MI-CRE 2025 Annual Research Symposium and Policy Forum

29-30 October 2025

Better together: advancing medicines intelligence through partnerships 

Symposium Co-Chairs: Prof Sallie Pearson and Dr Erin Kelty

Since its inception in 2020, MI-CRE has evolved from a disparate group of pharmacoepidemiology researchers dotted across a handful of Australian universities, to a high-performing, impactful network of researchers, consumers, policy-makers and educators across the country and abroad. As we celebrate the achievements of the first 5 years of MI-CRE and look to the future, we acknowledge the power of partnerships in achieving our goals.

This year's theme "Better together: advancing medicines intelligence through partnerships" highlighted the incredible achievements made possible through strong, authentic partnerships and collaborations. We had a stellar line-up of local and international guest speakers who shared their 'special sauce' for successful partnerships, including:

  • Professor Caroline Homer AO, Deputy Director – Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; Co-Head, Global Women's and Newborn Health; Co-Head, Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening, Burnet Institute; and Chair of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
  • Professor Peter Rijnbeek, Professor of Medical Informatics, Chair of the Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus University Medical Centre; and Executive Director of the Data Analysis and Real World Interrogation Network (DARWIN-EU).
  • Professor Robert Platt, Professor of Pediatrics and of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University; and Executive Co-Lead Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies (CNODES).

As always, we had multiple themed abstract sessions showcasing partnership and impact stories as well as traditional pharmacoepidemiological research and a thought-provoking panel discussion with our external partners and stakeholders. A lunchtime poster session also highlighted the latest research from across our network. Our program on Day 2 focussed on updates from our 60-day dispensing program of research and workplans from our Portfolios.

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

Invited speakers

Professor Caroline Homer AO is a midwife who is a globally recognised expert in maternal and newborn health, with an extensive career spanning clinical midwifery, research, and health policy. As the co-head of the Global Women’s and Newborn Health group at the Burnet Institute, leads research and development aimed to improve outcomes for women and babies in Australia and internationally. She has served as a key technical advisor to the World Health Organization and contributed significantly to the development of global maternal and perinatal health guidelines. A passionate advocate for equitable, evidence-based care, Caroline’s work bridges research excellence and real-world impact in low- and middle-income settings.

Professor Peter Rijnbeek is a health data scientist with 25 years' experience in computer science, data quality and management, statistics, and the development of real-world data solutions. As Chair of the Department of Medical Informatics at Erasmus University Medical Centre and Executive Director of the Data Analysis and Real World Interrogation Network (DARWIN-EU), he leads work to generate timely, high-quality evidence on the use, safety and effectiveness of medicines across the European Union. A leader in health data interoperability, he coordinates the European Health Data and Evidence Network (EHDEN), and the European OHDSI Chapter and plays a key role in promoting the use of common data standards to enable consistent, large-scale analysis of electronic health records

Professor Robert Platt is a biostatistician and pharmacoepidemiologist with an extensive track record of advancing real-world data methods to support public health and clinical research. As Professor of Paediatrics and of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health at McGill University, and Executive Co-Lead of the Canadian Network for Observational Drug Effect Studies (CNODES), he contributes to national efforts to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medicines. Robert holds the Canada Research Chair in Pharmacoepidemiology and Statistical Methods, with research focused on causal inference using administrative claims and electronic health record data. A long-standing contributor to international methodological initiatives, he plays a central role in the OHDSI community, strengthening the quality and consistency of multi-database studies that inform healthcare policy and regulatory decisions.

Wednesday 29th October

Opening and Welcome
Co-Chairs: Sallie Pearson and Erin Kelty

Keynote speaker: Prof Caroline Homer AO - Midwife to clinician researcher to research leader – Partnerships, networks and lessons learned

Deputy Director – Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; Co-Head, Global Women's and Newborn Health; Co-Head, Immunisation and Health Systems Strengthening, Burnet Institute; and Chair of the NHMRC

Recording

Abstract Session 1: Partnerships

Session Co-Chairs: Ben Daniels and Kelly Hall

Abstract Session 1 Recording

Sallie Pearson, UNSW Sydney

From silos to synergy: maximising impact through research partnerships

(abstract not published)

Nicole Pratt, University of South Australia

AHDEN - the Australian Health Data Evidence Network

(abstract not published)
Ghazaleh Niknam Shirvan, UNSW Sydney / Ingham Institute

Partnership-Driven Real-World Evidence: Insights From the FALCON-Lung Network on mNSCLC
Harrison Hansford, UNSW Sydney

TARGETing success: tales from a global collaboration 

Michael Falster, UNSW Sydney

Roses and thorns - insights from an academic-industry partnership 

(abstract not published)

Guest presentation: Dr Amy Freier and Dr Jennifer Enns - Community Partnerships for Data Equity and Policy Change

University of Manitoba, Canada

Guest Presentation Recording

Abstract Session 2A: Medicines in Pregnancy

Session Co-Chairs: Dani Russell and Danielle Tran

Abstract Session 2A Recording
Ebony Quintrell, University of Western Australia

Association between first trimester medication exposure in pregnancy and congenital anomalies: A scoping review of cohorts, exposure, trimester, and congenital anomaly definitions

Note: this abstract presentation is not in the recording

 

Bianca Varney, UNSW Sydney

 

 Opioid analgesic use during pregnancy and risk of adverse outcomes: a target trial emulation

 

Claudia Bruno, University of Sydney

 Patterns of antiemetic use in pregnancy: a population-based cohort study

Abstract Session 2B: Medicines for Mental Health Conditions
Session Co-Chairs: Jack Janetzki and Ramya Radha Krishnan 

Abstract Session 2B Recording

Dani Russell, University of Western Australia

From misdiagnosis to management: An interrupted time series analysis of medication trends before and after initiating psychostimulant medications in female patients with ADHD

Leah Roberts, University of Western Australia

Is the grass really greener for anxiety? Evaluating the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis for anxiety symptoms

Masako Araki, UNSW Sydney

Trends in prescription benzodiazepine and z-hypnotic use in Australia: a nationwide analysis (2014-2024)

Abstract Session 2C: Mixed Pharmacoepidemiological Studies

Session Co-Chairs: Ximena Camacho and Paulie Stehlik

Abstract Session 2C Recording

Jack Janetzki, University of Sydney

From shortage to substitution: Assessing the effectiveness of Serious Scarcity Substitution Instruments in Australia

Kelly Hall, University of South Australia

Application and Implementation of the Prevalent New-User Design in Pharmacoepidemiologic Cohort Studies: A Scoping Review

Tamie Milder, UNSW Sydney

 Hospitalisation is a risk factor for SGLT2i discontinuation

Eyob Gebreyohannes, University of South Australia

Co-designing a consumer-focused digital reporting health platform to improve adverse drug event reporting: a multimethod research project (the ReMedi Project)

Keynote Speaker: Prof Peter Rijnbeek

Professor of Medical Informatics, Chair of the Department of Medical Informatics, Erasmus University Medical Centre; and Executive Director of the Data Analysis and Real World Interrogation Network (DARWIN-EU)

Keynote Recording

Panel Discussion: Stakeholder perspectives of high quality and effective partnerships

Facilitated by Prof Sallie Pearson

Panel guests:

  • Prof Caroline Homer AO – Burnet Institute
  • Prof Peter Rijnbeek – Erasmus University
  • Prof Robert Platt – McGill University
  • Ms Ainslie Cahill AM – Consumer Representative
  • Ms Louise Gates – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
  • Mr Mike Stephens – National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
  • Mr Lawrence Farrell – IQVIA

Panel Discussion Recording

Abstract Awards 
Session Co-Chairs: Nicole Pratt and Ximena Camacho

Closing Remarks
David Henry

Abstract Awards and Closing Remarks Recording

Thursday 30th October

Please note there are no recordings from Day 2

60-day dispensing program presentations and discussion

Portfolio meetings

'Minute with a Mentor’

Whole MI-CRE meeting

Team activity

Closing remarks and wrap-up

Click on the abstract title to open the abstract in a new window.