UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
SCHOOL OF PHARMACY
A PHD STUDENTSHIP IN PHARMACOKINETIC MODELLING
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Propagation of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (pk/pd) information
through drug development
The School of Pharmacy (a grade 5A (RAE) department) is offering a
Ph.D. position, funded by Pfizer Central research, commencing in
September 1999.
Drug development is a serial process. Collected data, contributes to
our knowledge base, which in turn influences further data
acquisition and so on. The introduction of pk/pd modelling into drug
development has provided a useful tool that facilitates this process
in a formal manner. To date, however, the full potential of this tool
has rarely been fully exploited.
Current procedures progress information through development
programmes in a disjointed manner. Phase I data is often modelled
and predictions made for Phase II. The latter is then modelled
independently from phase I to make predictions for Phase III and so
on. Rarely is the accumulating data regarded as a single growing
entity.
At the moment the "easiest" way to include prior information is by
analysing all of the available data in some form of meta-analysis.
This process is extremely inefficient and time consuming: basically
when new data becomes available the whole process has to be
repeated. Ideally it should be possible to propagate the relevant
information in some reduced form that allows inference about future
studies, that can be updated when new information becomes available.
This process is in essence Bayesian and could be possibly be best
served using tools that allow full Bayesian analysis and inference.
The project will involve the construction of priors for pk/pd type
data and their application in development programmes. The problem
will be addressed using appropriate tools such as the BUGS software.
We will provide training in pharmacokinetics and relevant areas of
drug development. Applicants should have, or expect to obtain an
Upper Second Class or First Class degree in a subject with
significant mathematical, statistical or physical science content.
Applications and/or requests for information to:
Leon Aarons
School of Pharmacy
University of Manchester
Oxford Road
Manchester, M13 9PL
Tel: 0161 275 2357
email: [log in to unmask]
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