CPRIT Summer Experience 2012:
Innovation in Biomedical Informatics
and Cancer Prevention Research
ELISE BRUNE
DR. HSU
DR. MCCOY
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
Projects
 Assessing the Impact of Health Care Shortages on
Childhood Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Medically
Underserved Texas Counties
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Within the U.S. it has been observed that childhood cancer incidence
and mortality may be related to differences in access and quality of
health care
Recognize the impact of medical shortages on childhood cancer
survivorship specifically for Texas
Spatial Scan Statistic methods used to identify high risk childhood
cancer incidence and morality clusters. Results were overlaid with
health service designation areas in ArcGIS
Lower childhood cancer survival is experienced in counties
designated as medically underserved areas. Counties designated as
MUP and GOV were inconclusive.
Results: Using SaTScan and ArcGIS
Results: Using SaTScan and ArcGIS
Projects
 Evaluation of Clinical Decision Support Alerts for
Medications Contraindicated in Cancer Patients
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Computerized provider order entry-based alert systems are
designed as a form of clinical decision support to aid health
care providers in prescribing medications to patients
Describe alerts for contraindicated medications for cancer
patients in order to understand reasons for alert overrides
Compiled and visually presented alert data
Results
100
Alerts by Provider Type
80
Overriden
60
40
Number of Alerts
Number of Alerts
Alerts by Priority
Not
Overriden
20
0
1
2
3
Priority
Number of Alerts
Alerts by Reason
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Overriden
Not
Overriden
No
Benefit out Low risk;
No
No
Explanation; weighs risk appropriate reasonable Explanation;
Alert was
in this
warnings alternatives Alert was
overriden
patient
given to
for this
not
patient
patient
overriden
Reason
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Overriden
Not Overriden
Provider Type
Results
Alerts by Month
Overriden
Not Overriden
Month
Overridden
Not
Overriden
Alerts by Time of Day
30
10
20
30
Number of Alerts
40
25
20
15
Overriden
10
Not Overriden
5
0
0:00
1:00
2:00
3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
23:00
0
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Jun-11
Jul-11
Aug-11
Sep-11
Oct-11
Nov-11
Dec-11
Jan-12
Feb-12
Mar-12
Apr-12
May-12
Jun-12
Number of Alerts
Plastic Surgery
Pulmonary Medicine
Otolaryngology
Orthopedic Surgery
Cardiothoracic and Vascular…
Pediatrics
Nephrology
General Surgery
Cardiology
Dermatology
Urology
Rheumatology
Geriatrics
Oncology
Unknown
Neurology
Internal Medicine
Family Medicine
Endocrinology
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Number of Alerts
Provider Speciality
Alerts by Provider Speciality
Time of Day
Projects
 Evaluating Knowledge Changes of Breast Cancer
Risk Factors in Underserved Vietnamese American
Women Through a Culturally Targeted Prevention
Program
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Revised manuscript, references, and formatted paper to fulfill
journal submission requirements
Knowledge change was assessed through surveys completed
before and after workshops, as well as at a later mammography
Educational workshops with screening mammograms that
were designed to accommodate the cultural needs of lowEnglish proficiency Vietnamese American women were
successful in improving knowledge of breast cancer risk factors
Involvement in the CPRIT Program
 Orientation at Dr. Hsu’s lab
 On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in
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Research
Innovation Generation
Texas Cancer Plan 2012
CITI (IRB) training
ArcGIS and SaTScan Workshops
Weekly meetings with Dr. Hsu and Dr. McCoy
Working with Dr. Miller and Dr. Hsu with revising and
formatting breast cancer manuscript
MD Anderson seminars
Submission of CPRIT abstract
Submission of poster proposal for AMIA
conference
Submission of Breast Cancer manuscript to
a journal
Use of Innovation
 Refraining from self-
judgement when
generating ideas
 Brainstorming!
 Designed question based
upon interest
 Curiosity!
 Asking many
questions!
 Learning from
previously conducted
research
 Analogy!
 Changing my
 Collaboration and
viewpoint
 Utilizing new tools!
teamwork
“Innovation, defined as creativity with a purpose, is widely considered to be the engine of scientific progress.” –Innovation Generation
Personal Impact
 New Experiences
 Informatics
 Learning how to construct and interpret maps using GIS,
SaTScan, and EpiInfo
 Submission of abstract to conference
 Process for submission research manuscript to journal for
publication
 Strengthened my interest in public health research
and introduced me to the field of Biomedical
Informatics
 Motivated me to continue to learn and challenge
myself
Thank you!
Thank you to the CPRIT program, University of
Texas School of Biomedical Informatics,
University of Texas School of Public Health, Dr.
Hsu, and Dr. McCoy!
Questions?