Drugs: From Molecules to Man

Drugs: from molecules to man is an introductory pharmacology unit centred on drugs acting on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems

Anti Requisite for Molecules to Man year 1 course (BIOL11822, BIOL10822 and BIOL11821

The unit aims 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.

The course will be delivered entirely through eLearning using Articulate Rise 360 modules. There will be two eLearning modules per week, each containing approximately 1 hour of prerecorded video content. The content is also presented in a parallel text format to accommodate students who prefer this style of learning. In addition, there will be a one hour online active learning module where students will apply/consolidate the material from the didactic modules. Students will be encouraged to actively engage with the unit discussion board, to maintain a sense of learning community.

Explain to a fellow student, key concepts from the following areas:
Introduction to pharmacology: What is pharmacology?

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 (STIPs):  Students will study at least two STIPs from the following choices: cholinergic toxins; drug discovery and development; pharmacokinetics; biologic drugs; history of pharmacology

The active learning sessions will require students to develop quantitative reasoning skills, critical thinking and problem solving skills. They will also need to develop their learning strategies to effectively manage the large volume of information e.g. drug names, that a pharmacology course entails

Students will learn how to analyse data obtained using simulations of pharmacological laboratory techniques

The requirement to complete regular assessment tasks will help students develop effective time-management skills 

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

15% for completion of active learning tasks

10% for completion of eLearning module quizzes

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

Written and verbal feedback will be provided