'Application of pharmacoepidemiology in ADHD research'
Professor Ian Wong, Professor in Pharmacy, Head of Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, The University of Hong Kong is visiting the University of Manchester, and giving a lecture on
Abstract:
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood with estimated worldwide prevalence among school-aged children of 5-7%. Some studies have reported that prenatal exposure to antidepressants increases the risk of ADHD in childhood; however, many methodological issues make the interpretation of these studies’ results difficult. Our research has shown that in the past two decades, medications for the treatment of ADHD has risen rapidly globally 1. Safety concerns of these medications, particularly methylphenidate, have been raised by general public, healthcare professionals and regulatory agencies.
In this seminar, I will share some of the results of my ADHD pharmacoepidemiology research programme in Hong Kong. I will specifically discuss the association between prenatal exposure of antidepressants and ADHD 2 and also the association of psychiatric adverse events and treatment of methylphenidate 3-5.
References:
1 Raman at al Lancet Psychiatry 2018 Oct 5.
2 Man et al BMJ. 2017 May 31.
3 Man et al JAMA Psychiatry. 2017 Jul 26.
4 Man et al Transl Psychiatry. 2016 Nov 15
Biography:
Professor Ian Wong is an alumnus of University of Manchester (1996) and PhD (1998). He is currently the Head of Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, University of Hong Kong. He is also the holder of Lo Shiu Kwan Kan Po Ling Endowed Professorship in Pharmacy.
As an academic pharmacist with expertise in pharmacoepidemiology and big data research, Professor Wong has over 250 publications with publication in JAMA, JAMA Internal Medicine, JAMA Psychiatry, Lancet Psychiatry, Lancet Infectious Disease, BMJ. According to Clarivate Analytics' Essential Science Indicators, Professor Wong has been a top 1% scholar in 2015 to 2018.
Professor Wong received the Chemist and Druggist's Pharmacy Practice Research Medal in 2004 for his research in paediatric medicines. In recognition of his work in paediatric medicines research, Professor Wong was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in 2011, and Fellowship of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in 2012. He was the coordinator of the ADDUCE consortium which was funded by the European Commission to evaluate the long-term safety of methylphenidate. He was a member of the NICE ADHD guideline development group in 2009 and 2018 respectively.
In 2006, Professor Wong set up a UCL spin-off company with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (Therakind), a paediatric healthcare company, that creates, develops, and improves paediatric and other specialty medicinal products. It develops Buccolam®, a treatment for prolonged acute convulsive seizures in children; Ayendi®, an intranasal paediatric pain control product; and Jylamvo®, an oral syrup for juvenile idiopathic arthritis
