My research relates generally to the improvement of drug therapy with a particular emphasis on children and youth.  I study the efficacy of innovative therapies and the toxicity associated with drug therapy.  My work in recent years has concentrated on the use of research data to support decision-making in drug policy.  I work closely with government decision makers and with leaders in international health.  I currently hold research funding supporting studies of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, pediatric drug safety and policy research.

I moved in January 2003 from McMaster University to assume the Executive Director position at the Child & Family Research Institute (formerly BC Research Institute for Children’s & Women’s Health).  I continue to work with colleagues around the world and research colleagues in Vancouver including investigators within the Applied Health Research and Evalution Centre of the CFRI, as well as in the UBC academic departments of Pediatrics, Pharmacology, and Health Care & Epidemiology.

My research spans four major areas of interest:

Drug policy research:

I am actively engaged with co-investigators in British Columbia, other provinces, and internationally in several studies aimed at improving drug therapy for children. This research features a population-based approach that uses the study of health outcomes and health economics to support optimal decision-making around drug therapy.

• Systems research to improve chronic disease management and prevention
• The study of innovative pharmaceutical policy in British Columbia, featuring the assessment of policy changes on pharmaceutical outcomes
• Studies of fetal alcohol syndrome
• Studies of the impact of reimbursement policy on the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

Drug safety research
I am engaged with studies of pharmacogenomic determinants of adverse drug reactions in children. This project, funded by Genome Canada, includes the establishment of a pan-Canadian surveillance system for the detection of adverse drug reactions in children and adolescents. Follow-up studies will determine the pharmacogenomic influence on adverse reactions including variation in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Genomic analysis will also permit the search for biomarkers of abnormal drug effect leading to life-threatening reactions.

Environmental health research

I am part of a team, supported by Health Canada, engaged in comparing legislative approaches in ECD countries designed to protect children at risk from environmental hazards. The team is seeking out government instruments that may be applicable in Canada and that may offer protection from biological hazards, built hazards, or natural hazards.

Alcoholism, substance abuse and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

I am engaged with three different research projects examining various approaches to the prevention of FASD. In particular, I am working with aboriginal First Nation communities using participatory community approaches to the studies of interventions that may prevent F ASD. This research includes the development of a unique partnership involving the four western Canadian provinces and three northern territories. I am also working closely with Health Canada's First Nations Inuit Branch.

MacLeod S, Carleton BC.: Pharmacological Research involving Children and Adolescents:  The Canadian Context. In: Knoppers BM, Avard D, Samuel J, eds. Research involving Children & Adolescents: Canadian Context.  Les Editions Themis, Montreal, 2009.

Drummond M, Evans B, LeLorier J, Karakiewicz P, Martin D, Tugwell P, MacLeod S.: Evidence and values: Requirements for public reimbursement of drugs for rare diseases – A case study in oncology. Can J. Clin Pharmacol. 2009;16(2):273-281.

Koren G, Rieder M, MacLeod SM.: The global alliance for pediatric pharmacology: the future is here and now. Paediatr Drugs. 2009 Jan-Feb;11(1):4-5.

MacLeod SM.: Improving drug treatment for children: are we making an impact?. Paediatr Drugs. 2009 Jan-Feb;11(1):1-3.

Marshall DA, Douglas PR, Drummond MF, Torrance GW, MacLeod S, Manti O, Cheruvu L, Corvari R.: Guidelines for conducting pharmaceutical budget impact analyses for submission to public drug plans in Canada. Pharmacoeconomics. 2008 Jun;26(6):477-95.

MacLeod S.: If not now…when? The opportune moment has arrived for major international impact in pediatric pharmacology and pharmacy. Ped Drugs. 2008 May-Jun;10(3):1-2.

MacLeod S.: Optimal therapy for rare disorders and genetic diseases: Ethical and political challenges. Proc West Pharm Soc. 2007;50:21-3.

Koren G, MacLeod S, Davis D. Drugs in pregnancy: acknowledging challenges--finding solutions. Can J Clin Pharmacol 2007;14:e2-4.

Marshall DA, McGeer A, Gough J, Grootendorst P, Buitendyk M, Simonyi S, Green K, Jaszewski B, MacLeod SM, Low DE. Impact of antibiotic administrative restrictions on trends in antibiotic resistance. Can J Public Health 2006;97:126-31.

Masotti P, George A, Szala-Meneok K, Morton M, Loock C, Van Bibber M, Ranford J, Fleming M, MacLeod S. Preventing fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Aboriginal communities: A methods development project. PLoS Med 2006;3:e8.

Levy A, MacLeod SM. Drug safety; Moving the agenda forward. In: Drug Innovation and Patient Safety - The need for a new paradigm (editorial). Can J Clin Pharmacol 2006;13:e2-3

Marshall D, Gough J, Grootendorst P, Buitendyk M, Jaszewski B, Simonyi S, Jivraj F, MacLeod S. Impact of administrative restrictions on antibiotic use and expenditure in Ontario: Time series analysis.  J Health Serv Res Policy 2006;11:13-20.

Masotti P, Fick , Johnson-Masotti A, MacLeod. Healthy naturally occurring retirement communities: A low-cost approach to facilitating healthy aging. Am J Public Health 2006;96:1164-70.