The European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Stella Blackburn (pictured) has been appointed president of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology, a non-profit organisation that aims to advance public health by taking an epidemiologic approache to the study of pharmaceutical products.
Dr Blackburn will carry out her new role on a voluntary basis for one year in addition to her work at the Agency, where she is risk management development and scientific lead.
“I feel very honoured to have been asked to take on this role,” she said. “During my presidency, I will continue to promote the European Union viewpoint and the key role of the Agency in protecting the health of Europeans.”
“I also want to continue to support its global expansion, providing training for the next generation of pharmacoepidemiologists and developing pharmacoepidemiology expertise around the world.”
Dr Blackburn has been with the EMA since 1997 serving in several roles, including as specialised group leader for the cardiovascular, oncology, haematology and diagnostics group in the pharmacovigilance, post-authorisation safety and efficacy sector.
She was also risk management co-ordinator from 2004 to 2009, during which time she was lead author of the EU risk management guideline.
In her current EMA role, she is involved in developing the Agency’s policy and procedures for risk management, and she is on the steering group for the European Network of Centres of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance.