Putting our foot to the floor: Mobilising data to accelerate real-world evidence generation

This year's Annual Symposium, held on 1-2 November 2023, featured an exciting program of presentations and panel discussions from MI-CRE researchers, consumers and policy-makers. As usual, there was plenty of opportunity to network with friends and colleagues from across the MI-CRE nodes and our external stakeholders.

One of the highlights of the Symposium on Day 1 was the plenary session: Turbocharging real-world evidence generation for policy-makers: Lessons from Australia’s first national COVID19 vaccine effectiveness study. This featured presentations and a discussion by our guest panellists:

  • Dr David Gruen AO, Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Dr Phillip Gould, First Assistant Secretary, Department of Health and Aged Care
  • A/Prof Bette Liu, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, and UNSW
  • Ms Gayle Milnes, National Data Commissioner
  • Ms Anne McKenzie AM, Consumer Engagement Champion

On Day 2, we were thrilled to be joined by our special guest speaker Prof Samy Suissa, Distinguished James McGill Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and of Medicine at McGill University, and Director of the Centre of Clinical Epidemiology, Jewish General Hospital, in Montreal, Canada. Prof Suissa presented on Observational studies of new indications for old drugs: The good, the bad and the ugly.

Links to the abstracts and recordings of the sessions can be found in the tabs below.

Opening and Welcome

Symposium Co-Chairs: A/Prof Helga Zoega and Prof Sallie Pearson

 

Abstract Session 1A: Medicines in Pregnancy

Session Co-Chairs: Dr Erin Kelty and Ms Kelly Hall

1A Recording - Medicines in Pregnancy

 

Annelies L Robijn, UNSW Sydney

 

Prevalence of smoking cessation pharmacotherapy use during pregnancy: a multi-national population-based study

 

Danielle Tran, UNSW Sydney

 

The risk of congenital malformations in infants exposed in the first trimester to smoking cessation pharmacotherapies: A multi-national cohort study

 

Bianca Varney, UNSW Sydney

 

Opioid analgesic exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of major congenital malformations in infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis

 

Claudia Bruno, UNSW Sydney

 

Antipsychotic use during pregnancy and risk of poor academic performance in children: A multinational cohort study

 

 

Abstract Session 1B: Opioids & psychotropics

Session Co-Chairs: Dr Erin Kelty and Ms Kelly Hall

1B Recording - Opioids & psychotropics

 

Kendal Chidwick, UNSW Sydney

 

National trends in the use of medicines for opioid agonist treatment, 2013-2022

 

Malcolm Gillies, UNSW Sydney

 

Initiation and long-term use of opioids after hospitalisation or emergency department presentation

 

Natasa Gisev, UNSW Sydney

 

The risk of fatal opioid overdose associated with the concurrent use of opioid analgesics and psychotropic medicines: a retrospective population-based cohort study

 

Ramya Padavathy Radha Krishnan, University of Sydney

 

Beyond the label: Real-world evidence of antipsychotic utilization in Australia (2000–2021) using two medication datasets

 

Claudia Bruno, UNSW Sydney

 

Expanded access to publicly subsidised lisdexamfetamine treatment for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: an interrupted time series analysis

 

 

Abstract Session 2A: Cardiometabolic medicines and more

Session Co-Chairs: Dr Claire Deakin and Dr Ben Daniels

2A Recording - Cardiometabolic medicines and more

 

Masako Araki, UNSW Sydney

 

Cardiovascular medicine use in adults with ADHD: a nationwide study in Australia

 

Tamara Milder, UNSW Sydney

 

Patterns and timing of add-on anti-hyperglycaemic medicines after initiating metformin

 

Lan Kelly, University of South Australia

 

Paracetamol dose and hospitalisation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation: the case for lowering the starting dose

 

Lachlan Dalli, Monash University

 

Population Effect of Medicare-Funded Chronic Disease Management Policies on Medication Adherence Trajectories After Stroke: A Sub-Study of the PRECISE Emulated Target Trial

 

Jack Janetzki, University of South Australia

 

What “proof” is in the pudding? Integrating methodologies for adverse event signal detection

 

 

Abstract Session 2B: Biologics

Session Co-Chairs: Dr Claire Deakin and Dr Ben Daniels

2B Recording - Biologics

 

Katherine Duszynski, University of South Australia

 

Burden of biologic medicines in the Australian population

 

Kelly Hall, University of South Autralia

 

Visualised dispensing: An interactive app to monitor biologic medicine dispensing in Australia

 

Jodie Hillen, University of South Australia

 

The impact of biosimilars on biologic medicines market in Australia: Medicines policy in action

 

Jun Ni Ho, University of South Australia

 

Uptake and Australian cohort characteristics for innovative migraine prophylactic medicines

 

 

Plenary: Turbocharging real-world evidence generation for policy-makers: Lessons from Australia’s first national COVID19 vaccine effectiveness study

Guest panel: David Gruen AO, Phillip Gould, Bette Liu, Gayle Milnes, Anne McKenzie AM

Session Co-Chairs: Prof Sallie Pearson and Prof Michael Kidd AO

Plenary Recording

 

 

Awards Ceremony

Session Co-Chairs: Prof Nicole Pratt and Dr Chrianna Bharat

Awards Ceremony Recording

 

 

Consumer Involvement – You CAN ask that!

Guest Panel: Dr Erin Kelty, Ms Danielle Russell, Ms Jan Donovan, Prof Natasha Nassar, Prof David Preen, Dr Natasha Donnolley, Prof Sallie Pearson

Session Chair: Ms Anne McKenzie AM

Consumer Involvement Session- Recording

 

 

Guest presentation: Observational studies of new indications for old drugs: The good, the bad and the ugly.

 

Guest Speaker: Professor Samy Suissa
Distinguished James McGill Professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and of Medicine at McGill University, and Director of the Centre of Clinical Epidemiology, Jewish General Hospital, in Montreal, Canada

Guest Presentation - Recording