CloseHelpPrint
Kies de Nederlandse taal
Course module: UCSCIMED32
UCSCIMED32
Pharmacology
Course info
Course codeUCSCIMED32
EC7.5
Course goals
After completing this course students are able to:
  • explain the efficacy of existing drug therapies in a rational way in terms of molecular targets, cellular actions, and physiological consequences of pharmacological treatment.
  • suggest targets for drug development of diseases on the basis of pathophysiological insights.
  • apply pharmacological models in the description of concentration-response, time-concentration, and time-response relationships of drugs.
  • discuss how the development and use of drugs requires a multidisciplinary approach.
  • work in teams and demonstrate effective communication skills. 
Content
The functioning of the (diseased) human body can be affected by medicines, which act through a variety of molecular mechanisms. This course illustrates the various ways of drug action through an in-depth study of cardiovascular disease and a disease or pharmacological principle (to be determined). These two diseases have been chosen because they demonstrate drug effects at a variety of the organizational levels (molecule, cell, whole organism) of animals and man. We also review the recent advances in rational drug design. 
Although the course only treats two diseases, it highlights the underlying physiological and pharmacological principles of rational drug use and development. It stresses the importance of neuronal/hormonal (whole body) and biochemical regulation (whole cell) for proper physiological and cellular functioning, as well as homeostatic control and dysfunction during pathological processes. The identification of potential drug targets and the interaction of drugs with macromolecules (enzymes, cell surface receptors, signaling molecules) as a main pharmacological principle is another topic central to our study, and one that requires quantitative pharmacological and statistical methods.

 
Format
During the first seven weeks of the course, students are required to learn the basic pharmacological models that describe concentration-response, time-concentration, and time-response relationships of drugs by using available literature and several simulation applications. They may refer to spreadsheet programs and course lectures for assistance.
The course is divided into two parts (A and B). Part A (weeks 1 – 8) covers "cardiovascular disease," and concludes with a written report. Part B (weeks 7 – 14) examines "a disease or pharmacological principle (to be determined)," during which students give oral presentations. During both parts, students work in small teams. Initially, each group studies an aspect of the disease under review, becoming a team of "process specialists." After a few weeks, students form new teams in such a way that every new team consists of the different types of process specialists. These new teams analyze and describe the mechanism of action of one drug effective in the treatment of the disease (part A), and investigate the suitability of a particular molecular target for drug use and/or development (part B). Therefore, the process specialists in every team cooperate to become "drug specialists" (part A) and "target specialists" (part B). Each team of specialists then writes a report (part A), and presents its results at a conference-like meeting (part B).
CloseHelpPrint
Kies de Nederlandse taal