Molecular Pharmacology
Course content
Through an integrated approach of lectures, project work and laboratory exercises, the students will learn about central topics in molecular pharmacology, such as ligand-receptor interactions, recombinant techniques (cloning of drug targets, mutagenesis), expression systems (mammalian cell culturing), transgenic techniques, pharmacological assays (binding/functional assays), molecular probes, structure-activity relationships, gene-expression studies (mRNA/protein), data analysis and interpretation (GraphPad Prism etc).
During the course the students will work together in groups of 3-6. They will cover 4 themes and write up material used for both the practical work and examination.
BSc Programme in Medicinal Chemistry (BA i medicinalkemi - SCIENCE) - compulsory
BSc Programme in Pharmacy - elective
Overall course objective
Molecular pharmacology is an important research field integrating molecular biology and pharmacology. The field is central to the drug discovery process. The objectives of this course are to provide a theoretical foundation of central molecular pharmacology terms and methodologies through theoretical and practical experience.
After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:
Knowledge
- understand central molecular pharmacology principles, methodologies and terminology
- obtain research-related knowledge of theory, methodology and practice within the field of molecular pharmacology
- describe molecular mechanisms of important drug targets, understand the use of cloned targets in research, and obtain knowledge about cell-based pharmacological assays
- explain how these principles and methods can be exploited in practical experiments aimed at reaching distinct research goals
- reflect on the subject molecular pharmacology in relation to the drug discovery process
Skill
- identify critical steps and describe technical details in relation to planning a pharmacological assay
- carry out experiments using common methods in molecular pharmacology
- calculate and interpret pharmacological data
- write a short report (referred to as technology and data sheets)
- present and discuss results in a relevant drug discovery/pharmaceutical context
Competence
- argue for choice of pharmacogical assay in a specific research situation
- transfer theories and principles to other areas of drug discovery
- translate theoretical knowledge into practice (assay design)
- collaborate and communicate effectively with other professionals with expertise in molecular pharmacology and related subjects
- comprehend molecular pharmacology in relation to drug discovery
The course will be based on 8 workshops covering theory and enabling discussions, and 4 practical laboratory exercises. During the workshops, central topics in molecular pharmacology will be covered through lectures, exercises and tutorials. The theoretical foundation obtained will direct the practical work. The students will work together in groups of 2-3 to generate written material about the techniques to be used in the lab (a-page TECHNOLOGY sheet), based on knowledge from the lectures and original scientific reports. Together with a supervisor they will first plan their experimental work (pre-lab), perform the actual assay in the lab and afterwards interpret the results post-lab resulting in written material (1-page DATA sheet). Together the two 1-page overviews with text and figures constitute the report for each exercises, altogether 4 reports. These constitute the exam material.
- Textbook: Molecular pharmacology: From DNA to Drug Discovery by John Dickenson (ISBN: 9780470684436; John Wiley and Sons)
- Selected original scientific literature
- Lab manual
Regarding external students:
If you are applying for the course as a credit transfer student,
you must have passed SFAB20015U Biopharmaceuticals -bioorganisk
kemi, SFAB20013U Basal farmakologi og SFABIL114U Organfarmakologi
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.
This does not apply to students of BSc Programme in Medicinal
Chemistry (SCIENCE) for whom the course is
compulsory.
Open for credit transfer students and other external students. Apply here:
Credit transfer students:
http://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/other-programme-options/credit-transfer-students/
Other external students:
https://healthsciences.ku.dk/education/student-mobility/guest-students/
Credit transfer and other external students are welcomed on the course if there are seats available and they have the academic qualifications.
- ECTS
- 2,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Course participationWritten assignment
- Type of assessment details
- Attendance will be noted at every planned teaching activity.
The reports are handed in before a given deadline.
In order to obtain the course certificate the students should:
*Participate satisfactorily throughout the course (at least 80% attendance).
*In groups prepare 4 written reports based within each of the 4 laboratory exercises of the course. Each report consists of a TECHNOLOGY sheet and a DATA sheet (1 page per sheet; 2 pages per exercise).
*Reports are submitted electronically (through Absalon) before the deadline announced by the course leader. - Marking scale
- passed/not passed
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Criteria for exam assessment
Knowledge
- Explain the background and principles of methodologies used
- Be critical to the quality of the data and conclusions drawn
- Compare with existing knowledge (literature)
Skills
- Plan laboratory work with help from course supervisor
- Perform experiments in the lab and obtain data
- Evaluate obtained data
- Graphically present data in a logical way
Competences
- Present experimental pharmacological data in a relevant context
- Critically evaluate the usability of the data obtained
- Master scientific writing
- ECTS
- 5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
-
Oral examination, 15 min under invigilation
- Type of assessment details
- The oral examination is individual and based on the group
reports prepared and approved before the exam.
Presentation of the project work drawn by the student (3-5 min) serves as starting point for the exam (one of the 4 reports), followed by an examination, covering project specific but also more general topics discussed through the course.
Students in the same group enrolled in the course cannot participate in their fellow students’ individual oral exam unless they have already had their own individual oral exam - Aid
- Without aids
Reports will be available in the exam room.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Criteria for exam assessment
To achieve the grade 12 the student must be able to:
Knowledge
- understand central molecular pharmacology principles, methodologies and terminology
- obtain research-based knowledge of theory, methodology and practice within the field of molecular pharmacology
- describe molecular mechanisms of important drug targets, understand the use of cloned targets in research, and obtain knowledge about cell-based pharmacological assays
- explain how these principles and methods can be exploited in practical experiments aimed at reaching distinct research goals
- reflect on the subject molecular pharmacology in relation to the drug discovery process
Skill
- identify critical steps and describe technical details in relation to planning a pharmacological assay
- carry out experiments using common methods in molecular pharmacology
- calculate and interpret pharmacological data
- formulate 1-3 in a short report (technology and data sheets)
- present and discuss results in a relevant drug discovery/pharmaceutical context
Competence
- argue for choice of pharmacogical assay in a specific research situation
- put theory and principles in relevant context with medicinal chemistry
- translate theoretical knowledge into practice (assay design)
- collaborate and communicate effectively with other professionals with expertise in molecular pharmacology and related subjects
- comprehend molecular pharmacology in relation to drug discovery
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 32
- Preparation
- 102
- Practical exercises
- 16
- Project work
- 48
- Guidance
- 8
- English
- 206
Kursusinformation
- Language
- English
- Course number
- SFAB20021U
- ECTS
- See exam description
- Programme level
- Bachelor
- Duration
-
1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedulegroup
-
B
- Capacity
- 50 students: Seats reserved Students of BSc Programme in Medicinal Chemistry. If not full, seats are available for pharmacy students or international students.
- Studyboard
- Study Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Contracting department
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Course Coordinator
- Petrine Wellendorph
(2-7f864f82847d733d7a843d737a)
Molecular Pharmacology
Teacher
Professor Petrine Wellendorph
Professor Stephan Pless
Associate Professor Jesper Mosolff Mathiesen
Postdocs & PhD students
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