Pharmacometrics

We develop and use mathematical models to understand drug and
disease mechanisms, and to optimise drug development and therapy.

Pharmacometric research focuses on nonlinear mixed effects (”population”) models. Such models describe data, generally the response-time profiles observed in a clinical trial, by a basic model, accounting for the general structure of the underlying system, and a set of hierarchical variability components, accounting for variability between subjects, within subjects over time and remaining between observation variability.

Research at the pharmacometrics group is divided into four main areas:

• We develop and evaluate methods for efficient and robust model building. This involves development of estimation algorithms, methods for model diagnosis and sequential procedures for model building. The result of the research, when applicable, is made available as free software.
• We develop platform models for the use in specific therapeutic areas or particular therapeutic/ pharmacological principles. Such models may involve the time-course of a biomarker or a system of biomarkers during normal, diseased and/or provoked conditions.
• We utilize the developed models for the purpose of designing studies, deciding upon dosing strategies and other developmental decisions.
• We analyse dose-concentration-response data from trials to understand therapies with existing drugs with the aim of allowing improved therapy.

Uppsala Pharmacometric Summer School

Every year, the Uppsala Pharmacometrics Summer School brings doctoral students from all over the world to Uppsala Biomedical Center. During two intensive weeks, the PhD students participate in lectures, work shops and poster sessions. They also have the opportunity to experience a selection of what Uppsala and the region has to offer.

The summer school agenda includes courses on how predictors can describe differences between patients as well as how exposure to drugs can be linked to effects. The PhD students are also encouraged to contribute problems based on their current research. The schedule primarily includes lectures by researchers at Uppsala University's Department of Pharmacy.

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