A few reflections following a very rewarding ISPE 2026 in Milan

Peter Arlett’s keynote provided a strong opening to the meeting, highlighting the evolving role of real-world evidence alongside clinical trials and the importance of collaboration in generating evidence that can better support patients and regulatory decision making.

That theme continued throughout the meeting. We heard about new and complementary UK real world data sources and linkage opportunities, increasingly sophisticated methods for addressing bias and supporting causal inference, and the growing role of AI in research, alongside the need to maintain scientific integrity, transparency and appropriate human oversight.

Patient involvement was another important theme, with discussion around involving patients throughout the research journey rather than only at selected stages. This was a useful reminder that richer data and more sophisticated methods still need to produce research that is relevant and meaningful to patients.

It was particularly valuable for DSRU to contribute to the Data Are Not Enough symposium, exploring the pharmacoepidemiologist’s role in communication and evidence stewardship beyond the study report, and to see collaborative VAC4EU research involving DSRU represented across the scientific programme.

ISPE also provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect with colleagues across VAC4EU, SIGMA and the wider research community, exchange perspectives and reflect on emerging opportunities for pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety research.