Researcher

Dr Juliana de Oliveira Costa

Keywords

Fields of Research (FoR)

Public Health and Health Services, Epidemiology, Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Biography

I am an emerging leader in pharmacoepidemiology researching how medicines are used in populations, the consequences of their use and policies governing equitable access to medicines. My research aims to improve the quality use of medicines and, thereby, quality of life for people living with physical and mental health conditions.  

I am a pharmacist by training with a background in public health and health technology assessment working in the...view more

I am an emerging leader in pharmacoepidemiology researching how medicines are used in populations, the consequences of their use and policies governing equitable access to medicines. My research aims to improve the quality use of medicines and, thereby, quality of life for people living with physical and mental health conditions.  

I am a pharmacist by training with a background in public health and health technology assessment working in the Medicines Intelligence (MedIntel) Research Program at the School of Population Health. I have a strong focus on HIV, cardiometabolic and mental health medicines for treatment and prevention of health events. My research investigates the patterns of use of medicines in the population, including treatment adherence, prescriber behaviour, and inappropriate use of medicines using data collected in routine clinical care. Previously, I have led and contributed to projects assessing a range of other medicine classes and, more broadly, projects evaluating other health technologies such as vaccines and medical procedures.

My research provides the evidence needed to inform clinical guidelines and pharmaceutical policy, and I often partner with clinicians and policymakers in my work. I am an enthusiastic leader of initiatives for capacity building and I supervise doctoral and masters’ candidates while also contributing to UNSW and the broader academic community. 

 


My Grants

Heart Foundation 2022 45 & Up Grant (ID:107048; $70,000) “Novel antidiabetic medicines in NSW adults with Type II Diabetes: disparities in the uptake, guideline adherence and treatment persistence” (CIA)

Cardiac, Vascular and Metabolic Medicine Theme 2023 – Collaborative Grant Grant Award 2023 ($30,000) “Improving the use of cardiometabolic medicines in type 2 diabetes: an atlas to identify areas of unmet clinical need” (CIA)

NHMRC Partnership Project (ID:2007402; $1,216,847) “Identifying the predictors and consequences of disparities in the uptake of HIV prevention and treatment programs in Australia: a national data linkage study” (Associate Investigator)

 


My Qualifications

PhD (Public Health) - Federal University of Minas Gerais, 2019

MPH (Master by Research) - Federal University of Minas Gerais, 2014

BPharm (Pharmacy) - Federal University of Minas Gerais, 2009


My Awards

2022, Young Investigator Prize - School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney  

2022, Lenita Wannmacher National Award for Promoting the Quality Use of Medicines (Master by Research Category, Team member) - Brazilian Ministry of Health  

2020, Best Paper by a PhD Candidate (Highly Commended) -  Health Services Research Association of Australian and New Zealand  

2020, Best PhD thesis - Postgraduate Program in Public Health, UFMG  

2020, AIDS 2020: Virtual Scholarship Programme - International AIDS Society  

2019, Spotlight Poster Winner - 35th International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology & Therapeutic Risk Management  

2018, Endeavour Research Fellowship - Department of Education and Training, Australian Government  

2018, Visiting Student Scholarship - CAPES Foundation


My Research Activities

My research has contributed substantially to improve the quality use of medicines and to inform policymaking. The quality of my work is recognised by publication in top quartile journals, presentations at international conferences, awards, scholarships, and co-supervision of an HDR student and over 300 citations.  I work collaboratively and contributed to creating new collaborations hubs across UNSW research centres, including the Kirby Institute and the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity.


My Research Supervision


Supervision keywords


Areas of supervision

My area of specialty is pharmacoepidemiology and health technology assessment especially focused on medicines. I am interested in how medicines are used in populations and the consequences of their use in the real-world context – not just in clinical trials. I investigate the use and outcomes of medicines using mostly large administrative data and electronic health records, which are data routinely collected in our daily interactions with the health care system. My research helps to improve the quality use of medicines, providing the evidence needed to influence clinical guidelines and pharmaceutical policy.


Currently supervising

I have previously supervised to completion:

  • One PhD in Medicines and Pharmaceutical Policy (joint supervisor) 
  • Three Masters of Health Data Science students (primary and co-supervisor)
  • Two Honours / Independent Learning Project students (co-supervisor)

My Engagement

Membership

  • Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand (2020 to date)
  • International AIDS Society (2020 to date)
  • ISPOR Student and ECR Chapter (2018 to date)
  • Brazilian Association of Public Health [Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva – ABRASCO] – (2017 to date)

Peer review of manuscripts (See Publons for further details)

  • Frontiers in Pharmacoepidemiology (Jun 2020 to date) 
  • Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research (Jan 2020 to date) 
  • Patient Related Outcomes Measures (Dec 2019 to date) 
  • Applied Research in Quality of Life (Oct 2019 to date) 
  • Revista de Psiquiatria Clínica (Oct 2019 to date) 
  • Frontiers in Public Health (Jun 2019 to date) 
  • Revista de Saúde Pública (Apr 2019 to date) 
  • International Journal of STD and AIDS (Mar 2019 to date) 
  • European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (Jul 2018 to date) 
  • Ciência & Saúde Coletiva (Oct 2016 to date) 

Organising committee co-leader

  • Capacity Building and Training, Medicines Intelligence CRE (2021 to date)
  • CBDRH Research meetings (2020 to 2022)

Collaboration with external partners

  • NPS MedicineWise 
  • International researchers from Brazil (UFMG), Scotland (University of Strathclyde) and Canada (McGill University)

My Teaching

My teaching interests combine the areas of pharmacoepidemiology, public health and health economics to provide the population with medicines and other health interventions that are effective, safe and affordable.

I previously taught in HDAT9100 - Context of Health Data Science (Chapter instructor, 2020 - 2022), and taught Pharmacoepidemiology, Community Pharmacy and Professional Practice (UFMG).

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