- UCAS course code
- C407
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Drugs: From Molecules to Man
Unit code | BIOL10822 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 1 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
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.
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Body Systems | BIOL10811 | Co-Requisite | Recommended |
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.
Learning outcomes
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.
Syllabus
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.
Employability skills
- Analytical skills
- Data handling ePBL
- Problem solving
- Data handling ePBL
- Other
- Handling complex data, time management
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Other | 10% |
Written exam | 90% |
90% awarded for a one hour examination, which will consist of 50 MCQs in the semester 2 examination period, and 10% awarded for electronically marked exercises.
Feedback methods
Feedback will be provided via automated eLearning module responses; short note practice question; post-examination guidance (if requested).
Recommended reading
Ritter et al., Rang & Dale's Pharmacology (9th Edition) 2019 Churchill Livingstone Available as an eBook via JRUL website.
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
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Assessment written exam | 1 |
Lectures | 22 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 77 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Richard Prince | Unit coordinator |