Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Novel methods are needed to assess the safety of drugs. Current approaches are limited because drug safety information is often considered in isolation and valuable information is not integrated together. The proposed area of research is related to the development and application of a methodology, known as network meta analysis, for assessing drug safety. The differences between current approaches for assessing drug safety and the proposed network meta analysis approach can be summarized using a sportsbook analogy. Current approaches are analogous to a sportsbook only considering past games between two teams of interest when establishing odds for a game. A network meta analysis approach is analogous to a sportsbook establishing odds based on all information from all previous games played by all teams. To explore the application of network meta analysis for assessing drug safety, we will consider two demonstration projects using real world safety data: (1.) risk of serious infection using biologics; (2) retrospective analysis which re-investigates past drug safety issues (e.g., adverse events with use of thiazolidinediones or selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors). By advancing the development, application, and methodologies of network meta-analysis, we should obtain a more accurate picture of a drug safety profile earlier in the product lifecycle and hence decrease the risks associated by drugs used by Canadians. Our research will also contribute to advancement of knowledge in this field. We will conduct theoretical research to adapt the methods and procedures that are currently applied for assessing efficacy to evaluate uncommon or rare safety events.