Researchers, clinicians and students gathered at UQ Brisbane City in July for CRE RESPOND's Fundamentals of Population Pharmacokinetics Workshop, a comprehensive three-day program designed to build foundational and practical skills in population pharmacokinetic (PK) modelling. 
Held from 15 to 17 July 2026, the workshop guided participants through the key concepts underpinning pharmacokinetics and population pharmacokinetics, combining expert-led presentations with hands-on learning activities using real-world modelling approaches.
The program began with an introduction to pharmacokinetic principles, covering absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME), before exploring pharmacokinetic modelling and the fundamentals of population pharmacokinetics. Participants then gained practical experience extracting data from published studies and building datasets suitable for population PK analysis.
On the second day, attendees advanced to model development, learning about the essential components of model files and the role of differential equations in pharmacokinetic modelling. Through guided practical sessions, participants developed their own population pharmacokinetic models in Monolix, gaining valuable insight into model construction and the impact of study design and sampling strategies on model performance.
The final day focused on model evaluation and application. Participants explored key model validation techniques, including goodness-of-fit assessments, visual predictive checks, bootstrapping and external validation. The workshop concluded with training in Monte Carlo simulations and dosing optimisation, enabling attendees to assess dosing strategies and probability of target attainment using validated models. A guided critical review of a published population pharmacokinetics study provided an opportunity to apply newly acquired knowledge and skills.
By combining theory with practical exercises, the workshop provided participants with a strong foundation in population pharmacokinetic modelling and its applications in drug development, precision dosing and antimicrobial stewardship. The program forms part of CRE RESPOND's 2026 Education Program, supporting the development of research capability and expertise in optimising antimicrobial dosing to improve patient outcomes and help combat antimicrobial resistance.
The workshop was delivered by CRE RESPOND at The University of Queensland and supported through sponsorship from Pfizer.
