Thomas F. Imperiale, MD

Contact : timperia@iu.edu

We should be moving from an age-based system of screening for colon cancer to one that is risk-based because age is only one factor that contributes to risk.

Initiatives

Care Delivery

Research Scientist, William M. Tierney Center for Health Services Research, Regenstrief Institute
Core Investigator, VA HSR&D Center for Health Information and Communication, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center
Lawrence Lumeng Professor of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Indiana University School of Medicine
Adjunct Professor, Indiana University Richard M Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI

Dr. Tom Imperiale’s research interests broadly involve technology assessment of diagnostics and therapeutics for digestive and liver diseases. His primary specific research area involves screening and surveillance for colorectal cancer, and includes tailoring screening and surveillance based on individual patient risk.

Recent recognition includes Regenstrief Institute’s Outstanding Investigator Award and the Indiana University Trustee Teaching Award. Dr. Imperiale has mentored more than 50 medical residents, faculty, and fellows. He is a named fellow in the American Gastroenterological Association, a fellow in the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and a member of the Association of American Physicians.

Dr. Imperiale’s publications include more than 160 peer-reviewed articles. He is also a staff gastroenterologist serving patients in four Indiana hospitals.

Featured Projects

Clinical Validation of an Optimized Multi-target Stool DNA test (mt-sDNA 2.0) for Colorectal Cancer Screening (BLUE-C)

(Exact Sciences) (2020-2023)

Role: Principal Investigator

The primary objective of this study is to assess the sensitivity for colorectal cancer (CRC) and specificity of the mt-sDNA 2.0 test.

Measuring the Impact of Providing Personalized Risk Information to Patients and their Providers

(PCORI, PI: Schwartz) (2019-2024)

Role: Co-Investigator

Goals: determine whether provision of risk information to patients and providers increases the uptake of colorectal cancer screening and choice of screening test.

Center for Health Information and Communication (CHIC)

(VA HSR&D CIN 13-416; PI: Weiner) (2013 – 2023)

Role: Core Investigator

The goal of the CHIC is to improve veterans’ health through innovative application of health information and health information technology that serve the population-based and interpersonal needs of patients and clinicians. Dr. Imperiale is the leader for Focus Area 1, the goal of which is to advance use of health information technology as a knowledge management tool that connects systems to people.

Prevalence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Post-colonoscopy Colorectal Cancer in Veterans

(VA HSR&D) (2018-2023)

Role: Co-Principal Investigator

The goals of this project are to: quantify how well Veterans Health Administration electronic databases correctly categorize colorectal cancers as post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer (PCCRC) and detected colorectal cancer (DCRC); adjust findings for the degree of CRC misclassification; explore factors associated with PCCRC both with and without prior polypectomy; and examine unique patient, endoscopist, and facility/system-specific factors associated with PCCRC.

Colonoscopy vs. Fecal Immunochemical Test in Reducing Mortality from Colorectal Cancer (CONFIRM)

(VA CSP) (2012-2027)

Role: Co-Site-PI

The major goals of this project are to determine if colonoscopy is superior to FOBT for the prevention of colorectal cancer mortality and incidence.