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Principles of Pharmacology

Course content

The course aims to provide an introduction to pharmacology leading to a fundamental understanding and knowledge of the basic concepts of pharmacology and the related human physiology.

The course deals with the following topics:

  • Neurotransmitter systems and neuropharmacology
     
  • Fundamental nerve/muscle/cell physiology with a 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

Education

MSc Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences (English programme) - compulsory
 

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

• 31 lectures
• 20 hr of tutorial lessons
• 1 project presentation (group work)

  • Silverthorn: Human Physiology, 8th edition, Pearson International, 2018.
  • Rang, H.P., Dale, M.M., Ritter, J.M. & Flower, R. J.: Pharmacology, 10th 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).

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.

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.

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).

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. 

ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
On-site written exam, 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
Re-exam

10 or fewer students registered for reexam:

Type of assessment: Oral examination

Assessment details: 20 minutes examination

Preparation: 20 minutes

Aids: None

Criteria for exam assessment

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

Single subject courses (day)

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 31
  • Class Instruction
  • 40
  • Preparation
  • 65
  • Project work
  • 20
  • Exam Preparation
  • 50
  • English
  • 206

Kursusinformation

Language
English
Course number
SLVKB0352U
ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Programme level
Full Degree Master
Duration

1 block

Placement
Block 1
Schedulegroup
A
Capacity
70 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
  • Anders Skov Kristensen   (3-65776f4477797268326f7932686f)
Teacher

Annouced at course start.

Saved on the 28-06-2024
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Courseinformation of students

University of Copenhagen
Nørregade 10
1165 København K