Director of the Drug Safety Research Unit to step down next year

Professor Saad Shakir has today (Monday 15 July) announced his intention to step down as Director of the Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU) based in Southampton with effect from 1 June 2025.

Professor Shakir has been Director since 1999 and has overseen major developments in the fields of pharmacovigilance and drug safety monitoring, both nationally and internationally.  For example, simple Prescription Event Monitoring (PEM) studies of 25 years ago have been superseded by modified PEM.

Under Professor Shakir’s leadership, the DSRU has also extended its range of study methods to include secondary care event monitoring studies, registries, studies using secondary data sources, drug utilisation studies and studies monitoring the effectiveness of risk management and minimisation. The Unit has developed systematic reviews of safety issues and formal quantitative benefit/risk evaluation to expand the understanding of the safety of medicines.

Professor Shakir said: “It has been the great honour and privilege of my life to lead the DSRU as an independent unit which protects the safety of patients and communicates the safe and effective use of medicines not only in the UK but around the world. 

“My achievements at the DSRU were only possible with the support of my wonderful colleagues, my wife who always stood with me, and our two children. While I am stepping aside with pride and affection from my role as Director, I will continue to work in the fields of pharmacovigilance, pharmacoepidemiology and the effective use of medicines in other ways.” 

Professor Ken Paterson, Chair of Trustees of the DSRU, added: “Professor Shakir has provided exemplary leadership of DSRU, ensuring its independence, scientific rigour and its focus on the information which prescribers and patients require about the safety of medicines. His contribution to the wider world of medicines safety monitoring has been welcomed worldwide, and his experience is almost certainly unique.  The Trustees will shortly begin a process to identify his successor.”

For 40 years, the DSRU has led methodological research to advance pharmacovigilance and enhance the evidence base around medicines’ safety.  The Unit advises pharmaceutical companies, regulatory authorities and public health organisations worldwide on drug safety issues. 

Hundreds of trainees and students have also benefited from the establishment of DSRU Education and Training, which offers a range of courses and conferences as well as more formal postgraduate education.