QSP SIG Newsletter: Volume 1

Welcome to the first, quarterly newsletter for the International Society of Pharmacometrics (ISoP) Special Interest Group (SIG) on Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP)!

The QSP SIG seeks to advance the development and utilization of safe and efficacious medicines through the application of QSP. Consistent with this vision, we seek to:

  •   Advance the science of QSP by fostering a community for the exchange of ideas and knowledge;
    
  •   Promote the application of QSP in drug development and regulatory decision-making;
    
  •   Develop and maintain information resources for its members, including establishment of "best practices";
    
  •   Facilitate communication and advance knowledge through sponsored sessions at professional meetings, white papers, discussion groups, and publications.
    

ACoP7 Programming

Online registration for ACoP7 is now open! The program includes a number of exciting QSP events. Highlights include:

ACoP7 Open Forum: "Making QSP Happen: Strategies and Lessons Learned from Experts Who’ve Done It"The first annual QSP SIG Student Award will be presented at the Open Forum. The winner will present a short podium presentation, and will receive a plaque and $1000 cash prize. This exciting dinner session will feature a roundtable discussion aimed at exploring and sharing different approaches, challenges, and learnings on implementing QSP programs, such as: (1) useful training and skillsets; (2) strategies for integration and collaboration with other disciplines, departments, or organizations; (3) internal infrastructure; (4) communication and dissemination of science. We will highlight strategies in different sectors (academic, industry, nonprofit) and also discuss areas for interaction and cooperation between these sectors. Tuesday, October 25, 7:00pm-10:00pm Note: separate registration and dinner fee required

Meet the QSP Special Interest Group We hope that you will attend this social and networking event to learn more about the QSP SIG initiatives, and meet others who are interested in growing this new community. Tuesday, October 25, 5:00pm-6:30pm

ISoP QSP SIG Promoted Session: “Systems Pharmacology Case Studies: Enabling Accelerated Drug Discovery and Development” This symposium highlights examples of collaborative QSP efforts that have accelerated the discovery and development of best-in-class therapeutics, and impacted critical decisions, in the continuum from preclinical exploration to clinical research. Examples include: target identification, biological understanding, new target proposals, lead generation, clinical candidate selection, IND support, and clinical trial go/no go decisions from industry, service provider, and academic perspectives. Session 3a: Monday, October 24, 4:15om-5:45pm

Other Recent Activities

Initiation of member-led working groups: focused on Workflows and Methods, Software and Tools, Integration with Pharmacometrics, Regulatory Interactions, and follow-on activities to the GPS for QSP round table discussion at ACoP6. These working groups have already achieved a number of successes, including programming submissions to upcoming conferences and the publication of several tutorial and perspective papers (see Highlighted Publications below) and online video tutorials. These and other materials can be found on the ISoP QSP discussion forum.

SIG organized or co-promoted numerous QSP-focused programming sessions. Sessions at the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (ASCPT) 2016 and Clinical & Pharmaceutical Solutions through Analysis (CPSA) 2016 Shanghai conferences have been completed, sessions at the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) 2016 and Society for Mathematical Biology (SMB) / European Conference of Mathematical and Theoretical Biology (ECMTB) 2016 have been accepted, and proposals have been submitted to other conferences.

A poster introducing the ISoP QSP SIG to the broader community was presented at Population Approach Group in Europe (PAGE) 2016, and will be displayed again at World Conference on Pharmacometrics (WCoP) 2016. The poster, entitled “The International Society of Pharmacometrics Special Interest Group on Quantitative Systems Pharmacology: Developing a Community and Advancing a Field,” highlights our vision, recent activities, and successes.

Seeking Applications for Secretary Position

The QSP SIG Leadership Team is seeking applications for the 2016-2017 Secretary. The role is envisioned for a motivated, early career scientist, to gain greater exposure in the community and experience in managing the ISoP QSP SIG initiative. Responsibilities include participation at monthly Leadership Team meetings and quarterly Steering Committee meetings (usually via TC; F2F at ACoP) and maintaining SIG documentation (including preparing meeting minutes) and communication efforts (in coordination with the SIG Chair and ISoP Director of Membership and Operations). Attendance and participation in SIG activities at ACoP8 is also expected. This is a one-year term, beginning after ACop7 and through ACoP8, and should not require a significant time commitment. Please send your CV and a short paragraph introduction to ISoPQSP@go-isop.org before September 1, 2016.

Recent Highlighted Publications

Participants in our new member-led working groups have already published a number of tutorials and position papers relevant to their ongoing efforts:

• K Gadkar, D Kirouac, D Mager, PH van der Graaf, S Ramanujan (2016) A Six‐Stage Workflow for Robust Application of Systems Pharmacology. Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol, 4: 235-249, DOI: 10.1002/psp4.12071
• CM Friedrich (2016) A Model Qualification Method for Mechanistic Physiological QSP Models to Support Model-Informed Drug Development. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol, 5: 43-53, DOI:10.1002/psp4.12056
• Allen R, Rieger T, Musante C (2016) Efficient Generation and Selection of Virtual Populations in Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Models. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol, 5: 140-146. DOI: 10.1002/psp4.12063
• Other invited publications are currently in preparation, so be sure to keep an eye out for them!

Call for Membership

We are seeking a diverse membership with a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. If you, or someone you know, are currently working in QSP, looking to incorporate QSP into your current research, or just interested in exploring or helping to cultivate this exciting new field, please go to www.go-isop.org/quantitative-systems-pharmacology, or contact us at ISoPQSP@go-isop.org. Please note that you must be an ISoP member to join.

Newsletter Submissions

Have content you wish to be included in future newsletters? We welcome member submissions. Please send material to ISoPQSP@go-isop.org.

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