Research

Pharmacoepidemiology studies the use and effects of medications at the population level. Within the scheme of drug development – pharmacoepidemiology occurs following market approval and is therefore encompassed with Phase IV Research. At the core, pharmacoepidemiology bridges clinical pharmacology and epidemiology to provide estimates of the benefits or adverse effects of medications.

Within our group we focus on pharmacoepidemiologic studies that focuses on the clinical applications of pharmacoepidemiology methods. Of primary clinical interest is the role of metabolic syndrome, including obesity, on the safety and effectiveness of medications in musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases. This includes an improved understanding of the multimorbidity within these patients and developing methods to improve prediction of treatment success. As a result, our group is also keenly interested developing new methods to advance the precision of estimates. This includes developing strategies to better understand and overcome the impact of missing data and variables in our data sources, but also ways to better combine traditional healthcare and biobank data.

While these are the priority areas Prof. Burden’s research group, we are also interested in conducting research projects that will have a significant impact on either clinical care of patients or methodological advancement of the field. Prospective PhD students, postdoctoral fellows or collaborators with novel ideas area always encouraged and welcome to Prof. Burden for further discussion.