SMIMB1041U Pharmacology
This course is a compulsory course for students at Copenhagen University's Master of Industrial Drug Development (MIND)
See course calendar for course dates on the webpage for Master of Industrial Drug Development
The course is intended for drug development professionals who need knowledge about basic pharmacological concepts or need a brush-up course on pharmacology for continuing professional development (CPD).
The course is open to single course students and students from other master's programmes.
The pharmacological concepts, methodologies and techniques are fundamental for modern drug development. As a discipline it does not fit in for one particular part of the drug development process. Instead it is applied continuously throughout the lifespan of a drug candidate. Thus, basic pharmacological knowledge is important for those who want to possess an integrated view on the effects and behaviour of the drug candidate from discovery throughout clinical development. The classical disciplines of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics are addressed separately to be familiar with the theoretical background behind these disciplines. Pharmacology also bridges the preclinical phase with clinical trials and thus is central in the translation of animal data to the human situation.
The course will teach the basic concepts of general pharmacology. Emphasis is on pharmacokinetics with hands-on calculations. It runs over two days and is computer aided. There is focus on experimental in vitro and in vivo tools and on animal experimental models for various diseases including modern experimental techniques.
The course covers the following areas:
- General pharmacology (pharmacodynamics)
- Pharmacokinetics (basic concepts, extra vascular dosing using a one-compartment model, IV administration using 1- and 2 compartment models, elimination: metabolism and excretion, hands-on calculation in an Excel spreadsheet)
- Exploratory pharmacology (measurement of pharmacological effect, safety pharmacology)
- In vitro pharmacology, concepts and methodology (ADME; biomarkers; metabolism; transporters)
- In vitro screening of cancer therapuetics
- In vivo pharmacology, methodology (animal models for cardiovascular diseases, obesity, bone and joint diseases and pain; behavioural animal models.)
Upon completion of the course, participants are expected to be able to:
Knowledge
- pin-point the role of pharmacology in the drug development process
- demonstrate basic knowledge of pharmacology
- its basic concepts regarding PD and PK
- its in vitro models
- its in vivo models
- its experimental tools
- identify basic pharmacokinetic parameters
- identify ADMET and safety pharmacology aspects
Skills
- interpret raw pharmacodynamic data sets
- calculate and interpret raw pharmacokinetic data sets
- rank compounds delivered from discovery for further handling in development
- conduct validation applied in in vitro methods
- conduct validation applied in in vivo methods
Competencies
- integrate a pharmacology perspective in the planning of the various stages of the drug development process
- handle translational aspects in a pharmacological perspective
- communicate professionally using pharmacology terminology
The syllabus comprises collections of review papers, textbook chapters, case stories and hand-outs from course presentations, in total approximately 250 pages.
• A bachelor's degree, a professional bachelor’s degree, a diploma degree, a master’s degree or equivalent within chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, medicine, biomedicine, human biology, molecular biology, veterinary sciences, health sciences, nursing, engineering or equivalent.
• At least two years of relevant work experience related to development of medicines
• Proficiency in English
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 35
- Preparation
- 23,75
- Exam Preparation
- 8
- Exam
- 2
- Total
- 68,75
Application deadline is 8 weeks before the first day of
instruction.
Apply directly on the programme's webpage
- Credit
- 2,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- On-site written exam, 2 hours under invigilation
- Type of assessment details
- Problems based on a case description, supplemented with multiple choice and short essay questions.
- Aid
- Written aids allowed
Find more information about written on-site exams in the exam rooms, incl. information about standard programs on the exam PCs at KUnet - Study Information - Exam types and rules - Written on-site exam (ITX).
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
- Exam period
To be announced at the MIND programme's webpage
- Re-exam
The exam form for the reexam is the same as the ordinary exam. See dates in the exam schedule at the MIND programme's webpage
Criteria for exam assesment
The grade 12 is given when the examinee:
Knowledge
- pin-point the role of pharmacology in the drug development process
- demonstrate basic knowledge of pharmacology
- its basic concepts regarding PD and PK
- its in vitro models
- its in vivo models
- its experimental tools
- identify basic pharmacokinetic parameters
- identify ADMET and safety pharmacology aspects
Skills
- interpret raw pharmacodynamic data sets
- calculate and interpret raw pharmacokinetic data sets
- rank compounds delivered from discovery for further handling in development
- conduct validation applied in in vitro methods
- conduct validation applied in in vivo methods
Competencies
- integrate a pharmacology perspective in the planning of the various stages of the drug development process
- handle translational aspects in a pharmacological perspective
- communicate professionally using pharmacology terminology
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- SMIMB1041U
- Credit
- 2,5 ECTS
- Level
- Part Time Master
- Duration
- 5 days
- Placement
- Spring
- Schedule
- see course calendar
- Course capacity
- 25 participants
Price
Fees are published on the programme's homepage at https://mind.ku.dk/tuition/ Fee includes course materials and lunch/coffee. Prices may be subject to change.
Study board
- Study Board for the Professionel Master´s Degree Programmes at The Faculty og Health and Medical Science
Contracting department
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinators
- Anne-Marie Heegaard (amhe@sund.ku.dk)
Lecturers
List of lecturers announced at course start.