SLVKB0352U Principles of Pharmacology

Volume 2023/2024
Education

MSc Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences (English programme) - compulsory
 

Content

The course deals with the following topics:

  • Neurotransmitter systems and neuropharmacology
  • Fundamental nerve/muscle/cell physiology with special focus on membrane physiology and synaptic mechanisms

  • Receptor pharmacology including receptor classifications, agonists, antagonists, development of tolerance, and analysis of receptor-ligand interactions

  • Pharmacodynamics: Dose-response relationships, dose/time relationships, use of biological systems to estimate activities of drugs, statistical analysis of biological data

  • Pharmacokinetics: General kinetics, absorption, distribution, elimination, metabolism, excretion and drug interactions

  • Drug development methods: Animal models, preclinical development, and concepts of toxicology

Learning Outcome

At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to:

 

Knowledge

  • Students will obtain a fundamental understanding and knowledge of the basic concepts of pharmacology and the related human physiology.

 

Skills

  • calculate pharmacokinetic parameters of a drug from plasma concentrations time-course
  • understand the different mechanisms of action of antagonists
  • interpret antagonist pharmacological data to determine the mechanism of action
  • propose experiments to distinguish antagonist mechanism of action
  • have a basic understanding of neurotransmission and neurotransmitter systems in the CNS
  • have an understanding of drug toxicity and adverse effects
  • have an understanding of clinical trials and drug monitoring

 

Competencies

  • understand concepts used in physiology and basic pharmacology.
  • calculate, estimate and discuss physiological and pharmacological parameters obtained from experimental and clinical data (pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data).
  • discuss and explain pharmacology-related procedures and methods used in preclinical drug development.
  • effectively communicate pharmacological and drug information to others within the fields of pharmaceutical sciences and health sciences
  • Silverthorn: Human Physiology, 7th edition, Pearson International, 2016.
  • Rang, H.P., Dale, M.M., Ritter, J.M. & Flower, R. J.: Pharmacology, 8th edition, Churchill Livingstone, 2015.
  • Rowland, M. & Tozer, T.N.: Clinical Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics. Concepts and Applications. 4th edition, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2011.
  • Meldgaard Lund, T. and Sheykhzade M., FARMA, KU: Pharmacokinetic and -dynamic Equations and Preconditions (on the homepage).
  • Sheykhzade and Pickering: Pharmacodynamic theory notes, 9th ed, 2013 (on the homepage).
If you are applying for the course as a credit transfer student, you must have passed SFAB20029U Organisk kemi II - syntese af lægemiddel-stoffer, SFAB20027U Farmaceutisk biologi and SFAB20015U Biopharmaceuticals -bioorganisk kemi or have acquired similar competencies in another course. Documentation for corresponding competencies in the form of a course description and an exam result must be attached to your application.
Course teaching is based on the assumption that students have passed exams in chemistry subjects corresponding to at least 15 ECTS credits, of which 10 ECTS credits should be in organic chemistry and biology, and 15 ECTS credits in biochemistry and/or molecular biology and/or microbiology.
• 31 lectures
• 20 hr of tutorial lessons
• 1 project presentation (group work)
Except for students enrolled at the MPS this course is NOT available to those who have previously passed an introductory pharmacology lecture course, such as: almen farmakologi (SFABB0251U) or grundlæggende farmakologi (SFABB1011U).
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 31
  • Class Instruction
  • 40
  • Preparation
  • 65
  • Project work
  • 20
  • Exam Preparation
  • 50
  • Total
  • 206
Oral
Collective
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)

The course contains a literature project module, where evaluation and performance feedback will be given verbally by the project teacher as well as peer feedback from fellow students. 

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 3 hours under invigilation
Type of assessment details
Exam assessment is based on a written, closed-book exam with 4 different topics and each topic with 4 subparts. The individual weighting of each question will be clearly stated on the exam paper.

Overall impression forms part of the exam assessment and may cause the score to be adjusted by up to 10%. The adjustment is based on the demonstration of an overall understanding of basic pharmacological principles and topics and the absence of major weaknesses.
Aid
Without aids

Find more information about written on-site exams in the exam rooms, incl. information about standard programs on the exam PCs at KUnet

Written on-site exam - KUnet

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Criteria for exam assesment

To achieve the grade 12 the student must be able to:


 Knowledge

  • understand the relevant terms, principles and methods used in physiology and pharmacology.
  • refer fundamental understanding and knowledge of the basic concepts of pharmacology and the related human physiology.
  • understand the basics of neurotransmission and neurotransmitter systems in the CNS
  • understand drug toxicity and adverse effects
  • understand clinical trials and drug monitoring
  • understand concepts used in physiology and basic pharmacology.

 

Skills

  • calculate pharmacokinetic parameters of a drug from plasma concentrations time-course
  • understand the different mechanisms of action of antagonists
  • interpret antagonist pharmacological data to determine the mechanism of action
  • propose experiments to distinguish antagonist mechanism of action

 

Competencies

  • calculate, estimate and discuss physiological and pharmacological parameters obtained from experimental and clinical data (pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data).
  • discuss and explain pharmacology-related procedures and methods used in preclinical drug development.
  • effectively communicate pharmacological and drug information to others within the fields of pharmaceutical sciences and health sciences