MSci Pharmacology

Neuropharmacology of Human Health presents key topics at the forefront of modern neuropharmacology. Emphasis will be placed on how the molecular and cellular basis of function of major excitatory, inhibitory and modulatory neurotransmitter receptor systems operate under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. You will gain active knowledge into the role of neurotransmitter systems in the generation and therapy of diverse, but significant, neuropathological disorders.

BIOL31671 Pre & Co-requisites is BIOL21312

The aim of this unit is to provide a thorough understanding of key neurotransmitter systems and how these systems function under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. You will gain insight into how these neurotransmitter systems are targeted to provide therapeutic benefit in the clinic.

PLEASE NOTE: This unit has restricted numbers and it may not be possible for students to be enrolled on this unit during the two-week course unit change period at the start of semester 1.

• Understand the importance of neurotransmission for health and disease.

• Describe the known signalling defects underlying specific neurological diseases and the consequences of these defects to neural circuit function and whole organism behaviour.

• Describe the application of appropriate research methods used to investigate these processes and to identify aberrant signalling mechanisms.

• Understand and interpret primary research findings and describe how these have been used to develop clinical treatments.

• Understand how to find, identify and interpret key data, concepts and ideas and to pass these on to others.

For all areas, there will be material detailing basic principles and building on those from the prerequisite unit (BIOL21312 Drugs and the Brain). The topicality and importance of these areas will then be underscored by additional material designed to foster critical thinking.

Neurobiology and pharmacology of addiction.

Role of glutamate in schizophrenia and stroke.

Role of acetylcholine in Alzheimer’s disease.

5-HT and psychedelics.

Brain regulation of metabolism.

Rhythms in mental health and disease  

1. An essay-based examination worth 70%, consisting of one essay answer selected from six questions (one from each theme).
2. A multiple-choice question assessment worth 30%, consisting of 30 multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions (negatively marked).

Interactive sessions will allow discussion and formative feedback to students. Each lecture block will have an associated element of self-directed activity to allow for assessment of understanding (this activity will collectively be worth 10% of the final mark).
 

Specified reading will be advertised on Canvas for each block of material.

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £38,000 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).