Program
Overview
UNC is advancing pharmacoepidemiology (PE) through innovation in methods, application of those methods to critical issues in the field, and training future leaders. The Epidemiology Department within the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health provides core teaching and robust training in the methods needed to study burden of illness and patterns of disease. Students can benefit from specialized training in PE through expansive course offerings throughout UNC and access to databases to study the effectiveness and safety of medications/health interventions used in the population, with a particular focus on causal inference
Students in the Pharmacoepidemiology Program receive training in how to conduct high-quality epidemiology research that directly addresses both substantive and methodologic questions. Students gain experience through interdisciplinary opportunities in courses and collaborative work with researchers from the Schools of Public Health, Medicine, and Pharmacy, as well as through graduate research assistant opportunities with researchers and faculty in the Department of Epidemiology and epidemiology researchers working with GSK, UCB, and other industry partners. Through fellowships and internships, students learn how to engage with industry and government stakeholders and become exposed to applied epidemiological research in a variety of settings.
Training
There are two 3-credit required courses specifically for those interested in the pharmacoepidemiology program, taught every other year and a growing number of smaller modules addressing specific PE issues to choose from. They cover the basics of pharmacoepidemiologic research including one of its main aspects, the use of large, automated databases.
- Introduction to Pharmacoepidemiology (EPID 765 led by Stürmer and Hincapie-Castillo) is the foundation course for pharmacoepidemiology students. It is taught every other year (odd years) in the spring semester. Students learn the application of epidemiologic knowledge, methodology, and reasoning to the study of effects (beneficial and adverse) and uses of drugs in human populations.
- Epidemiologic Research Using Healthcare Databases (EPID 766 led by Lund and Kinlaw). is taught in parallel to EPID 765 in the spring semester every other year (odd years). The course in designed to teach students how to use administrative healthcare utilization data for epidemiologic studies.
In addition, pharmacoepidemiology faculty offer a growing number modules, which include: Pharmacoepidemiology of Older Adults (Lund), Pharmacovigilance (Stürmer, Andrews), and Introduction to EMR as Epidemiologic Data Sources (Leese).
Students and faculty also meet weekly for the Pharmacoepidemiology Seminar to share current research projects and discuss recent developments in pharmacoepidemiology methods.
Mentoring, Research, Funding
Faculty advisors provide research opportunities and coordinate forums where students gain experience with applying innovative methods and data interpretation. Advisors also help students find research assistantships with the Department of Epidemiology, governmental agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and research institutes. Prior research assistantships have included GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Merck, Amgen, UCB, RTI-HS, Sentinel, and the US National Institutes of Health. Students have also received grants and fellowships from other departments or the School of Medicine. Support usually includes a stipend, health insurance, and tuition.
Center for Pharmacoepidemiology
The Center for Pharmacoepidemiology (CPE) is a unique academic-industry partnership with seven member companies: AbbVie, Astellas, Boehringer-Ingelheim, GSK, Takeda, Sarepta and UCB. The CPE advances pharmacoepidemiology through innovation in methods, application of those methods and training of future leaders. The CPE funds three pharmacoepidemiology students as fellows, and supports student travel to conferences. The CPE also holds annual workshops to address methodological issues in current projects, with contributions from UNC and industry.
Student Activities
UNC has an active student chapter of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology that coordinates the Annual Harry Guess Memorial Lecture.
Visit the Students page to read profiles of current students.