April 2022

In this month’s Chair’s Spotlight, we highlight the work of David Cave, M.D., Ph.D., and his efforts in researching the effectiveness of video capsule endoscopy.
 
Dr. Cave’s recent research focus has been on magnetically controlled capsule endoscopy, where a small wireless camera is swallowed while attached to a tether for examination of the esophagus. It is then released into the stomach and magnetically controlled for a detailed examination of specific areas. Dr. Cave found that early models and methods of capsule endoscopy did not allow for good examination of the esophagus or stomach. The new method using magnetically controlled capsules avoid the need for anesthesia.
 
Working with his mentees Sharad Hakimian, Prashanth Rau, and Mark Hanscom, Dr. Cave studied the effectiveness of regular magnetic capsule endoscopy for the detection of acute gastrointestinal bleeding during the COVID-19 surge. His finding showed that compared to standard care, this approach was just as safe and reduced PPE use by 40%, reduced the number of aerosol-producing procedures by half, and was twice as accurate in the detection of where bleeding originated in the body.
           
In addition to leading a great research team, Dr. Cave also serves as a mentor to Mark Hanscom, M.D., who was recently awarded a traveling fellowship to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Tech Summit in April. This is a national honor only given out to 20 fellows and focuses on fostering innovation and adoption of GI technology.
 
Dr. Cave is the Director of Clinical Gastroenterology Research at UMass Memorial Health (UMMH), as well as a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology at UMass Chan Medical School (UMass Chan). Prior to joining UMass Chan in 2005, he was the Chief of Gastroenterology at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, MA. Dr. Cave was the first research fellow of the British Digestive Foundation and has been supported by grants from many sources including the National Institute of Health throughout his career. He was also a recipient of a PACE award at UMMH.