Workshop 7: Evaluation of Individual Patient Applications (IPAs) for unfunded Medications
Tracks
Track 1
| Tuesday, December 9, 2025 |
| 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM |
Details
Clinical Pharmacologists have key roles in medicines governance at national, state/district and local levels.
Over the last few years, there is an increasing number of applications to local Drug and Therapeutics Committees for use of therapies for individual patient use (IPU) which appear to be highly exceptional rather than based on large bodies of clinical data. This puts increasing strain on the Committees with regards to reviewing evidence.
The purpose of the workshop is to:
• Learn about current trends with individual personal applications
• Identify challenges with evaluation of these applications
• Understand core skills required for evaluation of applications
• Gain a shared understanding of the key issues
This workshop is designed for anyone with an interest in medicines governance, but is also a key part in clinical pharmacology trainee training and compliments the Clinical Weekend.
Speaker
Prof Sarah Hilmer
Head of Department Clinical Pharmacology and Senior Staff Specialist Aged Care, Conjoint Professor of Geriatric Pharmacology
University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital
An introduction to D/MTCs, IPUs and some of the challenges faced
Biography
Sarah Hilmer (MBBS(Hons) PhD FRACP) is head of department Clinical Pharmacology, Royal North Shore Hospital and Conjoint Professor Geriatric Pharmacology, Sydney University. She leads a program of translational, interdisciplinary research in geriatric pharmacology at the Kolling. She is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Scientists (FAHMS) and was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her service to clinical and geriatric pharmacology in 2022. Sarah has been a member of NSW public hospital/local health district Drug and Therapeutics Committees for over 20 years and a DTC chair for the past decade. She currently chairs NSW Therapeutic Advisory Group.
Prof Madlen Gazarian
Consultant in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacvigilance; Specialist Paediatrician
University of New South Wales (Hon Prof)
Core skill sets for evaluation of medicines
Biography
Dr Imogen Walpole
Medical Oncologist, Clinical Pharmacology trainee
Austin Health
IPAs in Oncology
Biography
Imogen is a Medical Oncologist and Clinical Pharmacology Trainee at Austin Health in Victoria. Imogen completed her Pharmacy degree with Honours at UQ in 2010 and her MD at University of Melbourne in 2014. She underwent Medical Oncology training, completing this in 2021 and gaining invaluable experience in Phase I trials through her 2-year Oncology fellowship at Alfred Hospital. She then went on to commence Clinical Pharmacology training at Austin from 2023 where she has also gained experience in TGA evaluation work through the University of Melbourne Drug Evaluation Unit.
Joel Iedema
Clinical Pharmacologist
Metro South Hospital and Health Service
Influence of Pharma on IPU applications
Biography
Chair
Nicholas Farinola
Consultant
Central Adelaide Local Health Network
Tilenka Thynne
Clinical Pharmacologist
Flinders Medical Centre
Facilitator
Matt Doogue
Clinical Pharmacologist
University of Otago & Health New Zealand
Sally Fotheringham
Clinical Pharmacology Advanced Trainee
Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
David Liew
Clinical Pharmacologist
Austin Health
Angela Molga
Head of Unit, Clinical Pharmacology
Central Adelaide Local Health Network
