The Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Medicines and Ageing is a multi-disciplinary collaboration between highly dedicated and internationally recognised researchers from the University of Sydney, Australian National University, the Sax Institute, University of Western Australia, University of NSW, University of Technology Sydney, and the Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences in Canada.
The CRE in Medicine and Ageing will generate vital information about the role that medicines play over Australians’ lifetimes. Using large linked databases of routinely collected medicines and other health information, the CRE will produce much-needed, quantitative evidence on the real-world use, harms, costs and cost-effectiveness of specific medicines. Little of this much-needed research has been conducted to date. Yet the evidence is critical to understanding the balance of benefits and harms of medicines used across the adult lifespan.
The CRE investigators work closely with agencies to influence national pharmaceutical policy decisions and health professionals making important treatment decisions with their patients. The benefits will be far ranging, on a national scale.
The CRE is building a national workforce in pharmacoepidemiology by training new researchers in the use and evaluation of medicines data and by developing robust research methods and protocols. This is key to the continuity and success of the work.
The CRE in Medicines and Ageing will be a successful model of research collaboration in healthcare, and one that will directly benefit the Australian population.