Pharmacoepidemiology, Volume I PDF

Introduction

This volume contains work presented (sometimes expanded for publication) at the 3rd International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology, held September 9-11, 1987, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This book is published with two major objectives in mind. The first is to document the state of the science of pharmacoepidemiology as evidenced by presentations at the 3rd International Conference. The second is to provide a reference for day-to-day use and for classroom teaching. It has certainly been a pleasure and privilege to work with the contributors to this compendium. I hope you find this volume useful.

As Dr. Tilson points out in the insightful preface which follows, pharmacoepidemiology has progressed far from its scientific infancy. There is general consensus that the field was born as scientists, legislators, and regulators reacted to the public and professional outcry following the thalidomide disaster of the late 1960s. Today it is a maturing discipline making a significant impact on drug regulation and public health practice.

The International Conferences on Pharmacoepidemiology reflect the growth and importance of this discipline. The Division of Epidemiology of the University of Minnesota and its Director, Dr. Henry Blackburn, invested in the concept of a scientific forum for pharmacoepidemiologists at a time when most academic institutions were unwilling to consider the need. The first Minnesota Conference attracted only 75 attendees and I considered not continuing the series. However, the enthusiasm of the attendees, the support of leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, and the support of this University convinced me to continue with a second Conference. Attendance doubled, enthusiasm increased, sponsorship increased, and the Conferences became established as the important scientific forum this discipline.

The planning committee for the early conferences consisted of just a handful of colleagues. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for taking a chance with me. They were Hugh Tilson, MD, DrPH, Burroughs Wellcome Co.; David Lilienfeld, MD, MS Engin, MPH, Mt. Sinai Medical School; and, from the University of Minnesota, David Lane, PhD, Tom Rector, PharmD, PhD, Albert Wertheimer, PhD, and Barry Garfinkle, MD, FRCP(C).

The 3rd International Conference and hence this volume are the result of the commitment of effort by a larger number of colleagues. Abstracts were peerreviewed by a committee of volunteers. Nineteen persons contributed their time and energy to planning the 3rd Conference. Their names are listed in the Appendix. Members of this committee represented the pharmaceutical industry, academia, medical practitioners, and regulators. A subgroup of this committee met to select papers for inclusion in the program and in the proceedings.

As those of you have attempted to institute annual conferences of this nature are painfully aware, this effort is time-consuming and requires substantial support. Underwriting for this has come from the University of Minnesota, the pharmaceutical industry, and attendees. The University of Minnesota made the largest initial and continued investment. The pharmaceutical industry generously provided essential financial support. A list of those companies who contributed to the 3rd International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology are listed in the Appendix. Finally, most important has been the support of the attendees and speakers. Speakers and attendees contribute to these Conferences by their scientific input. The program committee, speakers, and attendees alike pay their own registration and travel expenses.

The 3rd Conference and its published proceedings also owe a great deal to the people behind the scenes. Nola Fortner organized and handled the many details involved, including management of the main desk during the Conference itself; Carolyn Kurtz assisted at the desk and performed the major task of editing all27 scientific papers from international authors; and Janet Tarolli of Lewis Publishers guided us gently and carefully, with unstinting good humor, through the lengthy maneuvers of the book publishing business.

Author: Stanley Edlavitch