Karen Tu

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. 

Recent Publications

Ilango S, Chen H, Hystad P, Donkelaar AV, Kwong J, Tu K, Martin R, Benmarhnia T. The role of cardiovascular disease in the relationship between air pollution and incident dementia: A population-based cohort study. International Journal of Epidemiology. Accepted in press June 2019. IJE-2018-09-1168.R1

Smekal M, Gil S, Donald M, Beanlands H, Straus S, Herrington G, Sparkes D, Harwood L, Tong A, Grill A, Tu K, Waldvogel B, Large C, Large C, Novak M, James M, Elliot M, Delgado M, Brimble S, Samuel S. Content and quality of websites for patients with chronic kidney disease: an environmental scan. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease. Accepted in press 2019 June.

Rotstein D, Marrie R, Maxwell C, Gandhi S, Schultz S, Fung K, Tu K. MS Risk in Immigrants in the McDonald Era: A population-based study in Ontario, Canada. Neurology. Accepted in press 2019 June.

Wong J, Tu K, Bernatsky S, Jaakkimainen L, Thorne C, Ahluwalia V, Paterson JM, Widdifield J. Quality and Continuity of Information Between Primary Care Physicians and Rheumatologists. BMC Rheumatology. 2019 May; 3:1 doi.org/10.1186/s41927-019-0067-6.

Carsley S, Pope E, Anderson LN, Tremblay MS, Tu K, Birken C, on behalf of Team ABC3. Temporal trends of severe obesity prevalence in children and youth from primary care electronic medical records in Ontario, Canada: a repeated cross-sectional study. CMAJ Open. 2019 May; 7 no. 2 E351-E359. doi: 10.9778/cmajo.20180174.

Carsley S, Parkin PC, Tu K, Pullenayegum E, Persaud N, Maguire JL, Birken CS, and on behalf of the TARGet Kids! Collaboration. Reliability of routinely collected anthropometric measurements in primary care. BMC Medical Research Methodology. 2019 Apr; 19(84): e1-e8. doi.org/10.1186/s12874-019-0726-8

Schwartz K, Brown KA, Etches J, Langford B, Daneman N, Tu K, Johnstone J, Achonu C, Garber G. Predictors and variability of antibiotic prescribing amongst family physicians. JAC-2018-2025.R1 Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2019 Apr; dkz112. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkz112.

Orr S, Tu K, Carsley S, Chung H, Holder L, Jabbari S, Harrington D, Mason H. Using EMRALD to assess baseline body mass index among children living within and outside communities participating in the Ontario, Canada Healthy Kids Community Challenge. PLoS ONE. 2019 Apr; 14(4): e0213443. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0213443.

Donio P, Freites C, Austin PC, Ross HJ, Abdel-Qadir H, Wijeysundera HC, Tu K, Cram P, Liu P, Abrams H, Udell J, Mak S, Farkouh M, Tu JV, Wang X, Tobe S, Lee D. Comparison of Readmission and Death Among Cardiac Patients in Northern vs. Southern Ontario. Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2019 Mar; 35(3): 341-351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2019.01.004.

Schwartz K, Wilton D, Langford B, Brown KA, Daneman N, Garber G, Johnstone J, Adomako K, Achonu C, Tu K. Comparing prescribing and dispensing database to study antibiotic use: a validation study of the Electronic Medical Record Administrative data Linked Database (EMRALD). Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2019 Feb; 74(3): e1 – e7. doi:10.1093/jac/dkz033.

JJ, Kwong JC, Tu K, Butt DA, Copes R, Wilton AS, Murray BJ, Kopp A, Chen H. Time Trends of the Incidence, Prevalence and Mortality of Parkinsonism. The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 2019 Jan 28:1-8 doi: 10.1017/cjn.2018.387. [Epub ahead of print].

Lee T, Tobe S, Butt D, Ivers N, Jakkimainen L, Liu P, Walker K, Tu K. Measuring cardiovascular quality in primary care using Canadian Cardiovascular Harmonization of National Guidelines Endeavour and EMR data in Ontario. Canadian Journal of Cardiology Open. 2019 Jan: 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjco.2018.11.003.

Carsley S, Tu K, Parkin PC, Pullenayegum E, Birken CS. Overweight and obesity in preschool aged children and risk of mental health service utilization. International Journal of Obesity. 2018 Nov; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-018-0280-1.

Hwee J, Sung L, Kwong JC, Sudtradhar R, Tu K, Pole J. Use of physician billing claims to identify infections in children: a population-based validation study of administrative data from children: population-based validation study of administrative data from Ontario. PLoS ONE. 2018 Nov 13(11): e0207468. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.

Lix L, Ayles J, Cooke C, Ellison J, Emond V, Hamm N, Jean S, LeBlanc S, Hannah H, Paterson JM, Phillips K, Puchtinger R, Reimer K, Smith M, Svenson L, Tu K, VanTil L, Waits S, Pelletier L. The Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System. International Journal of Population Data Science. 2018 Oct; 3(3):3. doi: 10.23889/ijpds.v3i3.433

Gershon AS, Mecredy GC, Aaron SD, Camp PG, Tu K, Hernandez P, To T. Development of quality indicators for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): a modified RAND appropriateness method. Canadian Journal of Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. 2018 Oct. https://doi.org/10.1080/24745332.2018.1476030.

Bai L, Burnett RT, Kwong JC, Hystad P, van Donkelaar A, Brook JR, Tu K, Copes R, Goldberg MS, Martin RB, Murray BJ, Kopp A, Chen H. Long-term exposure to air pollution and the incidence of multiple sclerosis: a population-based cohort study. Environmental Research. 2018 Oct;166:437-443. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.003.

Eder L, J Widdifield J, Rosen CF, Cook R, Lee K, Alhusaye R, Paterson MJ, Cheng SY, Jabbari S, Campbell I, Bernatsky S, Gladman DD, Tu K. Trends in the prevalence and incidence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in Ontario, Canada: A population-based study. Arthritis Care & Research. 2018 Sep 1. doi: 10.1002/acr.23743.

Dahrouge S, Kaczorowski J, Dolovich L, Paterson M, Thabane L, Tu K, Younger J, Chambers L. Long term outcomes of cluster randomized trial to improve cardiovascular health at population level: The Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP). PLoS ONE. 2018 Sep; 13 (9):e0201902. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201802.

Lipscombe LL, Hwee J, Webster L, Shah BR, Booth GL, Tu K. Identifying diabetes cases from administrative data: a population-based validation study. BMC Health Services Research. 2018 May;18:316. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3148-0.

Rotstein DL, Chen H, Wilton AS, Kwong JC, Ann-Marie R, Gozdyra P, Krysko KM, Kopp A, Copes R, Tu K. Temporal trends In multiple sclerosis prevalence and incidence in a large population. Neurology. 2018 Apr;90 (16): e1435-e1441.

Carsley S, Birken CS, Parkin PC, Pullenayegum E, Tu K. Completeness and accuracy of anthropometric measurements in electronic medical records for children attending primary care. J Innov Health Inform. 2018 Mar;25(1):019–026. http://dx.doi.org/10.14236/jhi.v25i1.963.

Wilson SE, Chung H, Schwartz KL, Guttmann A, Deeks SL, Kwong JC, Crowcroft NS, Wing L, Tu K. Rotavirus vaccine coverage and factors associated with uptake using linked data: Ontario, Canada. PLoS ONE 2018 Feb; 13(2): e0192809. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0192809.

Bartsch EV, Park AL, Young J, Ray JG, Tu K. Infant feeding practices within a large electronic medical record database. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 2018 Jan 2. doi: 10.1186/s12884-017-1633-9.

Carsley S, Birken CS, Tu K. Parkin PC. Examining growth monitoring practices for children in primary care. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2017 Oct 26. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2017-314016.

Team ABC3. The Team to Address Bariatric Care in Canadian Children (Team ABC3): Team Grant Research Proposal. BMC Research Notes 2017 Oct; 10:301 doi: 10.1186/s13104-017-2506-z.

Chen H, Kwong JC, Copes R, Hystad P, van Donkelaar A, Tu K, Brook JR, Goldberg MS, Martin RV, Murray BJ, Wilton AS, Kopp A, Burnett RT. Exposure to ambient air pollution and the incidence of dementia: a population-based cohort study. Environment International 2017; 108:271-7. Epub 2017 Sep 13.

Park AL, Tu K, Ray JG for the Canadian Curves Consortium. Differences in growth of Canadian children compared to the WHO 2006 Child Growth Standards. Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology. 2017 Jul 10. doi: 10.1111/ppe.12377. [Epub ahead of print]

Wilson SE, Quach S, MacDonald SE, Naus M, Deeks SL, Crowcroft NS, Mahmud SM, Tran D, Kwong J, Tu K, Gilbert NL, Johnsson C, Desai S. Methods used for immunization coverage assessment in Canada, a Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) study. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. 2017 Aug 3;13(8):1928-1936. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2017.1319022. Epub 2017 Jul 14.

Persaud N, Lee T, Ahmad H, Li W, Taglione MS, Rajakulasingam Y, Umali N, Boozary A, Glazier RH, Gomes T, Hwang SW, Juni P, Law M, Mamdani MM, Manns B, Martin D, Morgan S, Oh P, Pinto AD, Shah BR, Sullivan FM, Thorpe KE, Tu K, Laupacis A. Protocol for a randomised controlled trial evaluating the effects of providing essential medicines at no charge: the Carefully seLected and Easily Accessible at No Charge Medicines (CLEAN Meds) trial. BMJ Open June 2017;7:e015686. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015686.

Lee TM, Tu K, Wing LL, Gershon AS. Identifying individuals with physician-diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care electronic medical records: a retrospective chart abstraction study. Primary Care Respiratory Medicine. 2017 May; 27(1):34.

Nash DM, Brimble S, Markle-Reid M, McArthur E, Tu K, Nesrallah GE, Grill A, Garg AX. Quality of care for patients with chronic kidney disease in the primary care setting: a retrospective cohort study from Ontario, Canada. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease. 2017 May;4:1-14 doi:10.1177/2054358117703059.

Frost D, Vembu S, Wang J, Tu K, Morris Q, Abrams HB. Using the Electronic Medical Record to Identify Patients at High Risk for Frequent Emergency Department Visits and High System Costs. Am J Med. 2017 May;130(5):601.e17-601.e22.

Tu J, Ko D, Atzema C, Booth G, Tu K, Lee D, Bierman A, Hall R, Bhatia R, Gershon A, Tobe S, Sanmartin C, Liu P, Chu A. The Cardiovascular Health in Ambulatory Care Research Team (CANHEART) Performance Indicators for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: a modified Delphi panel study. CMAJ Open. 2017 April ;5(2):E315-e321.

Tu JV, Chu A, Maclagan, Austin PC, Johnston S, Ko DT, Cheung I, Atzema CL, Booth GL, Bhatia RS, Lee DS, Jackevicius CA, Kapral MK, Tu K, Wijeysundera HC, Alter DA, Udell JA, Manuel DG, Mondal P, Hogg W; for the Cardiovascular Health in Ambulatory Care Research Team (CANHEART) Investigators. Regional variations in ambulatory care and incidence of cardiovascular events. CMAJ. 2017 April;189(13)E494-501.

Nash DM, Ivers NM, Young J, Jaakkimainen LR, Garg AX, Tu K. Improving Care for Patients with or at Risk for Chronic Kidney Disease using Electronic Medical Record Interventions: A Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Trial Protocol. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease. 2017 April;4:1-13. doi: 10.1177/2054358117699833.

Wilson SE, Quach S, MacDonald SE, Naus M, Deeks SL, Crowcroft NS, Mahmud SM, Tran D, Kwong JC, Tu K, Johnson C, Desai S. Immunization information systems in Canada: Attributes, functionality, strengths and challenges. A Canadian Immunization Research Network study. Can J Public Health. 2017 Mar; 107(6): e575–e582. doi: 10.17269/CJPH.107.5679.

Amankwah N, Ann Marrie R, Bancej C, Garner R, Manuel DG, Wall R, Fines P, Bernier J, Tu K, Reimer K. Multiple sclerosis in Canada 2011 to 2031: results of a microsimulation modelling study of epidemiological and economic impacts. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada: Research, Policy and Practice. 2017 Feb; 27(2): 1-12.

Birken CS, Tu K, Oud W, Carsley S, Hanna M, Lebovic G, Guttmann A. Determining Rates of Overweight and obesity status in children using Electronic Medical Records: a cross-sectional study. Canadian Family Physician. 2017 Feb; 63(2):e114-22.

Hauck TS, Lau C, Wing L, Kurdyak P, Tu K. ADHD treatment in primary care. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 2017 Jan; 62(6): 393-402. doi: 10.1177/0706743716689055.

Chen H, Kwong JC, Copes R, Tu K, Villeneuve PJ, van Donkelaar A, Hystad P, Martin RV, Murray BJ, Jessiman B, Wilton D, Kopp A, Burnett RT. Living near major roads and the incidence of dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis: a population-based cohort study. The Lancet. 2017 Jan; pii: S0140-6736(16)32399-6.

Tu K, Bevan L, Hunter K, Rogers J, Young J, Nesrallah G. Quality indicators for the detection and management of Chronic Kidney Disease in primary care in Canada derived from a Modified-Delphi Panel Approach. CMAJ Open. 2017 Jan; 5(1): E74-E81.

Pendrith C, Bhatia M, Ivers NM, Mecredy G, Tu K, Hawker GA, Jaglal SB, Wilson L, Wintemute K, Glazier RH, Levinson W, Bhatia S. Frequency of and variation in low-value care in primary care: a retrospective cohort study. CMAJ Open. 2017 Jan; 5(1): E45-E51.

Widdifield J, Ivers NM, Bernatsky S, Jaakkimainen RL, Bomardier C, Thorne JC, Ahluwalia V, Paterson JM, Young J, Wing L, Tu K. Primary care screening and management of comorbidity in rheumatoid arthritis in Ontario, Canada. Arthritis Care & Research. 2016 Dec; doi: 10.1002/acr.23178.

Lee TM, Ivers NM, Bhatia S, Butt DA, Dorian P, Jaakkimainen L, Leblanc K, Legge D, Morra D, Valentinis A, Wing L, Young J, Tu K. Improving stroke prevention therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation in primary care: protocol for a pragmatic, cluster-randomized trial. Implementation Sci. 2016 Dec; 11(1): 159.

Tu K, Nieuwlaat R, Cheng S, Wing L, Ivers N, Atzema CL, Healey JS, Dorian P. Identifying Patients with Atrial Fibrillation using Administrative Data. Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2016 Dec; 32(12): 1561-1565.

Manuel DG, Garner R, Finès P, Bancej C, Flanagan W, Tu K, Reimer K, Chambers L, Bernier J. Alzheimer's and other dementias in Canada, 2011 to 2031: a microsimulation Population Health Modeling (POHEM) study of projected prevalence, health burden, health services and caregiving use. Population Health Metrics. 2016 Nov; 14:37.

J, Tu K, Thorne CJ, Bombardier C, Paterson MJ, Jaakkimainen LR, Wing L, Butt DA, Ivers N, Hofstetter C, Lyddiatt A, Ahluwalia V, Bernatsky S. Patterns of care among patients referred to rheumatologist in Ontario, Canada. Arthritis Care and Research. 2016 Nov; 69(1): 104-114.

Myers MG, Kaczorowski J, Dolovich L, Tu K, Paterson JM,. Cardiovascular risk in hypertension in relation to achieved blood pressure using automated office blood pressure measurement. Hypertension. 2016 Oct; 68(4):866-72.

Zwarenstein M, Grimshaw JM, Presseau J, Francis JJ, Godin G, Johnston M, Eccles MP, Tetroe JM, Shiller SK, Croxford R, Kelsall D, Patterson JM, Austin PC, Tu K, Yun L, Hux JE. Printed Educational Messages Fail to Increase use of Thiazides as First-Line Medication for Hypertension in Primary Care: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial [ISRCTN72772651]. Implementation Sci. 2016 Sep; 11(1): 124.

Chen G, Lix, L, Tu K, Hemmelgarn BR, Campbell NR, McAlister FA, Quan H. Hypertension Outcome and Surveillance Team. Influence of using different databases and ‘look back’ intervals to define comorbidity profiles for patients with newly diagnosed hypertension: implications for health services researchers. PLoS ONE. 2016 Sept; 11(9): e0162074.

Jaakkimainen RL, Bronskill SE, Tierney MC, Herrmann N, Green D, Young J, Ivers N, Butt D, Tu K. Identification of physician-diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in population-based administrative data: a validation study using family physicians’ electronic medical records. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 2016 Aug; 54(1): 337-49.

Tu K, Nieuwlaat R, Cheng S, Wing L, Ivers N, Atzema CL, Healey JS, Dorian P. Identifying Patients with Atrial Fibrillation using Administrative Data. Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2016 June doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2016.06.006

Widdifield J, Tu K, Thorne JC, Bombardier C, Paterson JM, Jaakkimainen L, Wing L, Butt DA, Ivers N, Hofstetter C, Lyddiatt A, Ahluwalia V, Bernatsky S. Patterns of care among first-time referrals to rheumatologists: Characteristics and timeliness of consultations and treatment in Ontario, Canada. Arthritis Care and Research. 2016 Apr; doi: 10.1002/acr.22910

Widdifield J, Bernatsky S, Thorne JC, Bombardier C, Jaakkimainen RL, Wing L, Paterson JM, Ivers N, Butt D, Lyddiatt A, Hofstetter C, Ahluwalia V, Tu K. Wait times to rheumatology care for patients with rheumatic diseases: a data linkage study of primary care electronic medical records and administrative data. Canadian Medical Association Journal Open. 2016 May; 4(2):E2015-12.

Honours and Awards

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

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. 2005/10. For The CCORT Canadian Cardiovascular Atlas. 

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.