Pharmacology and Toxicology the Science Behind Drugs
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Pharmacology and Toxicology The science behind drugs “Graduates that we’ve Pharmacology is the science of the effects of drugs on biological systems, employed have routinely from the molecular level through to patient studies. Toxicology is the study impressed our international of the harmful effects of chemicals. Toxicology courses at Otago cover both clients with their scientific environmental and human toxicology, with a particular emphasis on drugs and knowledge, communication drug development. skills, attention to detail and Pharmacology and toxicology are at the forefront of modern medicine with commitment to operating in a focus on developing drugs to treat important conditions, such as cancer, an ethical and transparent diabetes, neurological conditions and heart disease. manner.” Understanding pharmacology is key to advancing research in almost all areas of Blair Hesp NZDipBus PhD CMPP biomedical research, while toxicology is key to understanding human impacts in Managing Director, Kainic Medical Communications a changing world. 0800 80 80 98 | otago.ac.nz | txt 866 | [email protected] Why study pharmacology and science papers in an area such as cell and sessions. Practical sessions range from the use molecular biology (CELS 191, BIOL 112, BIOL of modern cellular techniques through to human toxicology? 123), or human body systems (HUBS 191, HUBS clinical trials. Most people are interested in pharmacology 192). because drugs occupy such a prominent place Many students enrol in Health Sciences First Year Research at Otago in everyday life. Constant progress in medicine (HSFY) and this will provide you with the requisite All our teaching staff are engaged in cutting-edge involves the design of new drugs that can cure subjects to continue your study in pharmacology pharmacology and toxicology research, seeking cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological and toxicology. to develop new drugs and address toxicological disorders and other medical conditions. problems. Areas of particular expertise include: Pharmacology incorporates and applies a variety Second year • Cancer drug development and treatment. of biological sciences, such as biochemistry, You can choose to pursue pharmacology as • Cardiovascular health and cardioprotection. chemistry, physiology, microbiology and genetics. your major, in which case you will take two core • Inflammation and wound healing. Unlike pharmacy, which is about the preparation papers (PHAL 211 and PHAL 221) which cover • Neuropharmacology and auditory and dispensing of drugs, pharmacology is the the basic principles of pharmacology, toxicology pharmacology. science behind how drugs produce their effects and drug discovery, and will introduce the major • Toxicology, environmental and human. on the body and what the body does to the drug classes currently used to treat disease. • Cannabinoids. drugs. Pharmacology also plays a key role in developing drugs of the future. For students who wish to include pharmacology and toxicology as part of their studies in other Postgraduate opportunities Toxicology at Otago examines the harmful effects areas, the semester 2 paper PHAL 221 provides There are many postgraduate study of chemicals on the human body, as well as an in-depth exploration of the process of drug opportunities including honours, master’s and understanding the impact of chemicals on the discovery from basic research through to clinical PhD degrees specialising in either pharmacology environment and in our food supply. use. This paper is the ideal addition to any or toxicology. Research students work in our A good knowledge of pharmacology and biomedical science course. established laboratories using a range of modern toxicology is also an important part of the training techniques. Interdisciplinary research is available of medical doctors, pharmacists, dentists, nurses Third year through the MSc in Toxicology which permits study across multiple departments. and physiotherapists. Other scientists often find The four papers on offer allow students pharmacology useful in their own specialisation. to explore key topics in depth, including For example, physiologists, biochemists, neuropharmacology (PHAL 303), clinical Careers zoologists and psychologists may use drugs to pharmacology (PHAL 304), molecular and Graduates of our department go on to a understand the biological system or disease they immunopharmacology (PHAL 305), and wide range of careers including research, are studying. toxicology (PHAL 306). governmental, administration and advisory positions. Major employers include the National Pharmacology and toxicology at Background required Poisons Centre, MedSafe, Pharmac, the Ministry of Health, universities, Crown Research Institutes Otago There are no secondary school subject and pharmaceutical companies. Pharmacology We offer two specialised undergraduate requirements for entry into pharmacology. and toxicology are also popular choices for degrees: a Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Students must meet the prerequisites for entry students seeking a career in the professional Pharmacology and Toxicology, and a Bachelor into second-year papers as outlined in the medical sciences (e.g. medicine or pharmacy) of Biomedical Science (BBioMedSci) majoring University Guidelines and are encouraged to or those pursuing a double degree in law, in Drugs and Human Health. A minor in maintain chemistry and biology to Year 13. commerce or education. Environmental Toxicology is also available. Teaching style First year of study As a small department, we have a friendly and To study pharmacology you must take both helpful relationship with our students and chemistry (CHEM 191) and biochemistry (BIOC our teaching staff routinely receive excellent 192) courses at the first-year level. You will also feedback. All pharmacology and toxicology need to complete an additional two biomedical papers are taught through a combination of lecture/tutorials and laboratory practical PROFILE Brad Sutherland Bachelor of Science with Honours (Pharmacology), PhD (Pharmacology) Brad Sutherland’s degrees in pharmacology “The pharmacology course was excellent, with have landed him a prestigious postdoctoral excellent lecturers and lab demonstrators. The research fellowship at Oxford University, labs were the most fun. There are not many proving that an Otago qualification really can places where you can do scientific experiments take you anywhere. on yourself, but you can here.” Brad’s journey started at secondary school For Brad, the fun – and challenges – continued where he studied all the sciences. From there, as he went on to complete a BSc(Hons) and a he enrolled in the Health Sciences First Year PhD in Pharmacology. (HSFY) programme at Otago. “The degrees that I obtained at Otago have “This sparked my interest in both health given me the confidence and ability to transfer sciences and the use of scientific progress to my research skills to one of the leading stroke treat clinical disease.” research facilities in the world.” After HSFY, Brad began his studies in The future for Brad is just as exciting with pharmacology, diving into subjects such as many options available to him in academia, anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. One research, drug regulation, policymaking, or challenge for pharmacologists is the need to industrial science, where he could be involved understand all of these subjects, but this also in developing new drugs or strategies to treat For questions about means they can approach scientific problems disease. from many different angles. Pharmacology and Toxicology otago.ac.nz/pharmacology February 2020.