Gino Martini delivers 2019 Todd Lecture

Therapy needs to become more proactive and less “casualty-based” as more people live to an advanced age, Gino Martini, chief scientist at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has said.

Speaking at the 2019 Todd lecture on 22 October 2019 at the University of Strathclyde, Scotland, Martini said the rise of diagnostics to monitor blood sugar, C-reactive protein and atrial fibrillation in particular means that pharmacists are well placed to detect diseases like diabetes and to provide suitable interventions.

His lecture explored why science and research are important to all pharmacists and what pharmacy may look like in the future.

Martini noted there had been “some amazing results” with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, along with a “tidal wave” of other cell therapies in development.

The growth of these, he added, requires upskilling of many pharmacists — along with many job opportunities for pharmacists in industry.

Closing his lecture, Martini said that pharmacists should play a role in detection, intervention and harm reduction of drug misuse and novel psychoactive substances.

He emphasised that “there is no benefit in promoting proactive well-being if we do not tackle [these] issues”.

The Todd lecture takes place annually and is jointly hosted by the University of Strathclyde and RPS Scotland.