Prof Sallie Pearson
MI-CRE Director
"The Medicines Intelligence Centre of Research Excellence (MI-CRE) plays a pivotal role in advancing evidence-informed quality use of medicines in Australia. Its research, using purpose built large real-world datasets provides evidence about medicine use and outcomes, directly informs the types of decisions that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) makes in recommending funding of medicines to the Australian government. MI-CRE brings together many of the leading pharmaco-epidemiologists in Australia and linkages to international scientists to provide insights on the way medicines are used in practice and the population level benefits and harms of medicine use. It is making a major contribution to achieving the objectives of Australia’s National Medicine Policy."
Prof Andrew Wilson
PBAC Chair 2015-2024
About us
In November 2020, the Centre of Research Excellence in Medicines Intelligence (MI-CRE) received a $2.5 million five-year grant from the NHMRC for the purpose of delivering 'real-world' evidence on the use and outcomes of medicines in Australia.
The MI-CRE is led by Professor Sallie Pearson from UNSW Medicine and Health’s School of Population Health and is a truly national collaboration that includes nine other Chief Investigators and ten Associate Investigators from universities across Australia. The MI-CRE provides an opportunity for researchers in institutions across the country to collaborate more closely on key research priorities and accelerate the generation and translation of evidence about real-world medicine use and outcomes.
The MI-CRE was established in recognition of the major health and economic impact from medicine overuse and misuse, and in response to the 2019 announcement by the Federal Minister for Health, The Hon. Greg Hunt, that quality use of medicine and medicine safety is a National Health Priority. We are developing a coordinated research program that will accelerate the development and translation of evidence about real-world medicine use and outcomes, leading to major improvements in the quality use of medicines and reductions in medicine-related harm. The MI-CRE develops and delivers new knowledge of medicines in Australia for use by regulators and payers, that can be translated directly into policy and practice, improving responsiveness to current and emerging policy imperatives.
We use population-based linked data (including through the use of 'big data platforms') and sophisticated methods to study the association between the effects of medicines, how they are used in practice, and the resultant benefits, harms and costs. We engage with policymakers to develop and scale-up sustainable approaches for timely evidence generation and research translation; and we develop innovative training and on-the-job experience to grow the next generation of research leaders.
To support our program of work, we have developed the following Portfolios of expertise that will integrate at both the program and project levels to support our goals:
- Knowledge Translation
- Capacity Building and Training
- Methods and Data
Funding
National Health and Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence grant 2020-2024 APP1196900
Contacts
Dr Natasha Hirschhorn-Edwards
MI-CRE Program and Communications Manager
mi-cre@unsw.edu.au
Professor Sallie Pearson
MI-CRE Director and Professor of Health Systems
Chief Investigators
- Prof Sallie Pearson - UNSW Sydney
- Prof Nicole Pratt - University of South Australia
- Prof Nicholas Buckley - University of Sydney
- Prof David Preen - University of Western Australia
- Prof Louisa Degenhardt - UNSW Sydney
- Prof Kees van Gool - University of Technology Sydney
- Prof Louisa Jorm - UNSW Sydney
- Prof Andrew Wilson - University of Sydney
- Prof David Henry - UNSW Sydney
- Prof Claire Vajdic - UNSW Sydney
Associate Investigators
- Ms Ximena Camacho - UNSW Sydney
- A/Prof Timothy Dobbins - UNSW Sydney
- A/Prof Julian Elliott - Monash University
- Prof Chris Etherton-Beer - University of Western Australia
- A/Prof Tracey Laba - University of South Australia
- A/Prof Sally Lord - University of Notre Dame
- Ms Anne McKenzie - Telethons Kids Institute, UWA
- Prof Debra Rowett - University of South Australia
- Dr Frank Sanfilippo - University of Western Australia
- A/Prof Helga Zoega - UNSW Sydney
Aims
The Medicines Intelligence CRE brings together Australia’s leading researchers in pharmacoepidemiology and related fields, and key stakeholders to achieve the following aims:
1. Generate and enhance 'medicines intelligence' for regulators and payers to improve the quality use of medicines and reduce medicine-related harm. We leverage research-ready ‘big data’ platforms built by the MI-CRE investigator team and use best practice methods to improve the quality, timeliness and efficiency of knowledge we generate.
"I’ve appreciated the opportunity to attend several Incubator sessions to engage with MI-CRE on its research program. Published research from these projects has been very informative for our work."
Dr Kerry Atkins, Director – Drug Utilisation Section,
Genomics and Health Technology Assessment Policy Branch
Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care
2. Boost knowledge translation by actively collaborating with Australia's key stakeholders: the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee are our key policy partners. Our research's translational impact is further amplified through structured initiatives like our Policy and Translation, Consumer, and International Scientific Reference Groups. Additionally, we host dynamic educational events such as the Annual Research Symposium and Policy Forum, and the innovative Project Incubator Program.
"The Project Incubator program has provided a unique opportunity for me to engage with and form partnerships with important stakeholder groups (including senior policymakers) that would otherwise not have been possible as a PhD student. Similarly, I have been able to establish new collaborations with researchers across the CRE to work on methodological projects and produce outputs that will benefit the network more broadly."
Ms Ximena Camacho, PhD Scholar, UNSW Sydney
3. Build workforce capacity through innovative inter-disciplinary training, mentoring, career development opportunities, on-the-job training including research placements, and engagement with our policy partners, consumers and community.
"Research placement at UNSW MI-CRE was a transformative journey that profoundly enhanced my research capabilities. I am extremely grateful for the experience that has empowered me to make meaningful contributions to the quality use and safety of medicines and has been instrumental in my PhD journey."
Ms Jun Ni Ho, PhD Scholar, UniSA
4. Promote collaboration. MI-CRE brings together leading pharmacoepidemiologists from across Australia and links them with international scientists. We foster cross-institutional collaborations across MI-CRE researchers based at our four primary research nodes (UNSW, USYD, UniSA and UWA). We have long-standing links with international scientific bodies including the International Society of Pharmacoepidemiology, the International Population Data Linkage Network and the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) network. We also promote joint training opportunities, including through international research exchanges.
"Cross-collaboration between centres is often really complicated (we're all so focused on our own stuff, and we often see them as competitors). MI-CRE provides opportunities to engage and work with our colleagues across Australia in a way that probably wouldn't have happened. MI-CRE also provides avenues for engaging with policy-makers. As an ECR, I always found these people intimidating and wouldn't necessarily make connections myself. With MI-CRE, we get to meet them and hear from them about what they need in a setting and format that is less intimidating and more collegial."
Early Career Researcher at the MI-CRE Annual Research Symposium and Policy Forum
"As a PhD-student visiting from Denmark, my research placement at UNSW MI-CRE has been an extremely valuable experience. Working hands-on with several Australian health data resources in a collaborative and high-performing team has substantially improved my skills and confidence as an ECR. With the support, enthusiasm, and world-class expertise of the MI-CRE network I have performed several projects during my stay, laying the basis for future collaborations between UNSW and University of Copenhagen within quality and safety of medicines."
Dr Hans Råket Pedersen, PhD Scholar, University of Copenhagen
Medicines Intelligence (MedIntel) Data Platform
The Medicines Intelligence (MedIntel) Data Platform is an enduring data platform, established to undertake population-based studies examining the use, safety and (cost)effectiveness of prescribed medicines.
Project Incubator Program
The MI-CRE Project Incubator initiative provides an opportunity for early- and mid-career medicines intelligence researchers to engage with relevant stakeholders from government, industry, the research community, and consumers to gain valuable feedback and input on their research proposals and develop new collaborations in a supportive environment.
MI-CRE Publications and Impact
MI-CRE investigators have published more than 320 papers in the area of quality use of medicines and medicines safety since 2021 - far too many for us to profile here. Instead, we invite you to explore a curated selection of impactful research publications by our network of MI-CRE researchers.
In addition to publications, we also feature impact stories from our network.
Research Program Spotlight
Here we highlight some of our ongoing research programs that address emerging policy priorities as well as the latest initiatives in data integration and standardisation.
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In September 2023, the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care introduced an initiative under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to allow certain medicines to be dispensed for a 60-day supply instead of the usual 30 days. This initiative is designed to reduce the frequency of pharmacy visits, lower out-of-pocket costs, and improve medication adherence for patients.
MI-CRE is initiating a program of research across our network to evaluate the impact of this policy intervention.
