BS5054 - Fundamentals of Pharmacology (2018/19)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2018/19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Module title | Fundamentals of Pharmacology | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Module level | Intermediate (05) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Faculty of Life Sciences and Computing | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2018/19(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
This module will equip students with a fundamental understanding of the fate of drugs in the human body when taken via different routes of administration. Throughout the module students will develop an ability to collect, manipulate and interpret experimental and simulation data important tothe subject matter.
Prior learning requirements
Cell and Molecular Biology AS4003
Module aims
The aims of this module are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s, Framework for Higher Education Qualifications.
This module aims to equip students with information on how formulated drugs – medicines, (a) get into the body (b) get around the body (c) how they act on the body and (d) how they get out of the body.
Syllabus
The module will comprise the following elements:
Pharmacodynamics will encompass receptor theory; sites of drug action; G-proteins and downstream signalling cascades; ion channels and transporters; quantitative pharmacology; autonomic pharmacology; local mediators and CNS pharmacology.
Principles of Pharmacokinetics will be taught with respect to absorption and bioavailability, metabolism, volume of distribution, clearance, and elimination of drugs in the human body. Dosage regimens for obtaining steady state will be described. The students will also utilise pharmacokinetic software to investigate drug disposition.
Learning and teaching
Students will be provided with a range of activities to accommodate different learning styles. The module delivery will consist of lectures (22 hours), workshops (6 hours), practicals (3 hours) and tutorials (6 hours).
Lecture and tutorial sessions will include ‘punctuated lectures’ and ‘minute papers’ thus providing opportunities for ‘active engagement’ and to reflect on what has or has not been understood during the sessions. In-class verbal feedback will be provided and students encouraged and directed towards relevant subject matter material. The tutorial sessions will include numerical problems with emphasis on the principles to solve problems of various types as well descriptive/discussion elements. Students will be expected to prepare in advance for these sessions (15 hours - directed).
Workshops will utilise computer aided simulations to contextualise and enhance understanding of the action of drugs in the human body over a period of time, including the processes of absorption, distribution, localization in tissues, biotransformation and excretion. Peer – peer interactions will be encouraged via group working thus developing communication, data handling and interpretation skills. (15 hours - directed).
Practical sessions will stress the importance of organisational proficiency; augment practical skills in order to produce reliable experimental data. Students will be expected to interpret the experimental data within context. These sessions will be summatively assessed via submission of one practical report using proforma and will be directed towards relevant literature in order to complete the assignments (5 hours – directed).
To develop and enhance student engagement a series of on-line quizzes will be provided with a mixture of both formative and summative assessments. Quizzes designed for formative assessment will be provided with ‘instantaneous’ feedback and the time constrained summative assessments will only be available once the formative elements have been completed. Background links and literature linked to quizzes will be provided via WebLearn (resource centre) and the students will be expected to utilise this when completing the on-line (formative) quizzes (10 hours - directed).
PDP: on completion of this module students’ provide an on-line evaluation of how the module allowed them to develop skills such as information technology, organisational skills, team building, communication, time management, and working under pressure.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an appreciation of receptor biology.
2. Describe different chemical mediators and their functions.
3. Show an understanding of the principles of autonomic nervous system physiology.
4. Predict the fate of specified drugs and routes of delivery using knowledge of pharmacokinetics.
Assessment strategy
The module will be summatively assessed by 2 x 45 minutes in class test (50%), 1 x 30 minutes on-line quizzes (25%) and 1 x practical report (25%).
The two short answer in-class tests each of duration 45 minutes (Total 50%) will assess the student understanding and learning of the underlying principles of pharmacodynamics and introductory pharmacokinetics. Topics assessed will include receptor families and theory, sites of drug action, G-proteins and downstream signalling cascades, quantitative pharmacology, organisation of the autonomic nervous system and absorption and bioavailability of drugs.
The on-line time constrained (1 x 30 minutes) quiz (Total 25%) is designed to re-enforce the understanding and learning from workshops and tutorials delivered throughout the semester. This element will be assessed summatively but will be preceded by on-line quizzes designed to provide formative feedback.
The practical report on pharmacology (Total 25%) will be submitted to assess the ability to acquire, manipulate and interpret experimental data. This element will provide both summative and formative assessment.
To pass the module, students need to achieve a minimum aggregate mark of 40%. There will be an attendance requirement for the practical sessions. If the module is passed on reassessment, then the maximum mark awarded will be 40%.
| Assignment | Learning Outcomes |
| 2 x in class tests | 1, 2, 3, |
| 1 x on line quiz | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| 1x practical reports | 1, 2, 3 |
Bibliography
Core Texts
Rang, H.P., Dale, M.M., Ritter, J.M., Rod J. Flower, and Henderson, G (2012). Rang & Dale's Pharmacology, 7th Edition. London: Churchill Livingstone.
Ritschel, W.A. and Kearns, G.L. (2009).Handbook of Basic Pharmacokinetics including Clinical Applications, 7th Edition. Washington D.C.: American Pharmacists Association.
Review Articles
Thomson, A. (2004). Back to basics: Pharmacokinetics. The Pharmaceutical Journal, 272, pp.769 – 771.
Online resources
http://www.pharmacalogy.com/
http://copnt13.cop.ufl.edu/safezone/pat/pha5127/simulatn.htm (Pharmacokinetic Simulations)