Translating Real-World Evidence and Other Pharmacoepidemiological Research Findings into Policy and Clinical Practice: How Well are We Doing and What are the Opportunities for Improvement?

Background: Translating pharmacoepidemiological research findings into policy and clinical practice is crucial to improving the safe and effective use of medicinal products, enhancing the evidence base of health care and improving health care outcomes. This translation process is known as “knowledge exchange." It entails an interactive and iterative process of sharing research findings between the knowledge producers (i.e., pharmacoepidemiologists) and the knowledge users (e.g., regulators, healthcare professionals, patients). If the exchange is working well, knowledge users receive relevant and usable information and the knowledge producers receive timely, comprehensive information about users’ research needs. However, there is limited understanding currently of how well the knowledge exchange process for pharmacoepidemiological research is working.

Objectives: 1) To evaluate the status of knowledge exchange within the field of pharmacoepidemiology currently; 2) To determine what we can learn from successful knowledge exchange efforts in related scientific disciplines; 3) To explore how the knowledge exchange process for pharmacoepidemiologic research might be improved; and 4) To discuss ISPE's role in improving it.

Description: This symposium will involve a series of 4 presentations followed by a panel discussion. Presenters are:
1) “Where are opportunities for the field of pharmacoepidemiology to advance regulatory science and medical product evaluation?” Donna Rivera, Associate Director of Pharmacoepidemiology in the Oncology Center of Excellence at the US Food and Drug Administration, and leader of the Oncology Real World Evidence (RWE) Program
2) “How well are we doing as a field in translating pharmacoepidemiological findings into clinical practice? Where are the gaps?” Vincent Lo Re III, MD, MSCE, FISPE, Associate Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania
3) “What can we learn from knowledge exchange efforts in other scientific disciplines?” Meredith Y. Smith, PhD, MPA, FISPE, Senior Director, Evidera, Inc..
4) “What is ISPE’s role in improving the translation of pharmacoepidemiological evidence into policy and practice?” Tobias Gerhard BS, Pharm, PhD, FISPE, Founding Director Founding Director of the Rutgers Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Science (PETS), ISPE President
Presentations will be followed by a panel discussion regarding gaps and solutions with representatives from regulatory agencies, patient representative(s), and a journal editor, followed by audience Q&A.