Professor Saad Shakir, the longstanding director of the Drug Safety Research Unit (DSRU) based in Southampton, has declared his resignation.

He made the announcement on Monday, July 15 and his resignation will be effective from June 1, 2025.

The UK's premier pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacovigilance unit, DSRU, has been led by Professor Shakir since 1999.

His directorship has seen significant advancements in drug safety monitoring and pharmacovigilance both domestically and abroad.

Research methods under Shakir have notably evolved, with traditional Prescription Event Monitoring (PEM) studies transitioning to modernised PEM.

Furthermore, the DSRU has broadened its study approaches, incorporating secondary care event monitoring studies, systematic safety issue reviews, registries, and studies using secondary data sources.

As well as drug utilisation studies, studies monitoring the effectiveness of risk management and minimisation have been introduced.

Simultaneously, the DSRU continues to guide pharmaceutical companies, regulatory bodies, and global public health organisations on medicine safety matters.

Additionally, the establishment of DSRU Education and Training has served hundreds of students and trainees, offering a variety of courses, conferences, and in-depth postgraduate education.

Professor Shakir said: "It has been the great honour and privilege of my life to lead the DSRU as an independent unit which protects the safety of patients and communicates the safe and effective use of medicines not only in the UK but around the world. 

"My achievements at the DSRU were only possible with the support of my wonderful colleagues, my wife who always stood with me, and our two children. While I am stepping aside with pride and affection from my role as Director, I will continue to work in the fields of pharmacovigilance, pharmacoepidemiology and the effective use of medicines in other ways."

Professor Ken Paterson, chair of trustees of the DSRU, said: "Professor Shakir has provided exemplary leadership of DSRU, ensuring its independence, scientific rigour and its focus on the information which prescribers and patients require about the safety of medicines. 

"His contribution to the wider world of medicines safety monitoring has been welcomed worldwide, and his experience is almost certainly unique.  The Trustees will shortly begin a process to identify his successor."