
- UCAS course code
- C301
- UCAS institution code
- M20
BSc Zoology with Industrial/Professional Experience / Course details
Year of entry: 2023
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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
95% of the unit mark derives from 4, equally waited online assessments taken during the teaching period. The question types include data handling and multiple choice questions. A further 5% derives from online assessments on two “special topics in pharmacology” that students select from a choice of 4.
Feedback methods
Feedback will be provided after the e-assessments close. Feedback will also be available on formative assessments in the e-learning modules ;
Employability Skills – Handling complex data, time management
Analytical skills - Data handling e-assessments
Problem solving - Data handling e-assessments
Recommended reading
Title below is also available as an eBook via JRUL website.
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 | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 1 |
Lectures | 22 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 77 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Richard Prince | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
Scheduled activity hours
Introductory lecture
1
ELMS containing approximately 2h
of pre-recorded content per week
22
Independent study hours
(Optional question and answer sessions)
77 hours
(11 hours)