The 2025 ASCEPT Clinical Pharmacology Weekend, titled ‘Pharmacokinetics and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring’ was held successfully at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Sydney on 17 and 18 May 2025. It was well attended by 34 registrants from across Australia and New Zealand.

Dr Angela Molga shares an update on how the weekend went.

Keynote presentations included “TDM in Action: Navigating Tricky Situations in Immunosuppressant Management with Interactive Cases” by Dr Jana Stojanova, and “Ins and Outs/Pitfalls of TDM with Interactive Cases” by Professor Johannes (Jan-Willem) Alffenaar, President of the International Association of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Clinical Toxicology. Additional expert topics featured anticoagulants presented by Dr Matt Doogue, covering Dabigatran kinetics, surrogate tests for Dabigatran concentrations, and clinical implications for Idarucizumab use, with further insights from Dr Darren Roberts. The program also included a valuable session on toxicology in paediatrics, delivered by Dr Noel Cranswick, who kindly stepped in at the last minute.

The event featured 10 excellent trainee presentations, demonstrating a high calibre of research. The CMAX-sponsored ASCEPT Clinical Pharmacology Trainee Prize, was awarded to Dr Mitchel Hurlbert (St Vincent’s) for his presentation: “The Impact of General Schedule Access on Rituximab Prescribing Patterns at Local, State, and National Levels in Australia”. Dr Hurlbert will further develop this work into a research initiative with ethics approval and collaboration across states.

Social Highlights

Nicola Smith, President-elect, won the icebreaker BINGO and the first day concluded with a group dinner at a nearby Indian restaurant, fostering lively conversation and networking.

Future Plans

Next year’s theme is under consideration, focusing on paediatric toxicology and medicolegal aspects of clinical pharmacology/toxicology, with interactive cases. Further details will be announced.

Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank our sponsors, CMAX for the clinical pharmacology trainee prize of $750, and St Vincent’s Hospital for providing the venue annually.

Special thanks to Paul Chin for reviewing trainee abstracts and offering feedback, and to the organising committee: Matt Doogue, Darren Roberts, Bridin Murnion, Mitch Hurlbert, Paul Chin, and the ASCEPT Secretariat.

We look forward to another successful event next year!

Dr Angela Molga, Convenor