Welcome to the Pharmacokinetics Research Group
Pharmacokinetics is the quantitative assessment of what the body does to a chemical following exposure. The fate of a chemical in a living organism is a function of its physicochemical properties as well as the anatomy and physiology of the organism. Four main concepts form the basis for describing the rate and extent of exposure - Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism and Excretion, or ADME for short.
Our research is focused on building virtual organisms to study the pharmacokinetics of drugs, novel molecules and environmental contaminants. Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models offer a mechanistic approach to understanding how changes in anatomy and physiology can affect the ADME of a chemical. PBPK models are predictive and can be used to scale pharmacokinetics across species (e.g., rat to human) and within a species (e.g., healthy adult humans to children or patients) with an eye towards determining the right dose (in medicine) or determining differential risks associated with contaminant exposure (in human health risk assessment).
Our research extends to different modeling methods with a focus in bleeding disorders. The lab is the population pharmacokinetic modelling lead within the Web-Accessible Population Pharmacokinetics Service – Hemophilia (WAPPS-Hemo.org) program. Initiated out of McMaster University by Dr. Alfonso Iorio, WAPPS-Hemo offers hemophilia treaters a platform that employs established brand-specific population pharmacokinetic (PK) models using Bayesian forecasting. By incorporating patient covariates and factor concentrate plasma levels, it generates personalized PK estimates to optimize individualized dosing. We have 800+ clinical sites using the WAPPS-Hemo service from 50+ countries. The WAPPS-Hemo platform is currently the largest repository of real-world data and population PK models on hemophilia, continuously gathering information that supports research efforts to advance hemophilia treatment globally.
In all our research, we collaborate with global partners and are most interested in the development of models and tools for optimal medication dosing as well as human health risk assessment.
Students interested in graduate studies at either the M.Sc. or Ph.D. level with interests or experience in the following areas can email me directly: aedginto@uwaterloo.ca
- PBPK modeling
- Pediatric PBPK modeling
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Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling
- Model Informed Precision Dosing (MIPD)
- Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP)
I am particularly interested in students who possess strong mathematical and/or statistical skills as well as health professionals.
Meet our people
Dr. Andrea Edginton
Dr. Edginton’s research focuses on improving the confidence of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model outcomes through understanding model inputs and developing modeling workflows.
News
Accepted Publication
Edginton Labs has the following article, "Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment for Women and Girls with Hemophilia: A Narrative Review", has been accepted for publication in Haemophilia.
Congratulations Katherine
I am delighted to congratulate Katherine Chen on her successful MSc thesis proposal defense and her transition into the direct-entry PhD program.
This achievement reflects Katherine’s dedication, academic excellence, and strong potential as a researcher. In recognition of her accomplishments, she has been awarded a $10,000 doctoral bursary and has been selected to join the 2026–2027 Canadian Mother–Child Cohort (CaMCCo).
Funded primarily by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), CaMCCo is a leading multi-provincial research initiative that leverages real-world administrative health data to assess the long-term impacts of prescription medication use during pregnancy on maternal and child health outcomes. The program plays a vital role in advancing medication safety, strengthening surveillance, and informing evidence-based healthcare policies across Canada.
As part of this prestigious opportunity, Katherine will travel to Toulouse, France, to participate in the SSM16 meeting, where researchers from Canada, Europe, and Brazil will come together to foster international collaboration and advance research in pregnancy medication safety.
Congratulations, Katherine, on this well-deserved achievement. I am proud of your progress and look forward to seeing the impact of your contributions throughout your PhD journey and beyond.
Big congratulations to Shirley Wang
Big congratulations to Shirley Wang, MSc, who has been awarded the prestigious CIHR Canada Graduate Research Scholarship (CGRS-D) for her doctoral research, valued at $120,000 over three years! This national recognition is a testament to her scientific excellence in pharmacometrics and her commitment to improving drug safety for vulnerable populations, marking a significant milestone in her career. Well-deserved, Shirley!