Our 1st Annual Research Symposium and Policy Forum was held as a virtual event on the 16th September 2021. It featured an opening keynote address by Professor Robert Platt from the Canadian Network of Observational Drug Effect Studies (CNODES), two sessions of 'rapid-fire' abstract presentations by students and researchers from across the MI-CRE network, an invited presentation on consumer and community involvement in research from MI-CRE Associate Investigator Anne McKenzie AM, and facilitated Q&A sessions that included many of the MI-CRE investigators. The Symposium was capped off with the inaugural "Pair of Nickers" Awards (judged and presented by MI-CRE Investigators Nicole Pratt and Nick Buckley, and the day ended with the Final Word from MI-CRE Investigator David Henry and our Director, Sallie Pearson. In addition to the wonderful speakers on the day, a series of electronic posters were made available for viewing.