After having received a record number of applications for the Practice Research Award 2010 (sponsored by the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust), we are delighted to announce that this year’s winner is Katherine Payne of the University of Manchester.

Katherine’s application was based on her proposed lecture Pharmacogenetics: towards the safe, effective and cost-effective use of medicines? Relevant to the theme of the conference, genetic-based developments, such as pharmacogenetic testing, offer the prospect of additional information to support professional and clinical decision-making, leading to innovative approaches to treatment. Pharmacogenetic tests will also have an impact on the use of NHS resources and it is therefore essential to evaluate the potential patient benefits. Katherine’s lecture will draw on examples from her research programme.

Conference Chair, Professor Marjorie Weiss, was pleased to offer Katherine the award, amongst some very strong applications – 'This is awarded to Katherine in recognition of her work in her field and I very much look forward to this valuable contribution to what is a very strong conference programme'.

Katherine herself adds, 'I was surprised and delighted to be told that I had won this award which acknowledges the contribution of my research that applies economic concepts and methods to the evaluation and valuation of pharmacogenetic tests and services. In theory, pharmacogenetics offers the perfect solution to the challenge of maximising value for money from medicines. Targeting medicines in this way should stop scarce healthcare resources being wasted. The reality is that we know pharmacogenetic tests are not perfect. My research aims to generate information on the relative patient (dis)benefits and health care costs of pharmacogenetic tests to support professional decision-making in the NHS.'

Katherine will deliver her lecture during a plenary session on the morning of day two of the conference (Monday 6 September).

Click here to find out more about Katherine.