Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CPH4500

 
TITLE Introduction to Pharmacology for Biology and Chemistry Students

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 2

 
DEPARTMENT Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit will provide a sound understanding of the principles underlying the therapeutic action of drugs for biology students. It will give these students a general introduction to drug therapy and explain the biological principles underlying the action and determinants of the time course of the drug in the body, and how biology can be used to assist in drug development and thus enhancing drug therapy. It will also provide the students with an understanding of the biological and chemical basis of different drug delivery systems, and the pharmacological principles underlying drug therapy.

Study unit aims:

This study-unit will:
- provide a sound understanding of the principles underlying the therapeutic action of drugs for biology students.
- give these students a general introduction to how the biological and chemical properties of drugs affect their pharmacokinetics.
- show students biological and chemical principles can be applied in order to design novel drugs.
- provide the students with a chemical basis of different drug delivery systems.
- explain the biological and chemical aspects of principles underlying drug therapy and clinical pharmacology of specific populations.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding

By the end of this study-unit, the student will be able to:
- Understand the biological and chemical aspects of drug formulations and routes of administration.
- Understand the biological mechanisms in the modes of action of drugs.
- Apply biological and chemical principles in the development of new drugs.
- Predict the pharmacokinetic and bioavailability properties of drugs through their chemical structures.
- Apply pharmacogenetic principles.
- Understand adverse drug reactions, drug allergies, and drug Interactions.
- Use biological and chemical principles in the treatment of poisoning and pharmacotoxicology.

2. Skills

By the end of this study-unit, the student will be able to:
- Apply knowledge of biology and chemistry to the mode of action of drugs.
- Apply biological and chemical principles in development of new drug molecules.
- Understand variability in drug action in individual patients.
- Predict inter-patient variability with respect to drug response in drugs with different chemical structures.
- Explain the selection of differing drug therapies in individual patients.

Main texts:

Recommended
• Humphrey P. Rang HP, Dale MM, Ritter JM, Flower R. Rang & Dale's Pharmacology. Churchill Livingstone. 6th Ed.
• British National Formulary. Pharmaceutical Press.

Lecture notes
• Reid JL, Rubin PC, Walters MW. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Lecture Notes). Blackwell. 7th Ed.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-Requisite B.Sc. (Hons) 1st, 2nd and 3rd Year Study-Units or equivalent.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (1 Hour) SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Anne Marie Bonello
Roger Ellul Micallef
Claude A. Farrugia
Janet Mifsud (Co-ord.)
Patricia Vella Bonanno
Marita Vella
Nathan Vella
Lorna West
Mark Zammit

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit