Pharmacology

CSA232

Provides an introduction to the study of drugs: chemicals which affect living systems. General principles of drug action and drug disposition, including pharmacokinetics, are outlined. The major part of the unit consists of a detailed account of selected major classes of drugs. These include drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system and cardiovascular system as well as chemical mediators of pain and inflammation. Emphasis is given to therapeutic applications. The practical course gives experience in measuring drug responses in humans. Tutorial topics include ethical issues in animal and human experimentation.

Coordinator: Dr Yean Yeow Tan

Note: Limited enrolment due to lab places. Please check with the School of Pharmacy before enrolling.

Pharmacology

CSA233

The major part of the unit consists of a detailed account of selected major classes of drugs. These include drugs affecting the central nervous system; chemical mediators, pain and inflammation; and endocrines. Emphasis is given to therapeutic applications. Tutorial topics include the development and evaluation of new drugs. Students must have successfully completed CSA232 for entry to CSA233.

Coordinator: Dr Yean Yeow Tan

Note: Limited enrolment due to lab places. Please check with the School of Pharmacy before enrolling.

Medicinal Chemistry

CSA227

A study of chemical structure as a determinant of both the physicochemical properties and biological activity (including metabolic fate) of drug molecules of both synthetic and natural origin. The application of such principles to the design and production of new drug entities is also examined.

Coordinator: Dr Stephen Aldous

Note: Limited enrolment due to lab places. Please check with the School of Pharmacy before enrolling.

Clinical Pharmacokinetics

CSA313

Studies the factors influencing the bioavailability and disposition of drugs,and the application of this information to optimise the therapeutic usefulness of drugs in clinical practice. Particular emphasis is placed on the clinical role of the pharmacist in improving the use of drugs through the practical application of pharmacokinetics. The subject also includes an overview of statistics in health sciences.

Topics include: formulation factors and therapeutic activity; route of administration and bioavailability; developments in drug delivery; estimating drug dosage requirements in clinical practice; therapeutic drug monitoring; drug interactions; an overview of sources of inter-patient variability in pharmacokinetics (eg extremes of age, renal disease, pharmacogenomics); clinical case studies and pharmacokinetics of specific drugs.

Unit objective: to develop a good practical knowledge and understanding of pharmacokinetics through the use of lecture material, practical exercises and problems. A key aim is to develop the ability to logically apply relatively simple pharmacokinetic principles in everyday clinical pharmacy practice. This is achieved through the extensive use of clinically-oriented problems.

Coordinator: Professor Greg Peterson

Chemotherapy and Infection

NOT AVAILABLE FOR S3G STUDENTS

A study of the basic principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy and biotherapy followed by a study of infectious disease therapeutics topics, using case studies.

Topics include: antimicrobial/antiparasitic chemotherapy and clinical topics in infectious disease, incorporating directed and self-directed caset studies.

Unit objective: to develop a good practical knowledge of chemotherapy and biotherapy and their application to an understanding of the nature and management of infectious conditions. Emphasis is also placed on preparing the student for participation in clinical pharmacy teaching rounds.

Coordinator: Mr Peter Tenni

Special Note: Offered subject to sufficient enrolment numbers. On completion of CSA342 students are awarded an XX result (result shown in another unit), the final result for this unit is awarded on completion CSA343. Students are required to enrol concurrently in CSA342 and CSA343.