BSc Medical Biochemistry with Industrial/Professional Experience / Course details

To introduce the major concepts underpinning pharmacology. To describe the main molecular mechanisms of action of some important classes of drugs acting on the cardiorespiratory system and relate these mechanisms to their cellular, tissue, organ and whole animal effects.

To introduce the major concepts underpinning pharmacology. To describe the main molecular mechanisms of action of some important classes of drugs acting on the cardiorespiratory system and relate these mechanisms to their cellular, tissue, organ and whole animal effects.

To understand: the molecular targets for drugs and examples of drugs acting at several target types; the basic concepts of drug receptor interactions; the importance of drug structure in their ability to interact with their targets; the mechanisms of the major drug classes used to treat hypertension, angina, cardiac failure, cardiac dysrhythmias and asthma.

Introduction to pharmacology: History and scope of pharmacology. How drugs are discovered.

Introduction to drug targets: Structure, function and cellular location of ligand-gated channels, voltage gated channels, enzymes, nuclear hormone receptors, transporters and pumps, G-protein coupled receptors.

Nature of drug receptor interactions: Agonists, antagonists and partial agonists, efficacy, drug structures, pharmacophores and selectivity. Concentration-response relationships. Gaddum equation

Drugs acting on the cardiovascular/respiratory systems: Antihypertensive drugs, antidysrhythmic drugs, drugs used to treat angina, acute coronary syndromes and cardiac failure, lipid lowering drugs, drug used to treat and prevent thrombosis, stroke and “brain killers”, drugs used to treat asthma.

Special topics in pharmacology:  Students will study at least two “STIPs” from the following choices: cholinergic toxins; drug discovery and development; pharmacokinetics; biologic drugs.

The unit will be available in two streams, with students making a choice of stream by the end of the second week of the unit. It will not be possible to switch streams after this point.

Stream 1: blended delivery

Students studying in this stream will be expected to complete 1 eLearning module per week, containing approximately 1 hour of pre-recorded video content or equivalent, and a short, online MCQ quiz (not timed but approximately 20 minutes in length).

Each week there will also be 1 hour of live-lecture content that builds on the eLearning module and a 1 hour face-to-face active learning session.

Stream 2: online only

Students studying this stream will be expected to complete 1 eLearning module per week containing approximately 2 hours of pre-recorded video content, and a short, online MCQ quiz (not timed but approximately 20 minutes in length).

Each week there will be an online active learning activity that should take an average of 1 hour to complete.

STIP eLearning modules        4 hours

Students in both streams will need to complete at least two special topics eLearning modules, which will each contain approximately two hours of pre-recorded video content or equivalent. The STIP modules will be assessed by online multiple choice questions at the end of the semester. If students choose to study more than two STIP modules, their two best marks will contribute to their overall unit mark. STIP topics are not included in the unit examination.

70% awarded for a one hour examination, which will consist of 50 MCQs in the semester 2 examination period

20% for completion of active learning tasks

5% for completion of eLearning modules

5% awarded for online MCQ tests based on the STIP modules 
 

Formative feedback will be provided via automated eLearning module responses;; post-examination guidance (if requested) 

Ritter et al., Rang & Dale's Pharmacology (10th Edition) 2024 Elsevier Available as an eBook via JRUL website.