Br. J. clin. Pharmac. (1978), 6, 3 79
EDITORIAL
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGYAND THERAPEUTICS IN THE 1980s Clinical pharmacology must straddle the science of pharmacology and the science and practice of medicine. Not always an easy task. In some countries and in some universities progress has been slow because of a struggle for its soul between a clinical speciality and pharmacology. Fortunately many have been more enlightened and a clinical speciality (usually medicine) and pharmacology have cooperated in and jointly sponsored its development. Although there has been rapid progress in some countries there are still many without a properly organized teaching programme in clinical pharmacology in most medical schools. To encourage the development of clinical pharmacology, the national Pharmacological Society in several countries has established a section for clinical pharmacology and this is the pattern that we would urge others to follow. The International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR) has also established a Section on Clinical Pharmacology to encourage further development of the discipline throughout the world. The Section has fostered a programme of research upon environmental factors affecting drug metabolism and differences in drug usage between countries, and a survey of training facilities. Thus the link between clinical pharmacology and basic pharmacology is a strong one, as it must remain. One of the problems that faces all clinical pharmacologists is finding a forum with clinical colleagues in other specialities, many of whom carry out therapeutic trials and teach therapeutics to medical students. Meetings which are largely devoted to basic pharmacology do not always provide enough of special concern to physicians with these interests. Yet they are involved in the practice and teaching of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics and it is likely that future clinical pharmacology groups in the medical schools of the world will, at least in part, be staffed by them. The time has now come to bring together all who are interested in clinical pharmacology and a scientific approach to therapeutics, and to achieve this the Clinical Pharmacology Section of IUPHAR proposed that a World Conference on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics should be held. This proposal received the strong support of the IUPHAR Executive and with the support and sponsorship of the British Pharmacological Society and its Clinical
Pharmacology Section the decision was made to hold the meeting in London in 1980. The meeting will be held at the Wembley Conference Centre, about 6 miles from the centre of the city, during the period August 3-10 1980. The Wembley Centre is a purpose built conference building with excellent facilities and members of the Conference will be accommodated in central London hotels and student residencies so that they can take advantage of the facilities offered by the city. The aim of the Scientific Programme Committee is to devise a programme of wide appeal that will cover the breadth and depth of clinical pharmacology from the way drugs should be used in practice to the molecular basis of their action. There will be sessions devoted to teaching and service roles of clinical pharmacology, to academic-industrial relations, and to drug safety. The Conference should be an important landmark in the development of our science and practice. If it is to be a success it must be representative. We are particularly anxious to have physicians who teach therapeutics and who have a major interest in the study of drugs as well as the full time clinical pharmacologists. We believe that parts of the programme may have a substantial appeal to basic pharmacologists interested in applications of drugs to treatment and they too will be made most welcome. We also hope to be able to establish a small scholarship fund to assist teachers from medical schools in developing countries, although the amount of help that can be offered is bound to be limited. We shall be sending a mailing to national pharmacological societies but to be sure of receiving notices of the meeting will you please write to the address given below, marking your letter or postcard WORLD CONFERENCE ON CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS 1980:
Conference Associates (CPT) 34 Stanford Road London W8 5PZ - UK C.T. DOLLERY Department of Clinical Pharmacology Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Ducane Road, London W12 OHS
EDITORIAL
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGYAND THERAPEUTICS IN THE 1980s Clinical pharmacology must straddle the science of pharmacology and the science and practice of medicine. Not always an easy task. In some countries and in some universities progress has been slow because of a struggle for its soul between a clinical speciality and pharmacology. Fortunately many have been more enlightened and a clinical speciality (usually medicine) and pharmacology have cooperated in and jointly sponsored its development. Although there has been rapid progress in some countries there are still many without a properly organized teaching programme in clinical pharmacology in most medical schools. To encourage the development of clinical pharmacology, the national Pharmacological Society in several countries has established a section for clinical pharmacology and this is the pattern that we would urge others to follow. The International Union of Pharmacology (IUPHAR) has also established a Section on Clinical Pharmacology to encourage further development of the discipline throughout the world. The Section has fostered a programme of research upon environmental factors affecting drug metabolism and differences in drug usage between countries, and a survey of training facilities. Thus the link between clinical pharmacology and basic pharmacology is a strong one, as it must remain. One of the problems that faces all clinical pharmacologists is finding a forum with clinical colleagues in other specialities, many of whom carry out therapeutic trials and teach therapeutics to medical students. Meetings which are largely devoted to basic pharmacology do not always provide enough of special concern to physicians with these interests. Yet they are involved in the practice and teaching of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics and it is likely that future clinical pharmacology groups in the medical schools of the world will, at least in part, be staffed by them. The time has now come to bring together all who are interested in clinical pharmacology and a scientific approach to therapeutics, and to achieve this the Clinical Pharmacology Section of IUPHAR proposed that a World Conference on Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics should be held. This proposal received the strong support of the IUPHAR Executive and with the support and sponsorship of the British Pharmacological Society and its Clinical
Pharmacology Section the decision was made to hold the meeting in London in 1980. The meeting will be held at the Wembley Conference Centre, about 6 miles from the centre of the city, during the period August 3-10 1980. The Wembley Centre is a purpose built conference building with excellent facilities and members of the Conference will be accommodated in central London hotels and student residencies so that they can take advantage of the facilities offered by the city. The aim of the Scientific Programme Committee is to devise a programme of wide appeal that will cover the breadth and depth of clinical pharmacology from the way drugs should be used in practice to the molecular basis of their action. There will be sessions devoted to teaching and service roles of clinical pharmacology, to academic-industrial relations, and to drug safety. The Conference should be an important landmark in the development of our science and practice. If it is to be a success it must be representative. We are particularly anxious to have physicians who teach therapeutics and who have a major interest in the study of drugs as well as the full time clinical pharmacologists. We believe that parts of the programme may have a substantial appeal to basic pharmacologists interested in applications of drugs to treatment and they too will be made most welcome. We also hope to be able to establish a small scholarship fund to assist teachers from medical schools in developing countries, although the amount of help that can be offered is bound to be limited. We shall be sending a mailing to national pharmacological societies but to be sure of receiving notices of the meeting will you please write to the address given below, marking your letter or postcard WORLD CONFERENCE ON CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS 1980:
Conference Associates (CPT) 34 Stanford Road London W8 5PZ - UK C.T. DOLLERY Department of Clinical Pharmacology Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Ducane Road, London W12 OHS
