SUMMARY
The research of Michael B. Wallace, M.D., focuses on early detection and intervention of gastrointestinal cancers. His current research, which the National Institutes of Health funds, aims to develop artificial intelligence and radiomic tools to detect occult precancerous conditions of the pancreas and early pancreatic cancer in people who are at risk.
Dr. Wallace co-leads Mayo Clinic's Procedural Innovation Team and the Digestive Disease Innovation and Research Program. These teams develop and study novel approaches and devices to improve the care of patients undergoing endoscopy and minimally invasive surgery. This work has led to several patent filings and business startups, as well as hundreds of scientific discoveries.
Dr. Wallace has published hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific papers in journals, including Nature, JAMA, Annals of Internal Medicine, Physical Review Letters, Gastroenterology and Gut. He holds an h-index of 94, which is among the top 1% of scientists worldwide.
Focus areas
- Barrett esophagus. Dr. Wallace uses narrow-band imaging, confocal endomicroscopy and optical frequency domain imaging to locate and direct therapy of precancerous (dysplasia) tissue.
- Large and advanced colorectal polyps. This involves using high-definition, narrow-band imaging and confocal endomicroscopy to locate and characterize such lesions, as well as evaluate optimal techniques for endoscopic resection of the lesions.
- Pancreatic cancer. As a method for minimally invasive screening for pancreatic cancer, Dr. Wallace uses optical spectroscopy methods to detect field effect changes in the adjacent normal-looking duodenum.
- Quality in colonoscopy. This includes factors associated with high-quality colonoscopy, such as visual gaze patterns and advanced imaging systems. Dr. Wallace's team has recently developed and completed a controlled clinical study on educational methods to increase quality — even well above nationally accepted benchmarks.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Wallace's research offers the potential to find cancers and precancerous growths at earlier stages. This can lead to less-invasive — and often organ-preserving — treatments that don't require surgery.
Professional highlights
- Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City:
- Chair, Artificial Intelligence Committee, 2023-2024.
- Chair, Outpatient Practice, 2022-2024.
- Medical director, Center for Innovation and Medical Simulation, 2022-2024.
- Chair, Division of Gastroenterology, 2021-2024.
- Editor-in-chief, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 2015-2023.
- Chair, Artificial Intelligence Committee, World Endoscopy Organization, 2022.
- Fred C. Andersen Professor, Mayo Clinic, 2019.
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic:
- Chair, 2010-2013.
- Director of Research, 2005-2008.
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy:
- Research Mentor of the Year, 2012.
- Chair, Research Committee, 2008-2011.
- Associate editor, Gastroenterology, 2006-2009.
- Health Care Hero, Jacksonville (Florida) Business Journal, 2008.
- Chair, Advanced Imaging and Technology, American Gastroenterological Association, 2004-2006.