Visiting UQCCR – A Memorable Research Experience
In March 2025, I had the pleasure of visiting the research group led by Professor Jason Roberts at UQCCR. The opportunity arose through one of my PhD supervisors, who facilitated an initial connection with Professor Roberts to discuss a project based on data I had collected as part of my doctoral research. Professor Roberts generously invited me to spend time with the group, which allowed me to gain deeper insights into population pharmacokinetic modelling and broaden my understanding of PK/PD principles.
My background is in medicine, with a specialization in general surgery, and I am currently undertaking a PhD focused on the pharmacokinetics of piperacillin in tissue and bile. The aim of my visit was to explore the potential for developing a population model based on piperacillin concentrations in plasma and bile, using data from one of my PhD studies.
Prior to my arrival, Professor Roberts connected me with Dr Marta Ulldemolins, who kindly agreed to act as my supervisor during the visit. Through a series of virtual meetings with Marta, I was able to prepare my dataset in advance, ensuring that my time with the research group would be as productive as possible.
Although my visit coincided with tropical cyclone Alfred, which temporarily shut down activities in Brisbane just two days after my arrival, the experience was overwhelmingly positive. The entire team was incredibly welcoming and made me feel included from the outset. Marta provided day-to-day supervision, guiding me through the process of developing a population model. Weekly PK/PD meetings, led by Marta, Patty Mitre, and Xin Liu, were particularly valuable in expanding my theoretical and practical understanding of PK/PD and modelling approaches. These sessions also served as a platform to evaluate the progress of my project and discuss next steps.
My time at UQCCR not only enhanced my knowledge of population modelling and PK/PD, but also sparked new ideas for future studies that build on these concepts. I left with both new professional collaborations and personal connections, and I sincerely hope to return to the group in the future. I am truly grateful to Professor Jason Roberts for making this opportunity possible.
