Uppsala Monitoring Centre

16/02/2026

Over the past decades, disproportionality analysis has become the workhorse of signal detection: widely used, well-established, and deeply embedded in regulatory practice.

However, a growing number of published studies use these methods for more than generating new hypotheses, often overlooking the inherent biases within adverse event reporting databases that require careful clinical review and assessment.

In , Michele Fusaroli explores how disproportionality analysis can remain part of the scientific toolbox without losing the precious fruits that only adverse event reports can offer.

Read more at the link below👇

Disproportionality analysis is pharmacovigilance’s signal-detection workhorse. But more reports do not mean better evidence, and crude results can mislead.

14/02/2026

Has your Valentine been struck by Cupid's arrow or a side effect? 💘

Love isn't the only drug that can cause your Valentine to look funny. Report suspected side effects of medicines to your national regulator or healthcare professional to avoid seeing spots this Valentine's Day.

Learn why it's important to and what happens during the medicines safety cycle here 👉 ow.ly/EoZ950LOJE4

13/02/2026

🌐 VigiBase, the WHO global database of adverse event reports for medicines and vaccines, is the world's largest collection of adverse event reports, supporting by enabling international comparisons and harmonisation of the data.

In a new paper, UMC researchers provide an up-to-date profile of , focusing on data capture and management, analysis tools, and key database characteristics. They also highlight recent trends and developments, addressing the strengths and limitations of VigiBase, including the challenges posed by the heterogeneous nature of the data.

📖 Read the article in the link below👇

VigiBase, the WHO global database of adverse event reports for medicines and vaccines, receives information on suspected adverse effects of medicinal products from countries, regions and territories that are members of the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring. The database serves as a glo...

12/02/2026

📣 Abstract submission for the ISoP Online Mid-Year Symposium is now open!

Abstracts are invited that reflect the conference theme of collaboration in in an evolving information environment or contribute to the collaborative advancement of pharmacovigilance science and practice. Submissions may include methodological research, applied studies, operational experience, or strategic perspectives.

❗️The deadline to apply is 7 March 2026

More information about is available in the post below 👇

📢 ❗ We are pleased to invite abstract submissions for the ISoP Mid-Year Symposium, taking place 9–10 June 2026 at the University of Hertfordshire, UK.

This year’s theme — “Collaboration in Pharmacovigilance in an Evolving Information Environment” — explores how partnerships, shared infrastructures, interoperable data, and cross-disciplinary approaches strengthen global drug safety.

We welcome abstracts that reflect this focus and advance collaborative pharmacovigilance science and practice, including methodological work, applied studies, operational experience, and strategic perspectives.

🗓 Key dates

• Abstract submission deadline: 7 March 2026

• Notification of acceptance: 26 March 2026

• Presenter registration deadline: 14 April 2026

📩 Submit abstracts to: administration@isoponline.org

🔗 Instructions and forms available on the ISoP website: https://isoponline.org/training/symposium/hatfield-2026/call-for-abstracts/

We look forward to showcasing innovative research and strengthening collaboration across the PV community.

11/02/2026

👩‍🔬 Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science🔬

Today we celebrate the vital role of and their contributions to advancing scientific discovery, technology, and innovation. We asked our colleagues Anna, Bushra, and Valentina why they enjoy working in science at UMC.

Look through the photos below👇 to read how they're acting as agents of change for an equitable future in pharmacovigilance and STEM.

10/02/2026

“𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦; 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.”

In a country as vast and diverse as Brazil🇧🇷, coordinating safety surveillance across 27 states can be a challenge. Flavia Neves Rocha Alves, Head of Pharmacovigilance at Anvisa, explains how collaboration, training, and tools are helping to bridge this distance. Through (VigiMed), Brazil combines national oversight with decentralised reporting, strengthening safety surveillance and increasing reporting rates across the country.

🎥 Watch the film below👇 to learn more and explore the rest of the WHO PIDM in Focus series here 👉 ow.ly/j81o50QPVtJ

09/02/2026

📚 Data sources in are multifaceted and complex, ranging from clinical trial data to real-world data and spontaneous reporting systems. Access to these data also varies across health regions, with barriers such as infrastructure, regulation, funding, and ethical considerations limiting access.

A new article in outlines the findings of a focus group organised by the Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU) International Working Group (IWG) on New Developments in Pharmacovigilance, focusing on improved data access and data integration in PV.

Access the article at the link below👇

A focus group organised by the Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU) International Working Group (IWG) on New Developments in Pharmacovigilance discussed current challenges and opportunities in pharmacovigilance (PV), emphasising the need for a multimodal approach in data analysis and accessibility of di...

05/02/2026

🤰🏽Pregnant patients are especially vulnerable to due to the potential impact on the patient's health and unborn baby. What should we be aware of to help prevent medication errors during pregnancy?

🔹 Certain medications may cause birth defects or developmental issues
🔹 Physical changes can affect how medications are processed
🔹 Mixing medications with supplements or prenatal vitamins can cause unexpected reactions

Swipe through the images below to learn more👇 and read our interactive Deep Dive for the full story 👉 https://ow.ly/F4q150W5qYF

04/02/2026

From bandages to pacemakers, medical devices play a vital role in modern healthcare and in the daily lives of patients. Monitoring the safety of these devices can be complex, as it must consider not only medical risks, but also technological and engineering risks, such as cybersecurity threats or outdated software.

In this two-part episode, Omar Aimer, President of ISoP Online, breaks down medical device vigilance and shares how global initiatives are working to strengthen safety monitoring standards.

🎧 Listen to for more 👉 https://ow.ly/M36I50Y8JKZ

03/02/2026

💬 Can first-person narratives in online psychedelic forums aid in the detection of emerging safety concerns?

Scientific and therapeutic interest in psychedelics has grown rapidly over the past decade, with widespread recreational use continuing in unregulated settings. Platforms such as Erowid host thousands of user experiences with psychedelics and capture details that formal reporting may miss, such as emotions, settings, and co-substance use.

Ahmed Al-Imam, Manal Mohammed Younus, and Michal Michalak detail how analysis of user narratives could help systems detect risks earlier, support harm-reduction strategies, and guide further research in :

Online psychedelic forums hold untapped safety data. AI analysis of user narratives could help pharmacovigilance systems detect risks missed by traditional reporting.

02/02/2026

Some of the youngest patients are more vulnerable to due to unclear dosing guidelines and a lack of child-specific medications. What should we be aware of to help prevent medication errors in child patients?

🧒🏻 Many medications do not have specific dosing guidelines for children
👧🏼 Medications prescribed for children often require precise calculations based on age, size, and weight
👦🏽 Measuring liquid doses and ensuring children take their full dose make administration errors less likely

Learn more in the images below👇 and read our interactive deep dive for more insights 👉 https://ow.ly/F4q150W5qYF

02/02/2026

📣 Abstract submission is now open for the ISoP Africa Chapter Meeting!

Join ISoP Africa from 19–20 May 2026 in Windhoek, Namibia🇳🇦, as this year's meeting explores opportunities and key challenges for enhancing patient safety in Africa.

Researchers, practitioners, regulators, and pharmacovigilance professionals from across the region are welcome to submit their abstracts for consideration. Topics may include patient-centred PV, digital transformation, PV across the product lifecycle, global and regional partnerships, and much more.

️❗️The deadline to apply is 10 February 2026

Submit your abstract today – more information and instructions available here 👉 https://ow.ly/r4TX50Y7wqH

ISoP Online