This module introduces the fundamental principles of pharmacology and toxicology, with emphasis on key concepts of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics.
Introduction to Pharmacology
An overview of the key historical developments in the field of pharmacology. Drug nomenclature and classification. Brief outline of the drug development process (drug discovery, pre-clinical and clinical development).
Pharmacodynamics
Drug Targets - receptor classification (G-Protein coupled receptors, Ion channels, Steroid receptors), Enzymes as drug targets; receptor theory and pharmacology; receptor binding theory; common drug functional groups; receptor agonists and antagonists (dose response curves).
Pharmacokinetics
Movement of drug molecules across biological membranes. Standard routes of drug administration. The basic principles of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
Toxicology
Introduction to toxicology and current state-of-the-art in-testing
Pharmacotherapeutics
Therapeutic use of drugs: Mode of action of drugs in relation to selected body systems.
Experimental Pharmacology
Generate pharmacological data and analyse and interpret results. (including but not limited to computer assisted learning)
Lectures (16 hours) and tutorials (4 hours) which will include online student response systems and in-class quizzes. Case study presentations, data interpretation workshops and computer assisted learning software (15 hours)
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |