Pharmacoepidemiology is the study of how medicines are used and how they affect people in real‑world settings. It brings together data, clinical knowledge, and research on large groups of people to understand whether medicines are safe, effective, and used appropriately across different groups. As healthcare systems produce and use data more in guiding decisions, pharmacoepidemiology plays a vital role in improving patient outcomes and informing national policy.
This one-day conference will bring together researchers and professionals working in, or closely connected to, pharmacoepidemiology across the island of Ireland. Attendees will include pharmacoepidemiology researchers from the various universities on the island of Ireland, including experts from related fields such as public health, data science, health services research, and clinical epidemiology. Representatives from public health bodies, data‑controlling organisations, policymakers, and research agencies will also be invited, recognising their key role in shaping how data is accessed, protected, and used to translate evidence into practice. With around 80–100 attendees, the conference will be large enough to generate meaningful discussion while still supporting active participation and networking.
The primary aim of the event is to build connections within this emerging research community. Many attendees will be meeting for the first time, making this an important opportunity to map existing expertise, strengthen professional networks, and identify shared priorities for future collaboration. A central feature of the programme will be a facilitated World Café discussion, designed to develop consensus on national capacity‑building needs in pharmacoepidemiology. Any resulting consensus statement will be openly shared with researchers, policymakers, and health system stakeholders, providing a practical foundation for future planning, training, and investment.
By establishing relationships, supporting early‑career researchers, and identifying opportunities for joint funding applications, this meeting represents a crucial first step in developing coordinated, all‑island infrastructure for pharmacoepidemiology research.