Subgroup initiatives

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2026 SMB Annual Meeting

More information coming soon.

Spring Webinar Series

Continuing on our Fall Series, the SMB Subgroup on Pharmacometrics is launching a webinar series this Spring which will take place the second Tuesday of each month, February through April, 12pm-1pm ET. Presentations will cover both career guidance and scientific content.

Date/time: Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 at 12:00-1:00pm ET

Speaker: Reinhard Laubenbacher (SMB President, Laboratory for Systems Medicine, University of Florida)

Title: Mathematical biology in the age of AI and Big Data

Abstract: Mathematical biology and mechanistic mathematical modeling have a long and successful history in the life sciences, and in medicine in particular. But these days it can seem sometimes that all anybody talks about is AI and Big Data. What does the future hold for "traditional" mathematical modeling in this environment? In this webinar, I will examine this question and propose some answers.

Date/time: Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 at 12:00-1:00pm ET

Speaker: Blerta Shtylla (Sr. Director, Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Group Lead, Pfizer)

Title: TBA

Abstract: TBA

Date/time: Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 at 12:00-1:00pm ET

Speaker: Chris Rackauckas (JuliaHub, Pumas-AI, MIT)

Title: TBA

Abstract: TBA

Calendar

Past events

Fall Webinar Series

Date/time: Tuesday, September 9th, 2025 at 12:00-1:00pm ET (RSVP here)

Speaker: Malidi Ahamadi (Head of Modeling & Simulation, Sanofi)

Title: Model-Informed Drug Development: Scientific Frontiers and Career Pathways in Pharmacometrics

Abstract: Model-Informed Drug Development (MIDD) has become a cornerstone of modern drug development, enabling more efficient and scientifically rigorous decision-making across discovery, development, and regulatory interactions. In this talk, I will highlight recent advances in MIDD, including applications in oncology, neuroscience, and emerging AI/ML approaches, as well as the global harmonization efforts reflected in the ICH M15 draft guidance. Alongside the scientific content, I will share insights from my own career journey—beginning in applied mathematics and progressing through academia, regulatory collaborations, and leadership in industry—to illustrate the diverse pathways available to early-career scientists in pharmacometrics. Emphasis will be placed on developing core skills, building interdisciplinary collaborations, and engaging with professional societies to grow as both scientists and leaders. The session will conclude with practical advice for navigating a career in pharmacometrics and a discussion of future opportunities for the field.

Malidi Ahamadi, PhD, is Head of Modeling & Simulation within Quantitative Pharmacology at Sanofi, where he oversees global M&S strategies spanning early development to lifecycle management. He has over 20 years of experience in quantitative sciences, with a career that bridges applied mathematics, academia, and pharmaceutical drug development. Dr. Ahamadi has played a leading role in advancing Model-Informed Drug Development (MIDD) initiatives, serving as Deputy Topic Lead and co-author of the recent ICH M15 draft guidance on general principles for MIDD. He has contributed extensively to regulatory and industry collaborations, including the FDA MIDD Paired Meeting Program, the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative, and the Critical Path Institute’s Parkinson’s disease consortium. Beyond his scientific and regulatory leadership, Dr. Ahamadi is deeply committed to mentoring junior scientists and fostering interdisciplinary connections, serving on the Mathematical and Computational Sciences SIG Steering Committee and active member of Pharmacometrics Subgroup of the Society for Mathematical Biology.

Date/time: Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 at 12:00-1:00pm ET (RSVP here)

Speaker: Anna Gaffney (Scientist - Pharmacometrics, Certara)

Title: What is Pharmacometrics? A brief overview of the methodology and experiences of an early career consultant

Abstract: Pharmacometrics is an exciting field that is well suited for the skillset of a mathematical biologist. However, what does it look like to be a pharmacometrician? In this talk, I will give a broad overview of the tools used in pharmacometrics, including nonlinear mixed effects modeling, exposure-response analysis, and simulations. A few concrete examples will be discussed to demonstrate the challenges and complexities that arise when working with clinical data. I will also share my career journey and transition to pharmaceutical consulting, highlighting the importance of good mentorship and networking through professional communities such as the Society for Mathematical Biology.

Anna Gaffney, PhD, is a scientist in the pharmacometrics division at Certara. After earning her PhD from the University of Utah in Mathematical Biology, she completed a postdoc at Moffitt Cancer Center where she developed mechanistic mathematical models to study the role of the tumor microenvironment in the evolution of cancer. For the past three years, Dr. Gaffney has worked at her current role as a pharmacometrician, where she uses tools such as population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models, exposure-response analysis, and simulations to help clients make decisions during the drug development process. Dr. Gaffney is committed to helping junior scientists navigate their own career path by sharing her experiences, serving as a mentor at the American Conference of Pharmacometrics, and participating in the Pharmacometrics Subgroup of the Society for Mathematical Biology.

Date/time: Tuesday, November 11th, 2025 at 12:00-1:00pm ET

Speaker: Ashlee N. Ford Versypt (Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York)

Title: Systems Biomedicine and Pharmaceutics: The Pharmacometrics Career Paths of Five Lab Trainees

Abstract: Dr. Ford Versypt leads the Systems Biomedicine and Pharmaceutics Laboratory, which develops and uses multiscale systems engineering approaches including mathematical modeling and computational simulation to enhance understanding of the mechanisms governing tissue remodeling and damage as a result of diseases and infections and to simulate the treatment of those conditions to improve human health. The lab specializes in (a) modeling mass transport of biochemicals through heterogeneous porous materials that change morphology dynamically due to the influence of chemical reactions and (b) modeling dynamic, multi-species biological systems involving chemical, physical, and biological interactions of diverse, heterogeneous cell populations with these materials and the chemical species in tissue microenvironments. In the lab’s 11+ years, four of six PhD graduates have gone into the pharmaceutical industry after training in her lab. Additionally, a former postdoc from her lab is an instructor in a Quantitative Systems Pharmacology masters program. This seminar will focus on the vignettes of research from the lab highlighting the projects and professional development experiences of these five trainees who are now practicing pharmacometrics in their jobs after their time in this academic lab. Applications will include COVID infection, nutritional supplements to improve bone health, controlled release drug delivery to improve retinal disorders, and kidney pathophysiology with effects of hyperglycemia, inflammation, and fibrosis.

Dr. Ford Versypt earned a B.S. from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, all in Chemical Engineering. She earned an undergraduate minor in mathematics and an interdisciplinary graduate certificate in computational science and engineering as a DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellow. Her PhD work focused on modeling controlled drug release from degradable polymeric microspheres. She did her postdoc at MIT, focused on pharmaceutical manufacturing and renal physiology. She started her academic career at Oklahoma State University in 2014 before joining the University at Buffalo (UB), The State University of New York as a tenured associate professor in 2021. She was promoted to full professor in 2025. In addition to her primary appointment in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, she is affiliated faculty in UB’s Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Education, Honors College, and Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Her research program has been supported by an NSF CAREER award, NIH R35 MIRA, R01, U01, and R21 grants, and others.

2025 SMB Annual Meeting

Networking Social

The SMB Pharmacometrics Subgroup will be hosting a networking social on the evening of Sunday, July 13, 6-10pm, at Little Brick Cafe (https://littlebrick.ca/). We will be providing hors d'oeuvres and a s'mores station, and there will be a cash bar. We hope you can join us!

If you plan on attending, please RSVP here. We have booked the space to accommodate 60 people.

Mini-symposium

The subgroup will also be sponsoring a two part mini-symposium featuring six technical talks and an industry panel discussion.

Title: Quantitative Systems Pharmacology: Linking mathematical biology to model informed drug development (MIDD)

Description: Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) combines mathematical and computational modeling tools with mechanistic understanding of biology and pharmacology to guide drug discovery and development. QSP is used in the pharmaceutical industry to accelerate and de-risk drug discovery and development across multiple stages, from target discovery/validation to clinical trial design to lifecycle management. In recent years, QSP has been increasingly used in regulatory submissions for clinical trials across many therapeutic areas (PMID:34734497). In this session, speakers will present recent advances and perspectives in the field of QSP. This minisymposia will have two sessions. The first session will consist of four technical talks. The second session will be comprised of two technical talks and an industry panel discussion with prepared and audience-driven questions.

Organizers: Marissa Renardy (GSK), Kathryn Link (Pfizer)

Speakers and panelists: Olivia Walch (Arcascope), Christian Michael (University of Michigan), Kathryn Link (Pfizer), Farrah Sadre-Marandi (qPharmetra), Sarah Minucci (Certara), Morgan Craig (Universite de Montreal), Marissa Renardy (GSK)

For more information, see the conference listing here: Part 1, Part 2

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