Florida Winter School empowers PBPK scientists with hands-on training and expertise

For Mike Boyles, M.S., attending the University of Florida College of Pharmacy’s Florida Winter School was more than just professional development — it was an opportunity to deepen his understanding of physiologically based pharmacokinetic, or PBPK, modeling. 

Florida Winter School 2025
More than 30 attendees from 12 countries attended the 2025 Florida Winter School in Orlando.

As a clinical data analyst at Boehringer Ingelheim, he had experience working with PBPK data but lacked formal training in the underlying concepts. The Florida Winter School provided him with a structured approach to learning, helping him move beyond software proficiency to grasp the scientific principles that drive drug interactions and predictions.

“The most valuable aspect that was stressed throughout the workshop was understanding the underlying mechanisms and concepts behind PBPK,” Boyles said. “Understanding how to use the software is important, but internalizing the concepts driving the modeling and simulations is critical to model-informed drug development and translational medicine.”

Now in its second year, the Florida Winter School provides graduate students, trainees, and early career scientists with an in-depth exploration of key concepts in PBPK and quantitative systems pharmacology modeling. The program integrates real-world case studies, focusing on special patient populations such as those with renal impairment, obesity, and pediatric populations.

Mike Boyles, M.S.

“The Florida Winter School is a rigorous, one-week workshop designed to establish a strong foundation in how PKPD modeling fits into the broader framework of model-informed drug development,” said Stephan Schmidt, Ph.D., the Certara Endowed Professor in the UF College of Pharmacy and director of the Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology. “We work closely with colleagues at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, and the pharmaceutical industry to ensure we are teaching concepts with practical relevance in the field.”

Held Jan. 27-31 in Orlando, this year’s Florida Winter School welcomed 34 participants from 12 countries across five continents. Event organizers prioritized global representation, collaborating with sponsors to offer training opportunities to PBPK scientists in low and middle-income countries, where access to such specialized education is often limited.

“The UF College of Pharmacy strives to be a global thought leader in training and education, and hosting international scientists aligns with that mission,” Schmidt said. “By bringing participants to our campus, we enhanced their expertise in PBPK modeling and networking opportunities and showcased the innovative research happening at UF. This exchange of ideas strengthens both our institution and the global scientific community.”

During Florida Winter School, nearly a dozen modeling and simulation experts led presentations and training sessions, including UF faculty and professionals from the pharmaceutical industry.

The depth of expertise and comprehensive course materials left a lasting impact on Boyles, preparing him for future success.

“The Florida Winter School includes instructors who are either currently working or have previously worked in the academic, regulatory, and industry sectors, giving a holistic view of the importance of PBPK modeling and simulations,” Boyles said. “As a member of the PBPK Working Group at Boehringer, I plan to take on more project-related work. After attending the Florida Winter School, I feel equipped to successfully lead PBPK projects and plan to fully commit to pharmacometrics and PBPK for the next step in my career.”

Photos from the 2025 Florida Winter School are available here. The event was hosted by the UF College of Pharmacy and the Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology at the UF Research and Academic Center in Orlando. The organizers thank Genentech and Novo Nordisk for their generous sponsorship this year.

Florida Winter School
Florida Winter School 2025 attendees, organizers, and instructors.