, Morris Q, Paterson M, Pope J, Ravi B, Thome C, Tomlinson G, Wasserstein D, Widdifield J. Leveraging EMRs and health administrative data to evaluate patient care and outcomes in rheumatic diseases. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. 2015/7 – 2016/6. $100,000.

Lee D (PI), Mak S, Farkouh ME, Tu JV (Co-PI’s), Austin PC, Ross HJ, Abrams H, Logan A, Ong S, Tu K, Pariser P, Petrella R, Husain A, Steinberg L, Straus S, Carm P, Sulway C, Wijeysundera H, Udell J, Laupacis A, Smith S, Tobe S, Liu P, Stewart D. Comparison of outcomes and access to care for heart failure (COACH) trial. Ontario SPOR Support Unit. 2015/6 – 2018/5. $1,750,000.