Health data tools to catch pancreatic cancer earlier
Health informatics approaches to reduce missed opportunities in diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
This project will build electronic alerts that scan Veterans' medical records to find missed signs of pancreatic cancer so they can get diagnosed earlier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11193227 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be part of work that uses VA health records to find situations where a different action might have led to an earlier pancreatic cancer diagnosis. The team will create and test electronic 'trigger' algorithms that flag patients with symptoms, imaging, or lab patterns that suggest possible missed diagnosis. Clinicians will review the flagged records to confirm missed opportunities and improve the algorithms. The aim is to integrate these alerts into VA care so clinicians get timely prompts to follow up.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Veterans receiving care within the VA system who have symptoms or clinical findings that could suggest pancreatic cancer—such as unexplained abdominal pain, weight loss, or abnormal liver/pancreas-related labs—are the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who do not receive care through the VA or whose medical records are incomplete in the VA system may not be included or directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could lead to earlier pancreatic cancer diagnoses and improve chances for effective treatment and survival.
How similar studies have performed: Electronic trigger tools have identified missed diagnostic opportunities for other conditions, but applying them specifically to pancreatic cancer is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Khalaf, Natalia — Michael E Debakey VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Khalaf, Natalia
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.