The PBPK2024 workshop in Kampala was a catalyst for change, offering a promising avenue to optimize drug therapy for the most complex and understudied populations. The workshop which is believed to be the first of its kind in Africa sent a strong foundation for collaboration, networking and building a strong and committed team of PK modellers in the global south.
This newsletter from the Uganda chapter of Pharmacometrics Africa offers unique insights into the current status of the Maternal and Infant Lactation pharmacoKinetics (MILK) project. Highlights from this issue: The MILK study team celebrates 70% recruitment into the malaria and TB pharmacokinetic studies; presentations at several international conferences; increased engagement with communities including several new public engagement projects; and a profile of our postdoctoral pharmacokinetic modeller, Francis Williams Ojara. Read more about the program below, or view the newsletter here. About MILKAbout half of all women worldwide require medication whilst breastfeeding. Historically, breastfeeding women have been excluded from drug research, largely with the intention of protecting the mothers and their infants from harm. However, lack of data to inform safe medication use in this population itself brings risk. In low-income settings drugs are frequently used ‘off-label’ through necessity and in high-income settings the ‘safest’ recommendation may be to avoid breastfeeding. MILK strengthens existing collaborations and my existing work on HIV antiretrovirals by studying treatments for several priority infections (tuberculosis, malaria and maternal infection around the time of delivery) in breastfeeding mother-infant pairs. Carefully designed clinical studies with mathematical (pharmacometric) approaches to data analysis will elucidate drug transfer from mother to breastfed infant. Work with patient groups and policymaking stakeholders maximises impact through data sharing and prioritisation of ongoing work.
The MILK project studied transfer of antiretrovirals from mother to breastfed infant. It is essential that we communicate the results of our studies clearly at community level. This paper describes our pilot co-creation project in Hoima District, Uganda.
In the ever-evolving and diverse field of mathematical modeling, the recent Cross-Discipline Mathematical Modelling Symposium 2023 provided a platform for modelers worldwide to share their experiences and delve into the relationship between mathematics and real-world applications. As we wrap up the event, let’s take a moment to appreciate the experience, express gratitude, and share what lies ahead:
Critical drug-drug interactions (DDI) and hepatotoxicity complicate concurrent use of rifampicin and protease inhibitors. We investigated whether dose escalation of atazanavir/ritonavir could safely overcome the DDI with rifampicin. Read the full paper here This featured research paper was written in part by members of our Uganda chapter. For more information on this local chapter, visit this page.
Pharmacometrics Africa is pleased to partner with Stellenbosch University, Fundisa Academy for Medicines Development and other organizations to host the first Cross-Discipline Mathematical Modelling & Simulation Symposium! The event is 100% free to attend and will be hosted virtually. You can find out more details and register for the event by clicking the link here.
Recently, our colleagues at the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT) hosted a webinar, “Building the Global Pharmacometrics Community,” featuring several members of our team. We are pleased to inform you that this webinar has been featured in their Open-Access Webinar Library and is available to anyone regardless of membership or having attended their Network & Community Experience (NCE) previously. You can view the webinar in its entirety here. This is especially timely given that the 2024 Applied Pharmacometrics Training program will open to new applicants shortly – prospective applicants can view this webinar to hear first-hand experiences from three former participants in the program. In addition, the team at ASCPT is offering webinar access to any non-members located in Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMICs) for at least the month of October 2023. You can find more information about their webinar offerings at this link.
ASCPT is now accepting applications for its newest grant program, the Low-to-Middle-Income Country (LMIC) Travel Grant. Intended to foster the participation of a LMIC clinical pharmacologist or translational scientist at the ASCPT Annual Meeting, the $7,500 LMIC Travel Grant will be awarded to one individual to cover travel associated costs to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting in Colorado Spring, CO, March 27-29. If you are a clinical pharmacologist or translational scientist who resides in a World Bank-identified LMIC who would benefit from the science and networking available during the Annual Meeting, submit your application to Elise Laffman-Johnson at elise@ascpt.org by November 24, 2023, to be considered. ASCPT’s Global Health Community leaders will assist with the review of all applications and make a recommendation to the ASCPT Officers for final recipient selection. Get more information on the LMIC travel grant > Requirements, application criteria, and additional considerations for the LMIC Travel Grant are available on the ASCPT website. The LMIC Travel Grant Program reflects ASCPT’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and supports the Society’s mission and vision to advance clinical pharmacology for the benefit of patients and society on a global level.
Deadline Extended We have extended the deadline to 31 October, 2023. × Dismiss this alert. The Applied Pharmacometrics Training Fellowship – Africa Region is a collaboration between Certara, Pharmacometrics Africa, CP+ Associates, together with several pharma industry and academic partners. This is an intensive doctoral-level fellowship program that upskills participants to conduct regulatory quality clinical pharmacology and pharmacometrics analyses that could inform decision making. The program is an effort to increase the application of model-based drug development in Africa. Participation in this program provides opportunities to integrate work and education while facilitating the development of an international contact network. Consisting of an intensive 24-week virtual program, complemented by 2 week-long face-to-face sessions, fellows mainly work from their home location and interact using remote technology tools. The program provides online tutorials combined with hands-on project work in cooperation with partners from industry and academia. All projects end in a publishable unit, defined as a poster at a conference and/or a peer-reviewed manuscript. The fellowship aims to build scientific and leadership capability in Africa by enhancing the skills of local scientists and by facilitating knowledge transfer to their wider scientific communities. The relationships forged between the hosts of this program and the fellows’ home institutions will further the endeavour to create next-generation medicines to ease suffering and improve quality of life for patient populations around the world. Successful participants in this program are eligible for mentorship, coaching and sponsorship towards employment in research centres in Africa or with the consulting team of
Equity and Merit Scholarships are for academically excellent students who have the potential to make a significant contribution to sustainable development in their home countries. The awards are intended for those who cannot afford to study in Manchester without a scholarship. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and all applications are considered on their merit. We particularly encourage women to apply. We offer two types of scholarship: There are 40 scholarships (30 for full-time study and ten for online study) available for a range of courses in engineering, environment, health sciences, development, education, textiles and law. The scheme is open to applicants from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The scholarships cover full tuition fees, and for students who will be studying in Manchester, the award includes return international airfares, living expenses and visas. Get more information on the MSc program for Model-Based Drug Development here, or see how to apply for the scholarships at this link.